Transfer Trends and Issues
In July, community college and university representatives from Arizona’s public postsecondary institutions attended the 3rd Biennial Conference on Transfer and Articulation. The national conference entitled, Policies, Practices, and Technologies Toward Multidirectional Transfer, provided information on institutional based policies and practices related to transfer and articulation. Two major issues discussed at the conference were the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and trends on student mobility.
Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA)
At the federal level, there is consideration of transfer policy issues as part of Higher Education Act. Historically, HEA has focused on federal financial aid issues and student support programs. Early information indicates that institutions may be responsible for having a readable and understandable policy that explains how transfer credits will be accepted. According to the College Access & Opportunity Act, the bill would also ensure credits are not unfairly and arbitrarily denied based solely on the accreditor of a college or university where the credits being transferred were earned, so long as the accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education (2005). UCR will be following this issue and will provide updates as the legislation moves forward. (Continues...)