Federal/State Dialogue: New Challenges to Academic Planning and Policy (Transfer and Transfer Technology) Ken Sauer, Ph.D. SHEEO Higher Education Policy Conference August 12, 2009 Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel Denver, Colorado

Why Transfer Is Important 1.National Consensus: More Degrees Conferred 2.Must draw more from underserved and underprepared populations 3.Community colleges are critical in achieving these goals 4.Therefore, transfer is important 5.Reverse and lateral transfer important too 2

Why Transfer Technology Is Important 1.It’s the 21 st Century! 2.Transfer will always be complicated, but technology can make it manageable 3.Need for consistency, transparency, accessibility 4.The transfer process needs to be more efficient 3

2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act – 1 (SEC Articulation Agreements) “The Secretary shall carry out a program for States, in cooperation with public institutions of higher education, to develop, enhance, and implement comprehensive articulation agreements … among such institutions in a State, and (to the extent practicable) across State lines by 2010.” 4

2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act – 2 (SEC Articulation Agreements) “Such articulation agreements shall be made widely and publicly available on the websites of States and such [i.e. public] institutions.” 5

2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act – 3 (SEC Articulation Agreements) “In developing … articulation agreements, States and public institutions … may employ strategies … including … management systems regarding course equivalency, transfer of credit, and articulation; … The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to States and public institutions …” 6

2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act – 4 (SEC Report and Study on Articulation Agreements) “The Secretary … shall conduct a study [that] … shall consider … what strategies are being employed, including common course numbering, general education core curriculum, and management systems; … and barriers to the implementation of articulation agreements, including technological and informational barriers.” 7

Suggestions for Initiating and Sustaining a Dialogue on Transfer Technology [Preface: the Federal role is critical in addressing inter-operability, resources constraints, inter-state solutions] 1.Identify a point person and team at the department to begin working on this 2.Commit resources to technical assistance 8

Suggestions for a Dialogue on Transfer Technology (cont.) 3.Focus area #1: Transfer technology a)Transfer hub software b)Interfaces between student information systems c)Course equivalency software d)Degree audit software 9

Suggestions for a Dialogue on Transfer Technology (cont.) 4.Focus area #2: Common Course Numbering a)Develop 1-3 numbering system(s); analogy: Dewey decimal system or Library of Congress b)Analogous to previous federal efforts, e.g. Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP codes) or Secondary School Classification System: School Codes for the Exchange of Data (SCED) 10

Suggestions for a Dialogue on Transfer Technology (cont.) 5.Engage/Assemble Stakeholders, Including: a)States, especially those with initiatives underway b)Vendors, including the 4-5 dominant SIS companies c)People in the trenches, e.g. AACRAO (admissions officers, registrars), transfer coordinators d)Standards groups, e.g. PESC e)Students, faculty 11

Contact Information: Ken Sauer, Ph.D. Senior Associate Commissioner for Research and Academic Affairs Indiana Commission for Higher Education 101 West Ohio Street, Suite 550 Indianapolis, Indiana (317) ext