Create uniform nationwide system of recognition and transferring of courses for higher education institutions
by Olga Like
1. Existing system is state based
1.1. Challenges
1.1.1. Limited to only agreements between some colleges and rarely includes inter-state agreements
1.1.2. Only 8 states have common course numbering
1.1.3. Advisors sometimes have to advise students to go "backward in order to go forward"
1.1.4. Quarter vs. semester systems difficult to transfer
1.2. Problems to students
1.2.1. Take similar courses already took
1.2.2. Pay for a class already on their academic record
1.2.3. Private and state university transfers are difficult
1.2.4. Higher courses transfer as lower courses
2. Federal-based database
2.1. States will have an input thus not fully controlled by the federal government
2.2. Will provide advisors with a tool to evaluate courses instead of currently hunting through college websites
2.2.1. As a result advising will become efficient
3. National common course numbering system
3.1. Might be easier to implement with pre-requests but not with degree courses given the many types of instiutions
4. Associate in Arts (A.A) degree automatically meets general education requirements at any institution
5. Outcomes
5.1. Reduces transfer shock
5.2. Reduces cultural shock
5.3. Access to institutions with out barriers, upon meeting requriements
5.4. Improve transfer orientation for students
5.5. Increase minority transfer rates
5.6. Involve high schools in agreements
6. Incorporate student input
6.1. Create student board
6.2. Empower student to evaluate courses
7. Key Partners
7.1. American Association of Community Colleges
7.2. American Association of State Colleges and Universities
7.3. Association of American Colleges and Universities
7.4. U.S. Department of Education
8. Activities
8.1. Sell idea to colleges and universities
8.2. Design database
8.3. Collect data
9. Resources
9.1. Use http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ as a reference. Understand what is working there and what needs to be fixed to not make similar mistakes
9.2. Look at existing databases created within states
