By David Ysais
Transferring to a four-year college or university is no joke. It’s complicated. The rules change, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
San José City College counselor Lezra Chenportillo knows that but also knows that transfer is critical in students reaching their dreams. She connects with students because she walked a similar road, searched for the same guidance, and stumbled during her educational journey.
She vividly remembers how hard students fought to stay enrolled during the pandemic despite being forced into a remote environment. Even on the most challenging days, she always believes what counselors do matters and that education gives our communities hope.
A first-of-its-kind guide to college transfer
For Chenportillo, the pandemic ignited a desire to do something even more for her students, and the idea of creating an all-inclusive transfer guide started to develop. Using personal time and dedicating her 2021 sabbatical to the effort, she authored First Gen Transfer: A Transfer Guide for First-Generation California Community College Students. It is a comprehensive first-of-its-kind guide that provides a detailed map for any student looking to move from a California community college to a four-year college or university
Now in its 2nd edition, First Gen Transfer is designed for all community college students statewide, providing information to navigate virtually any educational path.
She unequivocally states that the guide is not a substitute for a community college counselor. It is a supplement to the incredible work done by counselors.
Chenportillo cherishes the connection she and her counseling colleagues have with students at SJCC, and she wants to do everything possible to make the transfer path less intimidating.
She understands each student carries a different academic story, and counselors must recognize, encourage, and guide students to transfer success based on their situations. Chenportillo’s journey gave her work an even deeper resonance.
a first gen connection
She is a first-generation college graduate with a complete understanding of the unique challenges that face those who are the first in a family to navigate the complexities of higher education. In her commitment to students, she uses her experiences to give students a sense that their journey has value in many ways.
“My connection with first-generation students is deep, and college is just the beginning. Everything in your life is going to be about first-gen,” Chenportillo said. “So many of our first-gen alums return to seek professional opportunities and guidance, including grad school choices. They may be the first in their family to buy a home. The first in their family to have to make choices on this level. There are so many layers to it; there’s always the sense of feeling like an imposter or looking around to ask someone for help, and there’s no one there to help with the questions. You end up trying to figure it out as you go.”
“The first rule of transfer is to protect your GPA”
lezra Chenportillo, SJCC Counselor & author, first gen transfer
Chenportillo describes transfer as both a plan and a process. First Gen Transfer honors both. Most people generally need to be aware of transfer requirements’ nuances. Fulfilling those requirements as an SJCC student while shouldering a full-time job, children, housing issues, food insecurity, and transportation can be daunting.
However, the guide seeks to give students a clear understanding of what the California State University, University of California, and private universities expect.
An understandable roadmap
The requirements are listed side-by-side with explanations so students can view their options and, with their counselor, devise a plan that makes the most sense. Chenportillo says too many students blame themselves for not understanding the transfer process. Some are ashamed to share their struggle.
Transferring is complex, and she hopes the guide allows students to see their SJCC counselors as partners in this journey. One of the strengths of First Gen Transfer is its conversational style. It reads like a discussion with a friend. Many resources are mentioned, and the chapters give readers a road map.
The chapters are like guideposts of information. Students will not have to read every page to secure what they need. There is also a clear effort to make the guide genuine and honest. For instance, one of Chenportillo’s chapters reviews what she describes as “gatekeeper courses.” Those are required classes, such as business calculus or statistics, that could hinder a student’s transfer journey because they often have low passage rates or include additional math prerequisites.
mind your GPA
She says students who have trouble with the “gatekeeper courses” often damage their GPAs and struggle with their long-term transfer plans. Chenportillo writes, “The first rule of transfer is to protect your GPA.” It’s also the second rule of transfer.
The importance cannot be overstated to students. She encourages academic renewal, and she knows that with the help of counselors, students will be able to see and achieve their success. Here is a personal observation that Chenportillo includes in the guide:
“Some of the most powerful conversations I’ve had with my students, in class or counseling sessions, have been unpacking the shame they carry around their grades as a reflection of somehow falling short or the reflection that a teacher let them down. The whole process of grading itself can’t help but make any student feel like they’re being judged.”
Chenportillo hopes First Gen Transfer clarifies and encourages the community college transfer process, regardless of a student’s educational DNA or academic story because it provides a map to personal success that will undoubtedly change lives.
Read First Gen Transfer by clicking on the image below.
