In May 2020, Lehman College collaborated with Ithaka S+R to develop CUNY Transfer Explorer, a tool providing accurate information about how credits apply across campuses. CUNY could better market the tool as it provides invaluable information to the student body.     

Three years after its launch, CUNY Transfer Explorer, shortened to CUNY T-Rex, accumulated nearly 110,000 users. The platform was updated on July 6 to include a map credits feature, leaderboards and a help center.

The collaboration project started with the Articulation of Credit Transfer initiative. “Our ultimate goal is to enable students to count all previously earned credits toward their degree programs when they transfer between CUNY institutions, greatly increasing their likelihood of graduating and making their education more affordable,” Ithaka said.

Even though T-Rex is useful for students transferring between and into CUNY colleges, the tool has seen little promotion by CUNY. After the service’s major update in Fall 2023, the tool had only been advertised via an Instagram story on CUNY’s page.

CUNY could instead advertise the service using campus-wide email communications and social media posts while encouraging its campuses to directly advertise the tool to its students in classes.

Baruch College needs to improve its promotion efforts in order to reach more students. Informing students in their freshman year, especially in their “FYS 1000: First-Year Seminar” course, may increase the tool’s employment. 

The transfer process can be difficult and overwhelming due to the uncertainty of retaining credits or receiving the correct transfer credits. Spreading awareness of T-Rex can benefit students as the map credits feature addresses this concern by simplifying it into three steps: students select their CUNY program, courses they have taken and the course equivalency at another campus.

Additionally, T-Rex provides major and minor search, which allows students to see the course requirements of their college plan at the college they are transferring to.

Furthermore, aside from assisting transfer students, T-Rex can help students seeking to take classes at other CUNY colleges. By granting students the tools to cross-check course equivalencies, they will be more confident and inclined to utilize E-permits.

T-Rex is an essential resource that simplifies transferring between CUNY colleges and it is vital for students of all kinds. CUNY should put in additional effort to ensure its student and faculty population learn of this helpful resource. 

If more students are aware of the tool,  researchers would have more information to improve its usage, accuracy and helpfulness, potentially improving transfer policy.