Millersville University, Faculty Senate
Proposed Board of Governors Policy
The Academic Passport and Student Transfer Policy
A. Purpose
- To create an Academic Passport to facilitate transfer of
students and their credits from Pennsylvania community
colleges to and among System universities.
- To set forth general principles and guidelines for the
implementation of the Academic Passport and student
transfer policy.
- To provide for periodic assessment of the Academic
Passport and reporting of the outcomes to the Board of
Governors, the chancellor, the presidents, and other
System constituencies to ensure accountability and
continuous improvement of the System's transfer programs.
B. Background
Act 188, the enabling legislation for the State
System of Higher Education, mandates that the State System
provide high quality education at the lowest possible cost to the
students. Accessibility - openness, convenience, and availability
of a range of programs - to interested and eligible
Pennsylvanians always has been an objective of State System
universities.
In addition to the 95,000 students enrolled in State System
universities, more than 170,000 students attend Pennsylvania
community colleges in degree credit and non-credit programs. Many
of these college and university students, through life
circumstances, find it necessary to relocate during their college
career or obtain their post-secondary education from two or more
institutions. Sound public policy mandates that these students be
able to complete their education without unnecessary repetition
of course work that already has been successfully completed at
another accredited institution. An objective of the
Commonwealth's public colleges and universities, therefore, is
the creation of a seamless system of public higher education in which
students move freely between and among accredited public
institutions of advanced learning. In January 1998, the System's
Board of Governors adopted a resolution to affirm the Academic
Passport, which was designed to assist the transfer of community
college students who earn the Associate of Arts (A.A.) or the
Associate of Science (A.S.) degree. Incumbent students of State
System universities with a cumulative grade point average (GPA)
of 2.0 or higher were also deemed to have an Academic Passport
for the transfer of credit to and among System institutions.
Although it is preferable that students transfer with the A.A
or A.S. degree, experience shows that the vast majority of
students transfer without having completed their studies at the
community college. Thus, it is vital that any effective
articulation policy addresses both students who transfer with an
associate degree and students who transfer prior to completing a
degree program.
Underlying this policy is the belief that the competencies
developed through general education are more important than
individual courses. Recognition of the integrity and validity of
the general education program at each sending institution results
in acceptance of a general education program, which is
comparable, but may not be identical to the general education
program at the receiving institution.
C. Definitions
The Academic Passport - The Academic Passport described
in detail in Section E.1 and E.2 of this policy, is a transfer
program designed to promote and facilitate the transfer of
students of Pennsylvania community colleges to State System of
Higher Education universities, and to support the transfer of
undergraduate credits earned by State System students to other
System universities.
Associate Degrees - Pursuant to Board Policy 1990-06:
Academic Degrees, associate degrees indicate that the holder has
developed proficiencies sufficient to prepare for upper division
collegiate work or to enter directly into a specific occupation.
Associate degrees are awarded only for completion of a coherent
program of study designed for a specific purpose. They reflect
satisfactory achievement of a minimum of 60 semester hours of
credit, in two parts: a general education component and an area
of concentration or major component.
- Associate of Arts (A.A.)
An Associate of Arts degree program is designed
specifically for transfer into baccalaureate degree
programs in the arts, humanities, social or behavioral
sciences fields, or in professional fields based upon
these disciplines. Recipients of the A.A. degree normally
complete a minimum of 60 credit hours.
- Associate of Science (A.S.)
An Associate of Science degree program is
designed primarily for transfer into baccalaureate
programs in one of the mathematical, biological, or
physical sciences, or into one of the professional fields
with these fields as its base. The A.S. degree also
normally requires the successful completion of 60
semester hours of study.
D. Policy Statement
The policy of the Board of Governors of the State System of
Higher Education encourages the seamless transfer of students
between accredited Pennsylvania community colleges and System
universities and between and among System universities. To that
end, community college and System students who meet the
established eligibility criteria shall be granted an Academic
Passport, which shall provide entry to a System university and,
pursuant to the guidelines below, ensure the transfer and
acceptance of course credits.
E. Procedures and Criteria for the Academic Passport
The following sections outline the eligibility criteria, for
the Academic Passport and the procedures under which credits
earned at one institution may be accepted by and applied to a
degree program at the receiving institution.
- Students Transferring With an Associate Degree
Students are encouraged to complete an Associate
of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree
program. prior to transfer. Students who earn the A.A. or
A.S. degree in a transfer or college parallel program
from an accredited public Pennsylvania community college
and who apply in accordance with the established
university time frame shall have an Academic Passport
that provides entry into any university in the State
System of Higher Education.
System universities will recognize and honor the
Academic Passport by admitting such students and shall,
consistent with G.5 (Guiding Principles) apply credit
towards graduation for all college parallel course work
completed for the associate degree.
Up to a maximum of 45 general education credits
and liberal arts course credits earned at the two-year
college shall be used to meet lower division university
general education requirements, even if the receiving
university does not offer the specific course being
transferred or has not designated that course as general
education. A course by course match shall not be required.
Capacity limits and/or higher admissions
standards may apply to certain high demand academic
programs.
Students transferring with an Associate of Arts
or Associate of Science degree to a System university
must have a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA)
in all course work presented for transfer from each
institution attended.
Associate of Arts and Associate of Science
degrees recognized for the-Academic Passport must
contain, as a minimum, 30 hours of liberal arts arnong
the following fields of study: Composition/Communications,
Humanities/Fine Art, Behavioral/Social Sciences,
Biological/Physical Sciences, and Mathematics and
Computer Science. Vocational, technical, and career
courses shall not be used to satisfy general education
requirements.
- Intra-Systern Transfer
Incumbent System university students who have
attained a GPA of 2.0 or higher in a minimum of 12 credit
hours of college level course work shall hold an Academic
Passport enabling transfer to any other System university.
System universities shall recognize and honor
the Passport held by incumbent students who apply within
the established university time frame by providing
admission upon transfer and shall, consistent with G.5 (Guiding
Principles), apply credit towards graduation for all
college course work completed at the sending university.
Up to a maximum of 45 general education- credits
and/or liberal arts course credits earned at the sending
university shall be used to meet lower division
university general education requirements, even if the
receiving university does not offer the specific course
being transferred or has not designated that course as
general education. A course by course match shall not be
required.
Capacity limits and/or higher admissions
standards 'may apply to certain high demand academic
programs.
Instruction Through Distance Learning: With the
prior approval of the student's home institution, System
students holding the Academic Passport shall be entitled
to take any course offered through distance learning and
listed in the catalogue at any other System university
and have those credits and the grade earned accepted by
their home institution. The home institution retains the
right to determine the application of such credits
towards the satisfaction of specific degree or major
requirements.
F. Procedures and Criteria for Transferring Without
the Academic Passport
Pennsylvania community college students who have not
completed the A.S. or A.A. degree may also apply to and be
accepted for admission to a System university. To facilitate the
transfer of students with a minimum of 12 credit hours of college
level course work, up to a maximum of 45 credits in courses which
have been designated and credited as general education by an
accredited Pennsylvania community college shall be used to meet
lower division university general education requirements, even if
the receiving university does not offer the specific course being
transferred or has not designated that course as general
education.
Students seeking to transfer course credits without the
completed A.S. or A.A. degree must have a minimum cumulative
GPA of 2.0 or greater in all course work presented for transfer
for each institution attended-
G. Guiding Principles
- Students seeking to transfer to a State System university
and who are admissible shall receive an evaluation of
credits prior to enrollment and payment of tuition and
fees. (Application fees may still be required.)
- Current or future mutually agreed upon institutional
articulation agreements may provide for the transfer of
credits in excess of the numbers contained in this policy.
Transfer students who meet the conditions of published
articulation agreements (i.e., 2+2) between the sending
and receiving institutions shall not be required to take
a higher number of credits for the baccalaureate degree
than indigenous students of the receiving institution.
- For students holding an Academic Passport, admission to a
specific curriculum and acceptance of transfer credits in
that curriculum at a participating university shall be
determined by the university based upon the same
established criteria required for indigenous students.
- Students transferring from a Pennsylvania community
college with an Academic Passport shall be entitled to
the same rights and privileges accorded System students
with junior status.
- In the acceptance and application of credits for students
holding, an Academic Passport, the receiving university
shall look first to apply as many credits as possible
towards the satisfaction of lower division general
education requirements. Next the receiving university
shall look towards applying the credits remaining to
satisfy requirements in the major. Lastly, credits may be
applied to satisfy elective requirements. It is the
intent of this policy that credits earned by a community
college student as part of a qualifying degree program
should be accepted and applied towards completion of the
baccalaureate degree. It is recognized that in certain
circumstances, such as a change in major or intended
program of study, it may not be possible to apply all
credits earned at the community college to the four-year
degree; however, absent legitimate academic reasons, the
intent of this policy is to make full and complete use of
credits earned in a qualified A.A. or A.S. degree program.
- When a student transfers from one State System university
to another, the record of all successfully completed
undergraduate credits taken by the student at a System
university shall be placed on the transcript of the
receiving institution. The credits shall be evaluated by
the receiving institution to determine which shall apply
to general education requirements, the major requirements
of the program in which the student is enrolled, or
electives. State System universities shall honor and
accept credits earned at other State System institutions.
It is recognized that given the specific requirements of
some majors for certification or licensure and the fact
that students often do change majors, it may not always
be possible to apply all credits earned to the receiving
institution's degree program. The intent of this policy,
however, is to maximize the acceptance and application of
credits earned by a student at another System university.
- Consistent with G.3 above, transfer students shall not be
required to repeat or retake courses which they have
already successfully completed at another accredited
institution, as defined in this policy.
H. Implementation
- The intent of this policy is to ensure that students
transferring to System universities have the skills and
competencies to succeed in upper level college work.
Competency may also be demonstrated through examination,
and each university should provide transfer students with
the same opportunities as non-transfer students to
demonstrate their competence.
- System universities shall publish and promote all of
their transfer programs, including the Academic Passport
and other articulation agreements. They also shall offer
transfer advisement and counseling to community college
and university students interested in seeking admission
to their institution. An office or person shall be
designated at each System university to manage the
articulation and transfer process internally and to
provide the contact point for external communication. A
student appeals process for transfer issues shall be
developed at each System university and published in the
university catalog and other relevant documents.
- Coordination of curriculum matters shall be the
responsibility of the Articulation Coordinating Council
with representatives of the participating colleges and
universities meeting on a regular basis to work
cooperatively to continuously improve and enhance the
articulation between State System universities and
Pennsylvania community colleges.
- The Articulation Coordinating Council shall convene a
meeting of System university faculty representatives and
community college faculty representatives for the purpose
of enhancing and advancing the development of program to
program articulation agreements, exploring agreement on a
common core for general education, and to define more
fully the distinctions between upper and lower division
courses, and the assignment of course numbers. Ile
discipline based faculty groups also may consider
programmatic implications associated with implementation
of this policy.
- It is recognized that much work remains to be done before
Pennsylvania has an effective statewide articulation
program. To that end, the Board of Governors directs the
System universities to join with other publicly funded
higher education institutions to (1) develop a statewide
articulation program which would consider establishment
of core to core general education and program to program
agreements and (2) determine the applicability of
Associate of Applied Science degree credits to
baccalaureate degree programs as well as the feasibility
of common course numbering, indexing, or other
innovations designed to provide students with a more
effective and efficient pathway through higher education.
I.
Periodic Review
Each State System
university shall prepare an outcomes assessment report on the
effectiveness of the Academic Passport to be used as a basis for
any necessary revisions and improvements. Such reports shall be
compiled by the Office of the Chancellor and presented to the
Board of Governors one year following the adoption of this policy
and biannually thereafter. Included in the assessment shall be an
institutional review of transfer decisions, a survey of students
who have transferred, and other relevant data (e.g., retention
rates, grade point averages, and gaduation rates).
J. Effective Date
The Academic Passport (Sections E.1 and E.2 of this policy)
shall become effective immediately.
Section F pertains to students transferring without a
completed degree program, and shall become effective beginning
with the fall semester 1999. This policy supercedes and replaces
Board of Governors Policy 1983-05: Relationship with Two-Year
Institutions.
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