Rewiring the Transfer Credit System: UMass Amherst’s Turnaround Story
In Episode 13 of TransferTalk, Dr. Patrick Sullivan, University Registrar at UMass Amherst, shares the candid, behind-the-scenes story of how he led a full overhaul of a deeply broken transfer credit system.
Spoiler: it all started with a mysterious 20-year-old document nicknamed “The Bible.”
From “The Bible” to Broken Systems
When Dr. Sullivan stepped into the lead registrar role at UMass Amherst in 2017, he uncovered a chaotic and outdated system where transfer credit decisions lived “in people’s heads.” There was no central database, no consistent rules, and no visibility for students or advisors.
In fact, the only documentation was a decades-old file known internally as “The Bible” — a relic used more out of habit than policy.
Advisors were eyeballing transcripts. Transfer students were left guessing. The system wasn’t just inefficient — it was eroding trust.
Why Transfer Credit Reform Is a Strategic Move
Dr. Sullivan quickly realized that fixing the transfer credit system wasn’t just about speed — it was about credibility, equity, and recruitment.
Transfer applicants want answers to three key questions:
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What credits will transfer?
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How long will it take to graduate?
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How much will it cost?
Without timely answers, those students go elsewhere.
UMass Amherst’s reforms made the credit process transparent, repeatable, and scalable — a win for students, staff, and enrollment teams alike.
What Other Schools Can Learn from UMass Amherst
Dr. Sullivan offers clear advice to other registrars and enrollment leaders:
“Start with simple questions. Why is this taking so long? Is the process centralized? Are the rules public? You don’t need fancy tech first — you need clarity.”
Key lessons include:
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Map real articulation histories, not theoretical rules.
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Standardize equivalencies across departments.
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Use your SIS to its full potential.
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Align registrar, enrollment, and advising from day one.
The Role of DegreeSight in UMass Amherst’s Transformation
After building a more operational credit infrastructure internally, UMass Amherst turned to DegreeSight’s Inbound credit evaluation tool to scale it externally.
Now, prospective transfer students can see how their credits apply — directly on their phone, 24/7 — thanks to real-time automation and published rules.
As Dr. Sullivan says, “It’s certainly more elegant than the rules being stuck in someone’s head.”
Listen Now
This episode is a must-hear for registrars, enrollment leaders, and anyone serious about improving transfer pathways.
👉 Listen to Episode 13 of TransferTalk
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