Federal/State Dialogue:New Challenges to

Academic Planning and Policy(Transfer and Transfer Technology)

Ken Sauer, Ph.D.

SHEEO Higher Education Policy ConferenceAugust 12, 2009

Sheraton Denver Downtown HotelDenver, Colorado

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Why Transfer Is Important

1. National Consensus: More Degrees Conferred2. Must draw more from underserved and

underprepared populations3. Community colleges are critical in achieving

these goals4. Therefore, transfer is important5. Reverse and lateral transfer important too

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Why Transfer Technology Is Important

1. It’s the 21st Century!2. Transfer will always be complicated, but

technology can make it manageable3. Need for consistency, transparency,

accessibility4. The transfer process needs to be more

efficient

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2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act – 1(SEC. 492. 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.”

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2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act – 2 (SEC. 492. Articulation Agreements)

“Such articulation agreements shall be made

widely and publicly available on the websites of States and such [i.e. public] institutions.”

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2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act – 3 (SEC. 492. 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 …”

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2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act – 4 (SEC. 1104. 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.”

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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

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Suggestions for a Dialogue onTransfer Technology (cont.)

3. Focus area #1: Transfer technology

a) Transfer hub softwareb) Interfaces between student information systemsc) Course equivalency softwared) Degree audit software

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Suggestions for a Dialogue onTransfer 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)

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Suggestions for a Dialogue onTransfer Technology (cont.)

5. Engage/Assemble Stakeholders, Including:

a) States, especially those with initiatives underwayb) Vendors, including the 4-5 dominant SIS

companiesc) People in the trenches, e.g. AACRAO (admissions

officers, registrars), transfer coordinatorsd) Standards groups, e.g. PESCe) Students, faculty

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Contact Information:

Ken Sauer, Ph.D.Senior Associate Commissioner for

Research and Academic AffairsIndiana Commission for Higher Education101 West Ohio Street, Suite 550Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1984(317) 464-4400 ext. 21kens@che.in.govhttp://www.che.in.gov