The Reverse Transfer Program is a means by which a student may receive an associate’s degree after transferring from a 2-year, lower-division institution of higher education to a 4-year institution. The University of Washington Reverse Transfer program is limited to students who have transferred from a Washington Community or Technical College to the University of Washington.
Upon the student’s request, their current UW academic transcript is forwarded to the Washington Community or Technical College where it is reviewed to check if that student has become eligible to earn their associate’s degree. If so, the associate’s degree is awarded by the Washington Community or Technical College.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Students transferring to the University of Washington from a Washington Community or Technical College before earning a Washington Community or Technical College associate’s degree will be able to apply academic credits they earn at UW toward completion of an associate’s degree from their former Washington Community or Technical College.
Adding an associate’s degree to your Washington Community or Technical College transcript will show that you have completed a higher education program and earned a credential. Having an associate’s degree on your Washington Community or Technical College record may also help build your resume and document applicable job qualifications prior to earning your baccalaureate degree.
As a former Washington Community or Technical College student who enrolled at the University of Washington before earning your associate’s degree, you may be eligible for this program.
Even though a student is now seeking a bachelor’s degree, there are several advantages to the student who applies for the associate’s degree through Reverse Transfer. Particularly,
- The associate’s degree is a marketable credential in the workplace, giving students who possess the associate’s degree an edge when applying for employment;
- Earning the associate’s degree shows prospective employers a certain level of responsibility, focus, and persistence which is required to attain the degree and is valuable in the workplace environment;
- The associate’s degree is also often a positive incentive, aiding the student in completing the work required to attain the bachelor’s degree.
According to the UW Reverse Transfer Program policy, students with sufficient credits are notified about the potential opportunity for reverse transfer. This includes students who
- have earned at least 60 transferable quarter credits at a Washington Community or Technical College prior to transferring to the University of Washington;
- have completed at least 30 credits at the University of Washington;
- have enrolled at the University of Washington prior to earning an associate’s degree;
- have not entered the UW as first-year (after high school graduation) with college credit earned at a Washington Community or Technical College prior to high school graduation.
As outlined in the University of Washington Reverse Transfer Policy, credits earned from your Washington Community or Technical College prior to transferring to UW, in conjunction with credits earned at the University of Washington, may be applied toward an associate’s degree from your former Washington Community or Technical College.
Only your former Washington Community or Technical College can determine whether you meet their associate degree requirements. You can initiate an associate degree review by following the reverse transfer process, which includes the submission of your official UW transcript back to your former college.
- To initiate the process, the student contacts the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges.
- The State Board of Community and Technical Colleges connects the student to their former Washington Community or Technical College.
- Students can request a complimentary official transcript from the University of Washington to be sent to their former college as part of the Reverse Transfer process by contacting the Registration Team.
- The Washington Community or Technical College notifies students whether an associate’s degree has been awarded.
- Washington Community or Technical College student’s amended transcript is sent to the University of Washington Undergraduate Admissions Office.
- The University of Washington annotates the student’s University of Washington transfer record with the information that an associate’s degree was awarded by the Washington Community or Technical College.
No. Reverse Transfer requires that your Washington Community or Technical College determines when their associate’s degree requirements are satisfied. They will determine how your UW credits transfer to their institution and whether the UW credits are applicable to their associate’s degree.
The associate’s degree you were working on while enrolled at the Washington Community or Technical College is generally the degree you would be awarded. To be certain, check with the student enrollment services department or your academic advisor at your former Washington Community or Technical College.
Consult the Registrar’s Office at your Washington Community or Technical College to determine participation requirements for commencement.
No. The University of Washington Reverse Transfer program is a means for completing the associate’s degree while continuing to pursue your bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington. You may return to your Washington Community or Technical College to complete the associate’s degree.
No. You will only be notified by your former Washington Community or Technical College. If you have questions about associate degree requirements, you will need to consult with the graduation coordinator or the Registrar’s Office at your Washington Community or Technical College.
Transcripts
The transcript is an academic record of all coursework completed at the University of Washington-Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma. Most student records were converted to a new transcript system in Winter 1983. University of Washington transcripts may be provided in two formats.
Transcripts are educational records subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended. Transcripts are furnished for official use only and may not be released to, or accessed by, outside agencies or third parties without the written consent of the student concerned.
Academic Terms
The academic year is comprised of three quarters lasting approximately 11 weeks – autumn, winter, and spring. There is also summer quarter.
Accreditation
The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses
Courses
| Course Number |
Description |
| 100 – 299 |
Lower division |
| 300 – 499 |
Upper division |
| 500 and above |
Graduate |
| Designation |
Description |
| H+Course Title |
Honors course |
| W+Course Title |
Writing course |
| S+Course Title |
Service Learning course (through Spring 2024) |
| E+Course Title |
Community Engaged Learning (Summer 2024 and beyond) |
| R+Course Title |
Research Component course |
| Grading Option |
Description |
| S/NS* |
Satisfactory / Not Satisfactory |
| C/NC** |
Credit / No Credit |
Grades
Grades
Numeric grades begin at 4.0 and decrease by 1/10 to 0.0.
| Grade |
Undergraduate Grade Point |
Graduate Grade Point |
Note |
| A |
4.0 – 3.9 |
4.0 – 3.9 |
4.0 Highest grade – Undergraduate and Graduate |
| A- |
3.8 – 3.5 |
3.8 – 3.5 |
|
| B+ |
3.4 – 3.2 |
3.4 – 3.1 |
|
| B |
3.1 – 2.9 |
3.0 – 2.9 |
|
| B- |
2.8 – 2.5 |
2.8 – 2.5 |
|
| C+ |
2.4 – 2.2 |
2.4 – 2.1 |
|
| C |
2.1 – 1.9 |
2.0 – 1.7 |
1.7 Lowest passing grade – Graduate |
| C- |
1.8 – 1.5 |
na |
|
| D+ |
1.4 – 1.2 |
na |
|
| D |
1.1 – 0.9 |
na |
|
| D- |
0.8 – 0.7 |
na |
0.7 Lowest passing grade – Undergraduate |
| E |
0.6 – 0.0 |
1.6 – 0.0 |
0.0 Lowest grade – Undergraduate and Graduate |
| Grade |
Description |
| I |
Incomplete |
| N |
Satisfactory – with no grade |
| S |
Passing
- Applies to S/NS* courses
- Undergraduate students: 2.0 and above – Effective Autumn 1985
- Undergraduate students: 1.7 and above – Effective through Summer 1985
- Graduate students: 2.7 and above.
|
| NS |
Not Satisfactory
- Applies to S/NS* courses
- Undergraduate students: 1.9 and below – Effective Autumn 1985
- Undergraduate students: 1.6 and below – Effective through Summer 1985
- Graduate students: 2.6 and below
|
| CR |
Credit awarded
- Applies to C/NC** courses
- The minimum performance level required for a CR grade is determined, and the grade is awarded directly, by the instructor
|
| NC |
No Credit awarded
Applies to C/NC** courses |
| W |
Withdrawal or Course Drop
- Official complete withdrawal from the University, or;
- Course drop for Undergraduates – effective Autumn 1990 – Summer 2020
- Course drop for Graduates & Professional students – effective Autumn 1997 – Summer 2020
|
| W(3-7) |
Course Drop
- Number designates weeks 3 through 7
- Does not apply during summer quarter
- Effective through Summer 2020
|
| *W |
Peremptory Drop
- Course dropped during weeks 5 through 10
- Effective through Summer 1990
|
| HW |
Hardship Withdrawal
Effective through Winter 2020 |
| RD |
Registrar Drop
- Course dropped after week 2
- Course dropped after grades posted
- Effective Spring 2020
|
| X |
No grade submitted by instructor |
| Designation |
Description |
| Global Public Health Emergency Impacted Enrollment Transcript Annotation |
The COVID-19 outbreak, a global public health emergency, impacted enrollment for specific quarters indicated with a comment within each quarter on the front of the transcript. |
| Grade +(I) |
The final grade was originally an Incomplete |
/R |
Repeated Course
Effective through Autumn 1982
- Only the last grade is calculated in grade point average
- Credit is allowed once
Effective Winter 1983 through Summer 1985
- First grade was greater than 2.0
- The second grade is not calculated in grade point average
- Credit for second grade is not allowed
Effective Winter 2005
- Grades for both courses are calculated in grade point average
- Grades for courses repeated more than once are not calculated in grade point average
- Credit is allowed only once
|
| /DR |
Repeated Course
Effective Winter 1983 through Summer 1985
- First grade was less than 2.0
- Both grades are calculated in grade point average
- Credit is allowed once
Effective Autumn 1985
- Both grades are calculated in grade point average
- Credit is allowed once
|
| X/R |
Repeated Course
- Used for an undergraduate indicating the student repeated a course not eligible to be repeated for grade or credit
- Effective Autumn 1985
|
| /R |
Foreign Language Course
- Foreign language course initially taken in high school
- Course used as language of admission
- Grade is not calculated in grade point average
- Credit is not allowed
- Effective Autumn 1987
|
| /D |
Degree Requirement Eligibility
- Grade is calculated in grade point average
- Credit is not allowed toward degree requirements
|
Professional Schools
Professional Schools
Numeric grades begin at 4.0 and decrease by 1/10 to 0.0.
Effective Autumn 1992
- Highest grade is 4.0
- Lowest passing grade is 0.7
- Dental students taking medical school courses are allowed medical school grades
Effective through Summer 1992
- 4.0 – Honor
- 3.7, 3.3, 3.0, 2.7 – Good
- 2.3, 2.0 – Low Pass
- 0.0 – Failure
Prior to Spring 1981
| Letter Grade |
Grade Point/Description |
| A |
4.0 |
| B |
3.0 |
| C |
2.0 |
| E |
Failure |
| EW |
Failure Withdrawal |
| CR, NC, I, N, W |
GPA calculation began Autumn 2005 for students (JD only) enrolled as of Spring 2007.
Effective Autumn 1998
Applies to entering first-year Law students.
| Letter Grade |
Grade Point/Description |
| A |
4.0 |
| A- |
3.7 |
| B+ |
3.4 |
| B |
3.0 |
| B- |
2.7 |
| C |
2.0 |
| D |
1.0 |
| E |
0.0 |
| CR |
Credit |
| NC |
No Credit |
| I |
Incomplete |
| N |
Satisfactory without grade |
| W |
Withdrawal |
| HW |
Hardship Withdrawal – Effective through Winter 2020 |
| RD |
Registrar Drop – Effective Spring 2020 |
Effective Prior to Autumn 1998
Applies to entering first-year Law students.
| Letter Grade |
Description |
| DS |
Distinguished |
| H |
Honors |
| P |
Pass |
| LP |
Low Pass |
| CR, NC, I, N, HW |
Prior to 1990
- Numeric grades – credit awarded for grades 4.0 through 2.3
- Letter grades – CR, NC, I, N, *W, and W
Letter Grades
- H – Honors
- S, NS, CR, NC, I, N, W
Effective Autumn 1996
- HP – High Pass
- P – Pass
- F – Fail
Effective Autumn 2002
S, NS grades were discontinued.
Numeric grades begin at 4.0 and decrease by 1/10 to 0.0.
- 4.0 – Highest grade
- 0.7 – Lowest passing grade
Helping UW students with registration and academic records.
The Office of the University Registrar (OUR) is here to support students with the registration process by providing guidelines and policy information.
There are many online resources to help understand the UW registration process. For all other registration questions, please contact the Registration Team.
Certification for UW Graduates
An Official Transcript may be requested through Parchment for degree verification purposes.
Graduates of the University of Washington will not be able to receive a Degree Certificate through the National Student Clearinghouse.
Certification for UW Faculty and Staff
- Students can provide a copy of their unofficial or official transcript
- Student Database (SDB)
- Electronic Advising Record System (EARS)
- Email the Registration Team from your uw.edu email stating that you are a faculty or staff member needing a Degree Certification. Be sure to include the student’s full name and student number with your request.
Certification for Non-UW Third Parties
UW students may provide a copy of their official transcript to any entity requesting proof of a Degree Certification.
The University does not verify degrees or enrollment for third parties via email, fax, or mail. Third-party entities may purchase one from the National Student Clearinghouse.
Special Investigators and other government employees are encouraged to use DoD Safe when completing background investigations on students. DoD Safe links should be sent to the Registration Team.
Emailed or faxed release forms containing Social Security Numbers are strongly discouraged, as these methods are not encrypted or secured.
Out of Scope Verifications
The Office of the University Registrar (OUR) only verifies enrollment and degrees awarded from the University of Washington.
OUR does not provide verification for:
- internships
- residencies
- fellowships
- certificate programs
- previous employment at the University of Washington or UW Medicine