Articulation and Transfer

Stephanie Dumont, Golden West College, Executive Committee

Whereas, Resolution 4.05 F06 sought the widespread dissemination of the document California Community College Transfer: Recommended Guidelines (2006), which was co-published by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and the California Community Colleges Transfer Center Directors Association;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges widely disseminate the document California Community College Transfer: Recommended Guidelines (2006) and make it available on its website.

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has previously opposed the use of the word “transfer” in degree titles (Resolution 9.02 F06) because the use of the word “transfer” in degree titles may lead students to believe the completion of the degree ensures transfer to a four-year institution and students may believe that all courses they successfully complete for a “transfer” degree are transferable;

Whereas, Title 5 55063, Minimum Requirements for the Associate Degree, outlines specific general education area requirements that each college must include for the associate degree;

Whereas, The only way for a California community college student to receive associate degree General Education area credit for an AP score is if an equivalency has been locally established;

Whereas, Many students attend more than one California community college campus and AP course equivalencies may not exist or may vary greatly among the California community college campuses; and

Whereas, 1.2 million, or 21%, of students in the Class of 2004 took at least one Advanced Placement course (Epstein, David. A New AP, Inside Higher Education, May 26, 2005);

Whereas, Title 5 requires that it be discipline faculty that determine Advanced Placement course equivalency, that the curriculum committee approve Advanced Placement course equivalency, and that publication of the course equivalency be included on transcripts (Title 5 55052);

Whereas, 1.2 million, or 21%, of students in the Class of 2004 took at least one Advanced Placement course (Epstein, David. "A New AP", Inside Higher Education, May 26, 2005);

Whereas, There are 37 Advanced Placement Subject examinations, and an ever-increasing number of students with Advanced Placement scores are enrolling at California community colleges; and

Whereas, There is wide variation among the California community colleges in the dissemination of Advanced Placement course equivalency information;

Whereas, In the 1990-91 academic year, the California Legislature allocated $4.365 million to develop transfer centers at each college and the Chancellor's Office published A Plan for Implementing Transfer Centers recommending full-time transfer center directors, and in the following year (1991-92) these funds were rolled into the general fund with a promise from colleges that this funding would continue to be used for transfer centers;

Whereas, California community college faculty support the principles of efficient student transfer and timely attainment of the baccalaureate degree and many Articulation Officers and Transfer Center Directors are concerned that the CSU system's Lower Division Transfer Pattern (LDTP) project, as it is currently being implemented, is counterproductive to these goals;

Whereas, Community colleges have no way of knowing exactly how the LDTP will be applied for, granted, or implemented at the CSU;

Whereas, Increasing numbers of community college students request course credit based upon Advanced Placement (AP) scores;

Whereas, The policies for awarding AP credit differ significantly among community colleges and between community colleges and universities, creating confusion for transfer students;

Whereas, The last update of the California State University (CSU) General Education AP Equivalency list was in 1995, while there is no AP Equivalency List for IGETC; and

Whereas, The expressed desire of the faculty of the California community colleges is to see students attain a higher degree of skill in English and math as part of associate degree programs of study;

Whereas, Title 5 55002 stipulates, in part, ".the grade is based on demonstrated proficiency in subject matter and the ability to demonstrate that proficiency, at least in part, by means of essays.";

Whereas, Research shows that there is a positive correlation between progress in basic skills curriculum and student success in transfer level coursework; and