; and (ii) a plan that will enable the State to make the certification by not later than 5 years after the date on which the State first received a grant under this subpart. (2) Transfer pathways (A) In general The State shall— (i) submit a plan, developed in collaboration with faculty from institutions of higher education in the State, to improve transfer pathways between institutions of higher education in the State, including by— (I) ensuring that associate degrees awarded by community colleges in the State are fully transferable to, and credited as, the first 2 years of related baccalaureate programs at public institutions of higher education in such State; (II) increasing the transferability of individual courses within the certificate or associate programs offered by community colleges in the State to related baccalaureate programs offered by institutions of higher education in such State to maximize the transferability of credits for students who transfer before completing an associate degree; (III) expanding the use of reverse transfer policies that allow institutions to— (aa) implement the process of retroactively granting a certificate or associate degree to students who had not completed the requirements for such certificate or degree before they transferred; and (bb) allow academic credits for coursework completed at a 4-year institution to be applied to a previously attended community college for the purpose of obtaining an associate degree or a certificate; and (IV) ensuring that students attending community colleges in the State have access to comprehensive counseling regarding the process for transferring to a 4-year institution of higher education