Duane Short San Diego Miramar College Articulation Fundamentals

Overview What is Articulation? What is Not Articulation? Why Articulation Matters The Articulation Officer Role

What is Articulation? From the dictionary… The kind of connection that allows movement The coherent expression of information “It helps to be psychologically predisposed in a certain way to be an articulation officer” From Jeff Ferguson’s presentation at the 2009 CIAC conference

What is Articulation? The process of developing a formal, written and published agreement that identifies courses (or sequences of courses) on a “sending” campus that are comparable to, or acceptable in lieu of, specific course requirements at a “receiving” campus. CIAC, 2006 California Articulation Policies and Procedures Handbook

What is Articulation? In other words… Articulation identifies courses students should take at community college in order to meet university degree requirements This information is used to help students plan appropriate courses at community college

What is Articulation? What degree requirements do articulated courses fulfill? Unit Credit toward a baccalaureate degree General Education requirements at the university Major Preparation requirements at the university

What is Articulation? General Education (39 units) + Prep-for-major (0-50 units) + Transferable Electives (0-21+ units) = Transfer Coursework (usually min 60 transferable units) The basic structure of a transfer education plan

What is Articulation? Transfer education plans can be complicated, as each combination of transfer university and major results in a different combination of transfer coursework

CSU GE pattern + BIOL 105 PSYC 101 PSYC 211 PSYC 230 PSYC 258 PSYC 260 IGETC pattern + CHEM 100/100L CHEM 130 CISC 192 MATH 121 MATH 122 PSYC 258 Alliant U. GE + PSYC 101 PSYC 137 PSYC 211 PSYC 230 Phil: Psych major, SDSU Ana: Psych major, UCSD Dave: Psych major, Alliant Intl. U.

What is Not Articulation? Course evaluations Course evaluations determine credit for past educational experiences Articulation is a guarantee of future applicability This distinction often makes a difference when advising students

What is Not Articulation? Admissions criteria or other course requirements Admissions criteria for universities, majors, etc. often change from year to year How university courses (and the articulated CCC courses) are used to fulfill various requirements also changes from year to year Course articulation itself remains valid if the course was taken during the period the agreement was in effect

What is Not Articulation? Suggestions Suggestions or recommendations about preparatory courses may be helpful, but are not guarantees of course applicability Articulation is a guarantee that courses at a sending campus will fulfill specific requirements at a receiving campus

What is Not Articulation? Outreach materials Outreach and marketing materials are vital parts of the transfer process but are not themselves curricular agreements Articulation is an agreement between faculties about the comparability of coursework

Why Articulation Matters For the student, articulation: Guarantees that courses completed at the community college will apply to university requirements Provides the foundation for developing a transfer education plan

Why Articulation Matters For CCC faculty, articulation: Establishes that CCC courses are comparable to university level coursework Ensures CCC courses will fulfill university requirements The more requirements CCC courses fulfill, the more “valuable” they are to transfer students

Why Articulation Matters For the college as a whole, articulation: Facilitates the core mission of student transfer Increases the quantity of educational goals that can be met via the college’s offerings Improves the quality of counseling and advising by detailing the most efficient or appropriate path to transfer

Why Articulation Matters For the university, articulation: Increases student success by identifying appropriate preparatory coursework Reduces the workload involved in individually evaluating each student’s past coursework Increases student capacity Facilitates a focus on upper division coursework

Why Articulation Matters For the state, articulation: Increases the effectiveness of the transfer process by providing a clear pathway to transfer course requirements Ensures the efficient use of coursework toward bachelor’s degree requirements Saves taxpayer money (theoretically over $11,000 per degree for a CSU transfer or $36,000 per degree for a UC transfer)

The Articulation Officer The actual process of developing and reviewing curriculum and coursework to determine course comparability between institutions rests with the faculty at the respective institutions. Faculty in each discipline.... develop curriculum and establish requirements and standards for articulated courses. CIAC, 2006 California Articulation Policies and Procedures Handbook

The Articulation Officer The AO… Initiates, updates, tracks, and disseminates faculty-approved articulation agreements, including those that cover: Courses accepted for degree credit General education Major preparation CIAC, 2006 California Articulation Policies and Procedures Handbook

The Articulation Officer The AO… Serves as a consultant on articulation and transfer-related curricular issues to: Faculty Administration Students Anyone else who asks CIAC, 2001 California Articulation Policies and Procedures Handbook

The Articulation Officer Some stats about CCC AOs… 36% are assigned as AO full time; 37% are assigned as AO ½ time ; 23% are assigned as AO < ½ time 85% are faculty/certificated Most are counselors 99% serve on curriculum committee; 76% have voting rights 49% report to Dean of Counseling; 26% report to CSSO 19% report to the CIO

The Articulation Officer Some stats about CCC AOs… 36% are assigned as AO full time; 37% are assigned as AO ½ time ; 23% are assigned as AO < ½ time 85% are faculty/certificated Most are counselors 99% serve on curriculum committee; 76% have voting rights 49% report to Dean of Counseling; 26% report to CSSO 19% report to the CIO In SDCCD

The Articulation Officer The AO… Acts as liaison to and advocate for: Faculty “Receiving” institutions Segmental system-wide offices (CCC, UC, CSU) Intersegmental coordinating bodies (CIAC, ASSIST) CIAC, 2006 California Articulation Policies and Procedures Handbook

The Articulation Officer The AO… Is an advocate for transfer students and the effectiveness and efficiency of transfer curricula. Is an expert in the process, not the content Is often called upon to serve in statewide projects, committees, or coordinating bodies

The Articulation Officer The AO… HAS THE BEST JOB IN OUR SYSTEM!!!

Conclusion Questions? Discussion?

For copies of this presentation, questions, or information, please contact… Duane Short