how to win friends and influence transfer credit policy
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How to Win Friends and Influence Transfer Credit Policy. Lee Furbeck, Ph.D. University of Kansas 2013 AACRAO Transfer Conference. Transfer Credit Policies. Does your institution have clear policies in place for all situations? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
How to Win Friends and Influence Transfer Credit Policy
Lee Furbeck, Ph.D.University of Kansas
2013 AACRAO Transfer Conference
Transfer Credit Policies
• Does your institution have clear policies in place for all situations?
• Is everyone at your institution who should be aware of the policies?
• Does everyone consistently adhere to the policies?• Are your policies actual policies or practices?• Are your policies accessible and easy to find?• Can prospective students and advisors from other
institutions easily understand your policies?
Policy Creation and Approval• Where are transfer credit policies created and approved? – Governmental bodies– System level– Institutional level– Academic units within the institution– Non-academic units within the institution– It depends…– Staff in the cubicles– Who knows where they came from!– Policies? What policies?
A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TRANSFER CREDIT POLICIES
Many of us inherited existing policies. Some of us have implemented new policies. Others may suspect that policies need to be created or changed. Here’s your chance to see how you institution’s policies (or lack thereof) compare to others.
What makes a transcript official?
A. Issued to the studentB. Faxed from the schoolC. Faxed from the studentD. Mailed from the schoolE. Printed from the
school Web portalF. Electronic transcriptG. Hand-delivered in a
sealed envelope A. B. C. D. E. F. G.
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Do you require official transcripts from each school attended?
A. Yes, all of themB. Only those attended
after high schoolC. Only those where
credit was earnedD. NoE. VariesF. Unsure/No policy A. B. C. D. E. F.
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What is your policy on accreditation?
A. Not a deciding factor by itself
B. Must be accreditedC. Must be regionally
accreditedD. Courses from non-
accredited schools must be appealed
E. OtherF. Unsure/No policy A. B. C. D. E. F.
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AACRAO’s Transfer Credit PracticesAvailable at aacrao.org for members and in hard copy. Updated annually.
What grades are acceptable for transfer credit?
A. C or higher onlyB. C- or higher onlyC. All passing gradesD. Pass/CreditE. Pass/Credit if C/C-
or betterF. VariesG. Unsure/no policy A. B. C. D. E. F. G.
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What is your policy on mode of delivery?
A. On-ground or hybrid courses only
B. On-ground courses only
C. On-ground courses for labs
D. Not a factorE. VariesF. Unsure/No policy A. B. C. D. E. F.
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What is your policy on time limits for transfer work?
A. No limitsB. 10 yearsC. 5 yearsD. Time limit only for
select coursesE. Varies by majorF. Unsure/No policy
A. B. C. D. E. F.
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COURSE REPEATS
There is such variety in how schools calculate grades and credits earned when repeat coursework is involved. It deserves its own section!
Repeated transfer course – same school. What counts?
A. Cum GPA on transcriptB. First instanceC. Last instanceD. Best gradeE. Most hoursF. Most beneficialG. Average gradesH. Other formulaI. VariesJ. Unsure/No policy A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J.
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Repeated course – different sources. What counts?
A. First instanceB. Last instanceC. Best gradeD. Most hoursE. Most beneficialF. Average gradesG. Other formulaH. VariesI. Unsure/No policy
A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I.
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Repeated course – one instance at your school. What counts?
A. Your institution’s courseB. First instanceC. Last instanceD. Best gradeE. Most hoursF. Most beneficialG. Average gradesH. Other formulaI. VariesJ. Unsure/No policy A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J.
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NON-TRADITIONAL CREDIT
How are you handling the growing number of sources of transfer credit?
Do you award credit for…A. Advanced PlacementB. International BaccalaureateC. CLEPD. DANTESE. Departmental exams (your
school)F. Departmental exams
(elsewhere)G. High school coursesH. “Double Dipping” A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.
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Do you award credit for…
A. Work experienceB. Life experienceC. Job-training
certificationD. Military trainingE. MOOC’sF. Non-Institutional
coursesG. Other A. B. C. D. E. F. G.
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A FEW SUMMARY QUESTIONS TO ASK AS WE NEAR THE END
Did you find yourself answering “unsure” or “varies” a lot? Are your students frequently surprised? If so, you may need to overhaul of your transfer credit policies!
Are your policies well-defined and easy to interpret?
A. Absolutely!B. Most of themC. It’s a toss upD. Uh, maybe someE. No, they aren’t
Absolutely!
Most of th
em
It’s a to
ss up
Uh, mayb
e some
No, they aren’t
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Are your policies transfer-friendly?
A. YesB. Most of themC. Some yes, some noD. Not so muchE. Definitely not
Yes
Most of th
em
Some yes, s
ome no
Not so m
uch
Definitely not
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Transfer-Friendly Policies
• Easy to find• Easy to understand• Consistent amongst
units• Consistently enforced• Fair• Appeal-able
Without Them…
• Students take longer to earn a degree• Students may become disheartened and drop
out before earning a credential or degree• Debt levels rise as student takes more courses• Additional federal funding is required• Courses are repeated unnecessarily• Legislators and Boards intervene
Forum for High-Level Discussion about Transfer?
A. YesB. Kind ofC. NoD. Unsure
Yes
Kind of No
Unsure
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Making the Case for a Council
• Poor relationships between sending/receiving institutions
• Fewer students transferring successfully• Increased transfer activity or reliance on transfer
students to meet goals• Areas for growth• Lack of communication among units• Lack of or much variation in policies• Legislative mandates (or threat of)
Articulation Coordination CouncilChargeThe purpose of the Council is to enhance programmatic and institutional
articulation between Iowa State University and institutions and programs that are significant or potentially significant sources of transfer students to Iowa State University with primary focus on Iowa Community Colleges.
The Council's membership is to include representatives from-– Admissions– Provost Division– Student Affairs– Each Academic College (approximately half should be faculty members)– Faculty Senate– GSB (preferably a transfer student)
Transfer and Articulation Policy Council
Charge• The purpose of the Council is to enhance the transfer
experience by enhancing relationships with sending institutions and ensuring clear and just evaluation of transfer work.
The Council's membership is to include representatives from-– Admissions– Provost Division– Enrollment Management– Each Professional School and the College– Transfer Student Association
Discussion and Next Steps• How do statewide transfer systems impact transfer credit policy?• How do articulation agreements impact transfer credit policy?• What metrics do you use to measure the extent to which your
policies are transfer-friendly?• Is being transfer-friendly a priority on your campus?• Do you have a central location online and/or on-ground for
transfer credit policies?• Is your institution likely to steer students away from schools not
transfer-friendly?• What next steps do you plan to take as a result of this
discussion?
Thanks for sharing!
Lee F. [email protected]