Western Interstate Commissionfor Higher Education

Interstate Passport ®: Learning Outcomes Solution to Credit Loss in Transfer

Anna T. Galas, MSDirector, Academic Leadership InitiativesWestern Interstate Commission for Higher Education

R. Joel Farrell II, Ph.D., LPC, NCCChief of Academic AnalyticsAir University/Community College of the Air Force

Michael Torrens, MPPDirector of Analysis, Assessment and Accreditation University State University

INTERSTATEPASSPORT.WICHE.EDU

Today’s Topics

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Why Interstate Passport®

Transfer in the U.S. Today

What is Interstate Passport and How Does it Work

Who’s Involved Now

What Does the Data Tell Us

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Why Interstate Passport ®

“. . . there are significant barriers to transfer—the most pressing being the loss of credits that community college students experience when they transition to four-year institutions.”

Improving the transfer process and ensuring that students can transfer credits efficiently has the potential to substantially raise college attainment.

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Jenkins, D., & Fink, J. (2015). What We Know About Transfer. New York, NY: Columbia University, Teachers College, Community College Research Center.

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Interstate Passport®

A national program facilitating block transfer of lower-division general educationattainment based on student learning outcomes,

rather than on specific courses and credits.

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Student Focused Faculty Driven Institutional Autonomy Quality Assurance

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Student Focused

Interstate Passport® Goal: Student Success Save students’ time and money

Increase persistence & degree completion – & finish on-time

Avoid unnecessary repetition of learning already achieved

Know in advance of transfer that General Education requirements will be met

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Passport Earners

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In 3 Academic Years

(2016-2019)38,886

Student Focused

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The Framework

Based on 63 Passport Learning Outcomes across nine areas of learning Each supported by multiple examples of some of the

ways faculty members teach and assess learning at the lower division With built-in quality assurance based on academic

progress data.

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Faculty Driven

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How Does Interstate Passport® Work

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Foundational Skills

Knowledge of Concepts

Crosscutting Skills

WrittenCommuni-

cation

OralCommuni-

cation

Quantita–tive

Literacy

Teamworkand ValueSystems

CriticalThinking

Nine Knowledge and Skill AreasNatural

SciencesHumanCultures

Human Societyand the

Individual

CreativeExpression

Faculty Driven

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The Institution’s Role

Determines that its own learning outcomes are congruent with and cover same range of learningas the Passport Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Identifies the courses and lists of choices (Block) by which students can achieve the PLOs

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Institutional Autonomy

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Sample Passport BlocksInstitutional Autonomy

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Benefits to Institutions

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Simplified transfer process

Curricular flexibility

Faculty ownership

Academic progress reports for continuous improvement

Increased retention and graduation rates

Recruitment strategy

Institutional Autonomy

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Passport Recorded on Transcript

Passport recorded on student transcript, indicating that Lower Division General Education requirements in nine areas have been achieved.

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Quality Assurance

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Tracking Academic Performance

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1. Institutions Report Data to National Student Clearinghouse Passport Completions Passport Verify Academic Progress Tracking

For a tutorial and guides to these services, see: https://studentclearinghouse.info/interstate-passport/

Quality Assurance

2. Annual Reports for >>>Quality Assurance Sending Institution Passport Review Board

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32Institutions

In 14 States

Interstate Passport Network

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Interstate Passport Network

https://interstatepassport.wiche.eduInterstate Passport | SACSCOC – December 8, 201915

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Military and Veterans

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Air University & Community College of the Air Force 165,000 students

Prohibited from teaching GE by federal policy

Competency-based degree programs

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Interstate Passport | 2019 AASCU Pre-Conference Workshop– July 25, 201917

Outreach

Thank You!Anna T. Galas, MSDirector, Academic Leadership InitiativesWestern Interstate Commission for Higher EducationBoulder, COagalas@wiche.edu

R. Joel Farrell II, Ph.D., LPC, NCCChief of Academic AnalyticsAir UniversityMontgomery, ALrobert.farrell.16@hqau.af.edu

Michael Torrens, MPPDirector of Analysis, Assessment and Accreditation Utah State UniversityLogan, UTmichael.torrens@usu.edu