Improving Transitions from Community College to University Dr. Terry Walch, San Antonio College Marian Paul, UT San Antonio Dr. Catherine Parsoneault, THECB

Institute for the Study of Transfer Students Fort Worth, Texas January 29, 2007

National Articulation &Transfer Network (NATN) Purpose To improve articulation relationships and remove barriers to the transfer process thereby creating pathways that enable students to make successful transitions from their high schools to local community colleges and on to 4 year institutions. To improve articulation relationships and remove barriers to the transfer process thereby creating pathways that enable students to make successful transitions from their high schools to local community colleges and on to 4 year institutions.

National Articulation and Transfer Network (NATN) Community Colleges Community Colleges Baccalaureate Colleges and Universities Baccalaureate Colleges and Universities Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historically Black Colleges and Universities Hispanic Serving Institutions Hispanic Serving Institutions Tribal Colleges Tribal Colleges Asian-Pacific Islander Serving Institutions Asian-Pacific Islander Serving Institutions

Articulation Networks for Transfer Success Calls for the development of an articulation and transfer system that transforms current policies and practices Calls for the development of an articulation and transfer system that transforms current policies and practices Offers electronic access and support through NATN’s web-based system Collegesteps Offers electronic access and support through NATN’s web-based system Collegesteps

Regional Council Development San Antonio College was selected as one of five pilot institutions to participate in the NATN. (Summer 2004) San Antonio College was selected as one of five pilot institutions to participate in the NATN. (Summer 2004) ACCD Transfer Coordinators and Student Services Administrators met to determine which institutions to include. (Fall 2004) ACCD Transfer Coordinators and Student Services Administrators met to determine which institutions to include. (Fall 2004)

Regional Council Development (continued) San Antonio College hosted regional meeting with Chief Academic Officers, Admissions Directors, and Transfer Advisors. (Spring 2005) San Antonio College hosted regional meeting with Chief Academic Officers, Admissions Directors, and Transfer Advisors. (Spring 2005)

Regional Council Development (continued) Agenda: National perspective National perspective Incentives, barriers and catalysts Incentives, barriers and catalysts NATN model NATN model Role of a regional articulation and transfer council Role of a regional articulation and transfer council

Regional Council Development (continued) Outcome: Formation of Alamo Area Articulation and Transfer Council (AAATC). Formation of Alamo Area Articulation and Transfer Council (AAATC).

AAATC Community College Members Alamo Community College District Affiliation Fall 2006 Enrollment Northwest Vista College HSI9,971 Palo Alto College HSI8,027 St. Philip’s College HSI & HBC 9,830 San Antonio College HSI21,599

AAATC Public University Members (Continued) UniversityAffiliation Fall 2006 Enrollment Distance from San Antonio Texas A&M University Corpus Christi HSI8, miles Texas A&M University Kingsville HSI6,681* (Includes System Center enrollment) 158 miles Texas A&M University Kingsville-System Center San Antonio HSI911 Texas State University San Marcos 27, miles University of Texas at San Antonio HSI28,379

AAATC Private University Members (Continued) UniversityAffiliation Fall 2006 Enrollment Distance from San Antonio Our Lady of the Lake University HSI2,783 St. Mary’s University HSI3,904 Texas Lutheran University 1, miles University of the Incarnate Word HSI5,619

AAATC Organizational Members (Continued) San Antonio Education Partnership Staff San Antonio Education Partnership Staff Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Staff Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Staff

AAATC Mission Statement The Alamo Articulation and Transfer Council is committed to helping students achieve their educational goals by facilitating a smooth transition among institutions.

AAATC Mission Statement (Continued) We value collaboration and autonomy among institutions by: Providing incoming and outgoing support Providing incoming and outgoing support (counseling, advising, academic and financial support services) Providing comprehensive tools Providing comprehensive tools (articulation agreements, transfer plans, joint admissions agreements, access to university representatives, training)

AAATC Sub-Committees Student-Oriented Processes Student-Oriented Processes Institutional/Curricular Processes Institutional/Curricular Processes

Accomplishments of AAATC Increased communication between colleges/universities (Listserv), Increased communication between colleges/universities (Listserv), San Antonio Educational Partnership (SAEP) and Coordinating Board information-sharing, San Antonio Educational Partnership (SAEP) and Coordinating Board information-sharing, Implemented calendar deadlines and dates information sheet, Implemented calendar deadlines and dates information sheet,

Accomplishments of AAATC (Continued) Reviewed processes among institutions and renewed focus on transfer function, Reviewed processes among institutions and renewed focus on transfer function, Established more prominence for transfer function on campus and webpage, Established more prominence for transfer function on campus and webpage, Highlighted the need for an “articulation officer,” Highlighted the need for an “articulation officer,” Invitations to present about AAATC by numerous universities/organizations. Invitations to present about AAATC by numerous universities/organizations.

Members’ Benefits 1. Listserv provides a timely communication tool Proposed legislation affecting transfer & articulation Proposed legislation affecting transfer & articulation Announcements (scholarships, events, staff changes) Announcements (scholarships, events, staff changes) Sharing articles, websites, news Sharing articles, websites, news

Members’ Benefits (Continued) 2. Regular Meetings Agreed to meet twice a semester Agreed to meet twice a semester Direct access to THECB staff Direct access to THECB staff Open, honest dialogue Open, honest dialogue Introduces innovative problem – solving Introduces innovative problem – solving Facilitates better communication among institutions (public/independent/H.S./community college/university) Facilitates better communication among institutions (public/independent/H.S./community college/university)

Members’ Benefits (Continued) Facilitates better communication: Facilitates better communication: vertical alignment of services/info vertical alignment of services/info secondary – 2-yr – 4-yr Job titles don’t get in the way Job titles don’t get in the way Directly addresses Closing the Gap strategy Directly addresses Closing the Gap strategy

Challenges of AAATC Sustaining and expanding- Sustaining and expanding-Participation Energy and focus Administrative support and buy-in Balance between community colleges and universities

What’s Next? Training Program Training Program Definitions (commonly used terms) Definitions (commonly used terms) Remind administration of our work (focus on retention) Remind administration of our work (focus on retention)