TRANSFER OF CREDITBEST PRACTICES

Jeanne Herrmann and Linda Baer

• MCCA• MnSCU• MN Transfer Alliance

Historical Review

• Accreditation Source – Regional versus National

• Legislative concerns regarding transferability• Federal and Accreditation Initiatives for

Change— As of July 1, 2010• CHEA, AACRAO and ACE Joint Policy

Statement• HLC Policy Recommendations

Transfer Issues

• MN Commitment to Student Choice – Equal Sector Representation

• Higher Education Advisory Committee and P-20 Partnership

Sector Relationships

• Comparison of accreditation standards, course objectives, textbooks, faculty credentialing, etc. • Setting the Vision• Putting the Student First

Finding Common Ground

• Following the HLC and CHEA recommendations – a policy change was made

• Educational leaders from both sectors met to discuss implementation

Creating a Plan for Change

• Change in language• Move towards change in procedures at the

institutional level Procedure 3.21.1 requires system colleges and universities to follow the Joint Statement on the transfer and award of credit signed by CHEA, AACRAO and ACE

• Appeal Process Change in Policy to require information about appeals at the time transfer evaluations are completed (pending board approval).

The Policy Change

• Creating a culture change• Spreading the message• Use of a common voice/presentation for communicating the message

• Combined training opportunities

Communication and Training

• The fair and right thing to do• Suggestions for easing administrative

process (Most Favored Nation concept)• Ideas brought forward at CHEA conference

Student First

Minnesota State College Student Association & Minnesota State University Student Association

Academic and Student Affairs Division

Student Survey on Transfer Issues

Transfer Challenges

Changing expectations of students

Curricular autonomy versus seamlessness

Access to information

Training for students and advisors

Impact on cost of attendance

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Background

Increase in student complaints in 2007-2008

MSCSA hosted student roundtable in Fall 2008

Transfer Hotline launched in Spring 2009

MSUSA partners with MSCSA in Fall 2009

Information gathered from others in Fall 2009

Decided to gather more comprehensive data to identify and address problems

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Transfer Survey

Survey questions developed by the student associations with assistance from ASA staff and pilot tested by students

Survey content: Demographics Planning for transfer/advising Information and resources Type of credit Appeals processes Student satisfaction/expectations

Survey administered online by Distance Minnesota staff at MN State Community and Technical College

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Respondent Satisfaction andEase of Transfer

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Respondents Transfer Patterns

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Types of Transfer Credits16

Reasons that Credits Didn’t Transfer as Expected

47% of respondents reported credits transferred as expected Reasons credits didn’t transfer as expected:

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Awareness of Appeals Process

67% were not aware of appeals process 33% of respondents who were aware learned

about process from:

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Appeals and Outcomes19

Comments on Transfer and Process

24% of respondents (250) provided comments 19% were positive comments about transfer 74% were complaints about the following aspects of

transfer

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Observations

Significant numbers of respondents did not seek advice on the transfer process.

Although many respondents sought advice late in the process, early planning did not appear to impact ease of transfer.

Respondents depend on institution websites so links to system websites are important.

Very few respondents reported using uSelect/CAS.

Many respondents reported credits accepted as electives.

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Observations

The majority of respondents were not aware of the appeals process.

Some or all credits were accepted in the vast majority of appeals.

The majority of respondents rated their transfer experience positively; one-third rated it “fair” or “poor.”

A large majority of respondents reported that transfer met or exceeded their expectations, while one-fourth said that it did not meet their expectations.

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• Smart Transfer Toolkit for Students• Forum for Sharing Best Practices• Oversight and Accountability

Next Steps

Questions