Michigan Transfer Network Upgrade Nearing Completion
|
|
The Michigan Transfer Network (
MTN
)
upgrade is nearing completion, with a launch date finalized for May 31. The new MTN website,
MiTransfer.org
, will provide expanded information about course-to-course equivalency, Michigan’s general education transfer package, known as the Michigan Transfer Agreement, and comprehensive details about MiTransfer Pathways that are currently under development.
Staff from the three associations – Michigan Community College Association, Michigan Association of State Universities, and the Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities are working with institutions to ensure a high-quality website and a smooth transition. Campus officials/project team members have worked hard to make this all happen. This project would not be possible without their efforts.
MTN Upgrade timeline:
Upload Final Course Equivalencies and Institutional Information (May 1-10)
Institutions must upload a full set of course data and verify the accuracy of the institutional information between 8am on Wednesday, May 1 and Friday, May 10 at 5pm. Participating institutions MUST add course equivalencies and update institutional information between May 1 and May 10. Participants should begin to prepare for this now and complete all 12 steps of the upload process including moving the data from “Staging” to “Live Instructions.”
Site Launch (May 31)
The new Michigan Transfer Network at
www.mitransfer.org
will launch on May 31. The current
MTN
will redirect users to the new site.
Ongoing Training (Summer and Fall 2019)
The project team will continue to provide training and resources to help institutions use the new Michigan Transfer Network. Please watch the Announcement on the Dashboard for additional information.
|
|
MiTransfer Pathways – Phase I Progression
|
|
MASU, MCCA, and MICU are working on the following set of MiTransfer Pathways Phase I tasks in order to move the project forward:
- Ensure that all courses transfer as direct equivalents between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities, the equivalencies are reported to the Michigan Transfer Network, and are documented in the previously created equivalency matrices.
- Identify the community colleges or four-year colleges and universities that do not offer one of the MiTransfer Pathways courses, document that the equivalency does not exist, and identify how the institution will accept the course in the agreement.
- Provide support and technical assistance to the institutions that do not have a direct equivalency. Once the institutions reach a decision about the equivalency, add the direct equivalency to the equivalency matrix or document why the equivalency does not exist. If both institutions offer the course, then it is an expectation that the institutions will work diligently to align the course.
- Edit the articulation agreement with input from participating institutions. Clarify details regarding the maintenance of the agreement, communication responsibilities of participating institutions, and provisions for joining the agreement.
These tasks will be completed in the following timeline:
- May-August 2019 - Complete all course equivalencies
- Aug-September 2019 - Finalize articulation agreement and appendices
- Sept- Oct 2019 - Distribute articulation agreement to participating institutions and collect signatures
- Oct-Nov 2019 - Conduct press announcement regarding launch of statewide MiTransfer Pathways Articulation Agreement (Phase I)
|
|
MiTransfer Pathways - Phase II, Meeting II
|
|
- Communication
- Computer Science and Computer Information Systems
- Mechanical Engineering
- Social Work
MiTransfer Pathways Phase II participants should review the following steps to prepare for the upcoming meeting:
Register for Phase II, Summit II
The second convening of MiTransfer Pathways Phase II Program faculty and institutional transfer liaisons will take place on Tuesday, May 14 at Lansing Community College’s WEST CAMPUS (5708 Cornerstone Dr., Lansing, MI 48917). Please
click here
to self-register online before May 7.
Note about Computer Information Systems (CIS) programs:
Only computer science programs will meet on May 14. We will not focus on CIS programs at the meeting on May 14. Instead, please look for additional information about building CIS pathways from MCCA’s Erica Orians this spring.
Upload program worksheets and course syllabi to Canvas
Worksheet templates for each pathway are available on the
project website
. Download the template, complete for your campus, and upload your version to the appropriate pathway discussion board on the project’s Canvas forum prior to the event on May 14.
Update course equivalencies in the Michigan Transfer Network
Campuses are asked to upload syllabi for MiTransfer Pathways courses to the appropriate Canvas discussion boards to facilitate equivalency building. Institutions should work with partner institutions to affirm course equivalency and code these in the MTN to demonstrate equivalency to the public.
|
|
MiTransfer Pathways - Phase III, Meeting I
|
|
The first MiTransfer Pathways Phase III meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 15, at Lansing Community College - West.
Click here
to register for the summit.
The goal of this meeting is to identify required, recommended, optional and appropriate courses that meet associate and bachelor’s degree program requirements, especially in major-specific courses, as well as program electives, in the Transfer Pathways for Art,
English
,
Exercise Science/Kinesiology
, and
Public Health.
|
|
Information for Phase III participants:
|
|
Please plan to bring the following materials with you to the May 15 event
: A laptop computer, digital tablet, or smart phone device to access electronic resources as-needed. Department/program information to help facilitate cross-institution sharing, including: Course catalogs, Program guides, Course syllabi, Current transfer guides and articulation agreements will also be helpful.
C
onnect with your MiTransfer Pathways institutional team
. Institutions can send a team of up to 5 representatives, including a transfer liaison and faculty designees for Art, English, Exercise Science/Kinesiology, and Public Health. While not required, it is recommended that your transfer liaison reach out to convene your institutions’ team for a meeting on campus prior to the May 15 Summit in order to get to know one another, review assembled institutional materials, and conduct a preliminary discussion on institutional priorities to maximize the institution’s involvement in this project.
Review the following project materials
:
The work of guiding transfer strategies and selecting transfer pathways is being conducted by the Michigan Transfer Steering Committee (TSC) which, established in fall of 2016, is comprised of more than 30 representatives from Michigan community colleges, public universities, independent colleges & universities, and MACRAO, along with ex-officio members from the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU), Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), and the Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities (MICU).
Among the next steps of the Transfer Pathways initiative is the development of an Articulation Agreement. This work is currently underway. A press announcement about the Phase I MiTransfer Pathways is expected to take place later this year.
|
|
Spotlight on Transfer - Alma College
|
|
Alma College is proud to improve services to both prospective and enrolled transfer students. With the goal to enable those seeking an Alma College degree to know exactly how their transfer credit can enhance their program of study and the graduation requirements, Alma College is working to remove communication and policy barriers for transfer students. In addition to Alma College’s support of the Michigan Transfer Network, they are also supporting a Transfer Credit Evaluation Tool hosted on their website to assist students in determining how their transfer work will equate to Alma College courses.
“At Alma College we value the diverse paths our students take to earn degrees. We take pride in our increased engagement with statewide initiatives such as the MiTransfer Network and look forward to expanding articulation agreements and seamless programs with our Community College partners,” says Mariah Orzolek, Alma’s Registrar.
|
|
A multitude of stakeholders at Michigan’s colleges and universities are enthusiastically engaging in the work of advancing the statewide student transfer agenda. Staff at MCCA, MASU and MICU are eager to harness this energy and to produce tangible results that will improve transparency and efficiency in the transfer process, while maintaining high-quality instructional delivery and student outcomes.
If you have questions or comments you wish to share as it involves advancing the student transfer and student success in Michigan, you are encouraged to contact a member of the
Transfer Steering Committee
. You are also encouraged to contact Erica Orians at the MCCA, Will Emerson at MASU, or Shannon Price at MICU; they are serving as the primary project coordinators and staff liaisons for the MTN replacement and MiTransfer pathways initiatives.
|
|
Erica Lee Orians, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Center for Student Success
Michigan Community College Association
|
|
Will Emerson, Ph.D.
Director of Student Success Initiatives
Michigan Association of State Universities
Shannon Price
Director of Member Services
Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities
|
|
The MiTRANSFER Newsletter is jointly produced by the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU), and the Michigan Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MICU)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
