Foundations for Successful Transfer: A System-wide Approach Increasing Access Through Transfer Conference Albuquerque, New Mexico September 22, 2009 Kavita Pandit State University of New York

The SUNY System

Background Long history of transfer policies that were unevenly implemented Beginning 2007, renewed focus on transfer across the SUNY campuses –NYS Commission on Higher Education –NYS Legislature –SUNY Board of Trustees –Presidents of SUNY Community Colleges

The SUNY Approach to System-wide Transfer Policy

I. POLICY SUNY Board of Trustee policies on transfer going back three decades – SUNY A.A. and A.S. degree recipients guaranteed admission to a SUNY 4-year campus; – When accepted to parallel programs at 4-year campuses, these students will be given junior status and will not be required to repeat courses with similar content.

II. CURRICULAR ALIGNMENT SUNY Provost worked in close cooperation with the two faculty governance groups: the Faculty Senate (4-year campuses) and the Faculty Council (2-year campuses) Formation of the Joint Senate-Council Committee on Transfer and Articulation made up of faculty, administrators and students from 4-year and 2-year campuses.

Community College concerns: –student access to 4-year programs; –recognition/respect for CC curriculum. II. CURRICULAR ALIGNMENT Baccalaureate College concerns: –student success in 4-year programs; –Individual faculty control of the curriculum.

II. CURRICULAR ALIGNMENT Key Outcomes of Deliberations –Agreement that: “Students who successfully complete first- and second-year courses generally offered at SUNY 4-year institutions be able to seamlessly transfer those courses into a parallel major or program at another SUNY institution.” –Formation of a System-level Transfer Review Committee to resolve the status when courses are not transferring –Organization of faculty conferences in the disciplines to come to a common understanding of the content and learning outcomes of first and second year courses

III. ADVISEMENT SUNY Academic Course Transfer Site (SUNY ACTS)

1. Need to establish a sense of urgency 2. Need to form a powerful coalition 3. Need to institutionalize change 4. Change takes time! LESSONS LEARNED