Presidents Transfer Strategies Subcommittee STATUS UPDATE

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1 Presidents Transfer Strategies Subcommittee STATUS UPDATE Background College student transfer from two-year to four-year postsecondary institutions has been a central element of Kentucky s efforts to create a seamless system of postsecondary education and increase the educational attainment of its citizens. Since the late 1990s, CPE has devoted considerable attention to the issue of college student transfer and supported a number of transfer policies and initiatives aimed at encouraging, simplifying, and facilitating two- to four-year transfer. These efforts have included policies, frameworks, and degree programs to ensure the transfer of academic credit, and the development of electronic and other resources to inform and assist students in transfer planning (See Attachment A). These efforts, as well as the efforts of KCTCS and the four-year universities, have produced a modest increase in the number of student transfers since However, to reach Kentucky s 2020 goals for educational attainment, the number of college students who transfer from KCTCS to four-year institutions in Kentucky must increase to 6.4 percent annually over the next 14 years to approximately 11,500 in the year While progress on college student transfer is being made at state and institutional levels, achieving and sustaining the level of growth required in the number of college students who transfer from two-year to four-year programs and earn bachelor s degrees calls for new forms of collaboration among postsecondary institutions across the state.

2 Subcommittee Action Agenda In January 2006, the presidents of Kentucky s public institutions formed a subcommittee to explore ways to facilitate more efficient two- to four year transfer. This subcommittee, the President s Transfer Strategies Subcommittee, is comprised of Wayne Andrews, Keith Bird, Jim Chapman, and Mary Evans Sias, with CPE staff support from Jim Applegate and Nicole McDonald. Efforts of the Subcommittee focused on developing collaborative efforts between KCTCS and the universities to improve college student transfer from two- to four-year institutions and address the specific barriers to college student transfer in the State of Kentucky. STEP 1: Review Transfer Study. In 2004 CPE, in partnership with KCTCS, conducted a study to identify barriers to college student transfer. This study identified four primary barriers to college student transfer: 1. Financial access (lack of scholarship support) 2. Valuing of immediate employment and little perceived value-added for a bachelor s degree 3. The delivery of academic services at the baccalaureate level 4. Lack of planning, preparation, and knowledge related to the transfer process STEP 2: Identify institutional policies and programs related to college student transfer. An institutional scan of policies and programs related to transfer including the implementation of the Statewide General Education Transfer Policy was conducted. The scan revealed considerable variation in the implementation of the Statewide General Education Transfer Policy from one institution to the next. The scan also revealed information about institutional involvement in other statewide initiatives as well as institutional efforts to support college student transfer (See Attachment A). Inconsistencies in the implementation of the General Education Transfer Policy were addressed within the Statewide Transfer Committee in April, and some institutional policies and practices have since been enhanced to better support transfer. This work continues. Consistent implementation of existing credit transfer policies is crucial to reducing the number of bad transfer stories that produce negative perceptions of institutions by policy makers: a concern voiced by the Presidents when they formed the subcommittee. STEP 3: Explore specific strategies to enhance student motivation, planning and scholarship support for two-year to four-year transfer. A. Student Motivation The Subcommittee examined the role of the College Access Initiative. The College Access Initiative was funded in the amount of $800,000 as part of CPE s budget. Potential transfer students, including community college students will be targeted as a part of this initiative, and institutional strategies for marketing transfer-relevant information and services will be reviewed. The transfer student clearly showed that many KCTCS students do not see the value-added of a bachelor s degree. These perceptions must be changed. 2

3 B. Student Planning The Subcommittee explored existing student planning tools available to transfer students including GoHigherKy.org and the Course Applicability System (CAS). GoHigherKy.org, supported by KHEAA, is being enhanced to provide more information and better utility for transfer students. Information and applications are available to transfer students through the site, and a workshop for postsecondary institutional contacts regarding GoHigherKy.Org s enhanced functionality was conducted on August 31st. The Presidents support for full institutional participation in GoHigherKy.org will be important to its success. Plans to expand the implementation of CAS are underway. CAS allows students to electronically submit course taken or planned to participating institutions and immediately find how those courses transfer to the receiving institution prior to transfer. KCTCS' implementation of the CAS Course Interface has been a point of discussion at several Statewide Transfer Committee meetings. KCTCS agreed to program the CAS Course Interface in July CPE is working with KCTCS to develop a definitive timeframe for implementation. The interface will make CAS much easier to use for KCTCS students. Kentucky State University and Northern Kentucky University have committed to implementing CAS by Kentucky State University has met with the CAS Team from Miami University, and is evaluating the technological requirements for CAS. CAS contracts with UK and Miami University have been renewed, and Kentucky is preparing to update to CAS 4.0. When KSU and NKU implement CAS all but one public university will be on CAS. The University of Louisville s use of PeopleSoft continues to present challenges to its use of this on line transfer utility. C. Scholarship Support The Subcommittee emphasized the importance of financial aid for transfer students. In addition to developing strategies to enhance the level of institutional aid available to transfer students, the Subcommittee determined that the availability of state financial aid that specifically targets the needs and patterns of attendance for transfer students is imperative for meeting Kentucky s 2020 goals for college student transfer. The Subcommittee has explored the state-level approaches to transfer student aid in Massachusetts and Texas and continues to explore the viability of approaches in other states. Workforce/Transfer Trust Fund scholarship monies were awarded in CPE s budget. CPE staff will work with KCTCS in the development of need-based, merit-tested scholarships for students who plan to transfer from KCTCS to a four-year institution in Kentucky to obtain a bachelor s degree. Matching university scholarships to these students would double the impact of the program. D. Joint Admissions: An All of the Above Approach The Subcommittee reviewed state and institutional approaches to joint admissions and joint enrollment including Massachusetts and Virginia, and numerous universities including Oregon State University, Morehead State University, and Northern Kentucky University. Joint admissions refers to the admission of a student who meets designated criteria to both the 3

4 community college and the university at the same time or while attending one and/or the other. Joint or concurrent enrollment refers to students who enroll to take classes at more than one institution at a time. As the Subcommittee discussed varied approaches to joint admissions and joint enrollment in the context of Kentucky postsecondary education, several key points of consensus emerged regarding a statewide approach to joint admissions or joint enrollment in Kentucky. Key Points of Consensus: Joint admissions/joint enrollment programs must be developed with the community colleges at the KCTCS system-level to ensure open access and consistency across the system. The development of institution-by-institution agreements would minimize seamlessness and student access to four-year institutions and programs across the state. Matching scholarships using KCTCS and university resources to support community college students who are accepted into a joint admissions/joint enrollment program, in particular, is important to encouraging those students to complete the bachelor s degree. Matching scholarships would include KCTCS support for jointly admitted/jointly enrolled students through the completion of their the first two years at the community college level, with KCTCS (transfer scholarships) and university support to the student for the completion of their last two years of study at the fouryear level. Joint enrollment as part of the model would allow students to gain exposure to the academic culture of both institutions as well as student support services. Joint enrollment could make it possible for jointly admitted/jointly enrolled community college students to supplement or complete their academic portfolio with courses (on campus and distance) offered for their major at the university not offered at KCTCS. While joint admissions/joint enrollment offers great potential as a statewide strategy for meeting the 2020 goals for transfer and educational attainment, specific plans must be developed. The Subcommittee with input from the Statewide Transfer Committee has identified the following key points for discussion in determining how to proceed with plans for a statewide joint admissions/joint enrollment strategy. Key Points for Further Discussion: Advising is a critical issue in the progression and success of college students, and has been identified as a key barrier for transfer students. Strategies must be developed for addressing additional advising responsibilities created by an effective joint admissions/joint enrollment strategy, and particular attention should be given to early advising by university faculty to KCTCS students at the academic program level. 4

5 Appropriate policies must be created to ensure proper crediting to participating institutions for student enrollment, retention and graduation. These policies are crucial to ensuring the success of a joint admissions/joint enrollment strategy. Concerns over stealing students as well as other accountability issues surrounding students transferring seamlessly from one institution to the other must be addressed. Technology to support the efficient exchange of information regarding jointly admitted/jointly enrolled student applications, records, and tuition and fee payments must be resolved in such a way that minimizes the potential for error and does not unduly burden the student. Managing institutional costs and fee structures is important so that institutions capacity to support the program is sustainable, while minimizing financial barriers to student participation. Recommendation The Subcommittee recommends that the Presidents approve in concept the development of a statewide joint admissions/enrollment program for Kentucky following the outline presented here and charge the Statewide Transfer Committee to fully develop a plan for the program: a draft of the plan to be presented to the Presidents in January Assuming agreement is reached on the statewide plan in early spring 2007, recommendations for implementation can be taken to the Council on Postsecondary Education and the institutions as appropriate in late spring Public announcement of the plan involving media and state policy leaders would be planned with the roll out beginning in and completed in