academic transfer pathways & guided pathways to success

Academic Transfer Pathways & Guided Pathways to Success

Board of Higher Education Meeting | March 10, 2015

Current Transfer Landscape

Carlos Santiago, Senior Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

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General Education

34 credits plus 6 add’l elective credits

Associate’s Degree

20 add’l credits, in major (foundational) or as electives

Baccalaureate Major

36 credits

Baccalaureate Degree

All above + 24 minor, elective & add’l gen-ed credits = 120 credits TOTAL

Current Transfer Landscape

The Building Blocks of an Academic Degree

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Current Transfer Landscape

MassTransfer System-wide Policy

System-wide Benefits

Completing Gen-Ed

Transfer Block

Completing Associate’s Degree Eligible for

MassTransfer

2.0+ GPA 2.0+ GPA 2.5+ GPA 3.0+ GPA

Automatic satisfaction of most or all gen-ed requirements

Guaranteed transfer of credits

No application fee

No application essay

Guaranteed admission, space permitting

33% tuition waiver

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o Statewide course-to-course equivalency databaseo “Common Course Numbering Project” or “MAST”

o Statewide transfer pathways within majorsfor community college studentso “Academic Transfer Pathways”

o Campus-level building blocks by majoro “Guided Pathways to Success”

Current Transfer Landscape

In Progress: Filling the Gaps in MassTransfer

Academic Transfer PathwaysCarlos Santiago, Senior Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

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Most common transfer student within public system is one transferring from a community college to a state university or UMass campus

Currently ~50% of those transfer prior to earning 60 credits / associate’s degree

Massachusetts is behind the curve of other states in this area

Legislative language for Vision Project Performance Incentive Fund has mandated work in this area

Transfer friendliness promotes college completion and supports Vision Project “Big Three” Strategy

Facilitating transfer benefits students, sending institutions and receiving institutions

Academic Transfer Pathways

Reasons to Create Academic Transfer Pathways

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Academic Transfer Pathways

Academic Transfer Pathway Map

34cred.

• Gen-Ed Transfer Block

~18cred.

• Foundational Courses for Major

~8cred.

• Electives & Add’l Courses

= first 60 credits needed to fulfill freshman & sophomore requirements in major

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Identified foundational courses in six disciplines:

Biology

Chemistry

Economics

History

Political Science

Psychology

Academic Transfer Pathways

First Phase Completed

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Academic Transfer Pathways

Demo: Web-Based Student Interface

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Academic Transfer Pathways

Demo: Web-Based Student Interface

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Academic Transfer Pathways

Based on System-wide Course Equivalency Agreements

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Complete Academic Transfer Pathway Maps for first six disciplines—spring 2015

Reorganize MassTransfer website—summer 2015

Develop shared learning outcomes for mapped disciplines—beginning fall 2015 (long-term project)

Complete 10 more disciplines—AY2016

The 16 total disciplines will capture 70% of all transfer students, according to current data

Academic Transfer Pathways

Next Steps

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o Business

o Criminal Justice

o Communication & Media Studies

o Computer Science

o Early Childhood Education

o English (including developmental sequences)

o Liberal Arts

o Mathematics (including developmental sequences)

o Sociology

o STEM foundational degree

Academic Transfer Pathways

Second Phase: AY2016

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For more information on the MassTransfer policy, go to www.mass.edu/masstransfer

For information on Academic Transfer Pathways, go to www.mass.edu/strategic/comp_transferpathways.asp

Guided Pathways to Success

Dale Allen, Vice President for Community Engagement, Quinsigamond Community College

Phil Sisson, Provost/Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs,Middlesex Community College

GPS: Essential Components

1. Meta-Majors

2. Aligned Mathematics

3. Default Academic Degree Maps

4. Milestone Courses

5. Structured Schedules

6. Proactive Advising

DO THIS

Guided Pathways to Success

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Higher graduation rates

More on-time graduates

Closing the achievement gap

Fewer lost credits —saving time and money

Guided Pathways to Success

Results

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Since 2013

Bristol Community College

Cape Cod Community College

Fitchburg State University

Greenfield Community College

Middlesex Community College

Mount Wachusett Community College

North Shore Community College

Quinsigamond Community College

TAACCCT Round IV Grant Scaled up to all 15 community colleges

Guided Pathways to Success

Participating Colleges

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Pathways to Achievement, Completion, Career & Transfer (PACCT)

Guided Pathways to Success

MCC’s PIF-Funded PACCT Work

College-wide Change Maps created for all programs, Block schedules developed and implemented, Achievement Coaches hired, Meta-major design underway, Communications program redesigned using CCA principles, Professional Development offerings, 15 to finish and Register Early Campaign Kick-off

STEM GPS Implement success strategies: Academic maps, Meta major(s), intrusive advising, math aligned to majors, default pathways, critical milestone courses

DOL Round 4 Using CCA principles in Adv. Man., Biotech, Engineering and Eng. Tech, and IT/CS

Curricular/Workforce Alignment

Employ a Career Services team model to align internship opportunities to program outcomes and workplace skills

Student Success / Achievement Gap Initiatives

Achievement Coaches have identified cohorts who will receive tailored information and services

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Physical Science

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Discussion

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For more information on Guided Pathways to Success, go to www.mass.edu/stem/initiatives/gps.asp