Community colleges, which often serve a higher proportion of students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, and women, can be launching pad institutions that change the educational and economic trajectory for individuals and families, awarding credentials that can lead to better paying jobs or form the foundation for additional credentials. These credentials may provide some protection from turmoil in the current economy. Recent research indicates, however, that ensuring successful student transfer and bachelor's degree attainment following transfer remains a challenge for both two-year and four-year institutions across the United States. And educational and economic pathways, especially in the South, are fraught with constraints on social networks and historical discrimination that diminish the power of credentials for people of color. In this report to the ECMC Foundation, MDC examines transfer practices and experiences at four Southern community colleges, observing how institutional practices, federal and state policies, and student mindset and behavior affect transfer students.