Mar 13, 2012
Board of Regents Committee Works to Improve Transfers
The Board of Regents Academic and Student Affairs Committee worked with the Faculty Advisory Council to improve transfers
The proposal —which has been circulating among faculty, students and leadership on campuses— will create a seamless transfer policy among the state’s 12 community colleges, four state universities and Charter Oak State College. Importantly, the ASA Committee amended the proposal to include several suggestions proposed by the Faculty Advisory Council to the Board of Regents.
“When I went to work at the Department of Higher Education in 1978, a workable seamless transfer policy was the issue upon which everyone was focused,” said Dr. Merle Harris, chairwoman of the board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee. "While there have been several well-intentioned attempts over the years, Friday’s approval by the ASA Committee brings us one step closer to a broad, workable, seamless agreement that will be implemented across each of the community colleges, state universities and Charter Oak State College. I’m proud of the dialogue and discussion we’ve had over the last few months, and I look forward to discussing this issue with the full Board of Regents on Thursday.”
The policy is competency-based — meaning students will be expected to demonstrate competence across the knowledge and skill areas defined in general education. By Sept. 30, 2012, the 30-credit common core curriculum will be approved by faculty at the community colleges, state universities and Charter Oak State College, and a full major-by-major transfer plan will be adopted by July 2013. At the same time, the Board of Regents is aligning its general education core across the 17 institutions. Staff and faculty will also work with the University of Connecticut to identify the appropriate 30 credits to be the identified 30-credit core across all of public higher education in Connecticut as required in pending legislation.
“I was pleased to see that the ASA adopted most of the recommendations made by the Faculty Advisory Committee,” said Stephen Adair, chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee and chair of Central Connecticut State University’s Sociology Department. “The policy as revised will facilitate smooth transfers while maintaining the diversity of our programs and institutional missions.”
“The Transfer and Articulation policy approved by the Academic and Student Affairs Committee is of tremendous benefit to the students of Connecticut,” said Alex Tettey, student Regent and chairman of the Student Advisory Council. “This policy would provide a seamless, cost effective system that would help students maximize our educational opportunities.”
View the Agreement (pdf)