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Transfer Problems
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Many students attend a two-year college with the intent to transfer on to a four-year university. Others decide some time into their degree program that transferring to another program fits their academic or career needs. How can you complete the transfer process without losing credits along the way? And how can you, as a student leader, ensure that future students at your college will transfer problem-free? The following is written assuming a transfer from a two-year college to a four-year university, but is equally applicable to all types of credit transfer in Minnesota.
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Prior to 1995, your college was an independent institution, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system did not exist. In fact, when MnSCU was created by the legislature, three separate higher education systems were merged into one. There were the state universities and the community college systems, and the technical college system which was run largely within the K-12 system. As a result of three separate higher education systems coming together, transfer of credits between schools was a matter of individual agreements. Many students took courses at a two-year college, only to learn after graduation that their preferred state university would not accept their credits towards a degree program.
Today, transfer of credits within the MnSCU system is still complex, but much more predictable if you follow the right course at your two-year college. There are two main ways that students transfer from a two-year degree program to a four-year degree program. First, if you are in an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or some Associate of Science (A.S.) programs, your curriculum includes the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). The MnTC is comprised of 40 credits of coursework within ten designated “goal areas” of learning outcomes. If you complete the entire “package” of MnTC coursework, you can transfer all those classes into a four-year degree program as lower division general education credits. However, an A.A. degree usually requires 60 credits, so that you graduate with 20 credits of work beyond the MnTC. Problems occur for students when they choose courses in those last 20 credits that will not transfer into their anticipated major at a four-year university. All of these credits will transfer, but many will transfer as electives and not as major requirements.
The second way that students transfer credit is through articulation agreements. These agreements are between individual programs and individual schools. Articulation agreements allow two-year college students to complete an A.S. or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) and transfer the entirety of credits to a four-year degree program. There are over 1400 articulation agreements within the MnSCU system. Problems occur for students when they decide to attend a four-year university that is not part of their two-year program’s articulation agreement, or they enter an A.A.S. program and start thinking about pursuing a four-year degree later.
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How can make sure that your two-year degree transfers seamlessly to a four-year degree program? The answer is planning. No matter what type of two-year degree you are pursuing, early and ongoing planning is the key to successful course transfer. There are many transfer-planning resources for students, including:
- Transfer specialists: Every college has at least one transfer specialist that can assist you in making an academic plan to meet your needs. Seek them out to help you select courses that will aid in transfer down the road.
- Academic advisors: Even if your college does not require you to meet with an academic advisor, set up an appointment. Meet with them on a regular basis and tell them about your academic plans. Advisors can help you sift through options and work with the university you hope to attend to get information on equivalent courses to take as part of your two-year degree.
- Course syllabi: Keep the syllabus that you given for each of your courses because you might not be able to get an additional copy later. It might be a valuable resource when you are trying to prove to a university that the college courses you have taken are equivalent to their requirements.
- www.mntransfer.org: This website provides tools and links for students interested in transferring to or from MnSCU institutions, the University of Minnesota, and some private colleges and universities. The website has a student portal where you can find out who your transfer specialist is, view articulation agreements, and get transfer planning advice.
- https://oh.transfer.org/cas/: This website allows you to match the courses you have taken or plan to take with equivalent courses at four-year universities. Use this tool to make registration decisions at your college, with some assurance that the courses you take will transfer into your preferred four-year degree program.
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: This “hotline” is run by the Minnesota State College Student Association to listen to student concerns about transfer and direct students to appropriate resources. Email the hotline to share your transfer story with us.
Transfer of credits within the MnSCU system is a complex process, but with a little persistence and foresight, you can navigate it successfully!
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Successfully transferring your credits is important, but as a student leader, paving the way to make the process easier for future students is essential. The Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) and the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) have joined together to research student concerns about credit transfer within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (MnSCU) and work with the MnSCU system to resolve barriers that hinder seamless transfer. Student senates were instrumental in marketing the transfer hotline last year, and it is up to current student leaders to keep the momentum going as we make improving transfer of credits a priority for the work we do this year.
Now is the Time
It has never been a better time to address transfer issues within the system. MSCSA and MSUSA are working in partnership on the issue, Board of Trustee members are interested in student concerns, and legislators have expressed interest in improving transfer for students. Facing a huge state budget deficit, legislators and Trustees may not be able to fund higher education in the way they would like or work with students to keep tuition low, but they can make strides on policy issues like transfer. As a result, MSCSA and MSUSA have an invaluable opportunity to work with decision-makers this year to improve the transfer process. However, we cannot accomplish anything without the assistance, support, and passion of student leaders on campus. So, how can your senate hit the ground running this year to improve transfer of credit?
MSCSA encourages you to gather student leaders together to brainstorm ways that your campus can commit to campaigning for changes to transfer policy. As student leaders, ask yourselves:
- Why does a victory on transfer issues matter?
- What is the best argument you can make for improving transfer for the students on your campus?
- What commitment can your senate make to carrying a campaign on your campus?
MSCSA is 100,000 students, one powerful voice - together we can command attention to this vital issue. |
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Transfer Problems?
