CONNECT Transfer Project

Summary

Personnel from the five CONNECT institutions met to improve all aspects of the transfer process. The working group published a comprehensive guide articulating critical information for transfer students, established a regular timetable for reviewing changes in program requirements, and streamlined the overall transfer process for students moving from the community colleges to the four-year institutions. As a result of this collaboration, both Bridgewater State College and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth hired a full-time transfer coordinator.

Activity Description

One goal of the CONNECT Partnership is to strengthen the transferability between community colleges and the four-year institutions. Towards that end, personnel from the five institutions met to explore ways to facilitate every aspect of the transfer process. The planning group focused on how to improve communications between institutional personnel as well as communication with students. The group also examined the paperwork involved in the transfer procedure, the technology employed, barriers to a smooth transition, and student counseling needs.

Objective(s) of Activity

• To streamline the overall transfer process for students moving from the community colleges to the four-year institutions, reducing paperwork and eliminating unnecessary time-consuming procedures
• To appoint full-time transfer coordinators at both UMass-Dartmouth and Bridgewater State College
• To bring the transfer officers from the five institutions together to develop working relationships and enhance communications between the institutions
• To establish a regular time table for reviewing changes in program requirements at the four-year institutions
• To produce a document to guide students through the transfer process
• To ensure that the course equivalency guides, both print and electronic, are up-to-date and user-friendly

Impact/Results of the Activity:

• Development of relationships between the transfer officers at each institution, resulting in improved communications
• Both UMass-Dartmouth and Bridgewater State College hired a full-time transfer coordinator with the sole responsibility of working on transfer issues. The position at both institutions reports to the chief academic officer and works with faculty to facilitate transfer credit reviews.
• Established a fixed date to communicate program changes at each institution
• Updated course equivalency guides
• Published a comprehensive brochure Take the Next Step, which outlines critical information for transfer students including the following:
  • Contact information for officers at the institutions
  • Important deadline dates for joint admissions
  • Tuition advantages
  • Concurrent registration details
  • Specific programs accepted from BCC, MCC, and CCCC into UMass-D and BSC
  • Dates for on-site visits to institutions

Why program/activity is considered a best practice?

The CONNECT Chief Executive Officers have identified as a primary area of collaboration a project to facilitate the transfer of credit among the various institutions. This transfer project very specifically focused on streamlining the processes involved for transfer students. While working together at joint meetings, the transfer officers developed relationships which enhanced communications between the campuses and with the students. Regular communications better positioned the transfer personnel to work with faculty on credit reviews.

The publication of a comprehensive transfer program brochure provided the students with a tool to guide their program selections and transfer decisions.

The accomplishments of the project look to the future goal of making the associate of arts degree offered at the community colleges acceptable to the four-year colleges without requiring additional general education courses.

 

Copyright 2006