COTA-Advisory Council Minutes

COTA AC
Meeting Notes 7/17/08

Members in attendance: LaShanda Boone, Artie Fowler, Hillary Fuhrman (DHE ex–officio), Rita Gulstad, Melissa Hattman, James Kralicek, Sarah Larson, Angelette Prichett (DHE Research Associate) Debbie Schatz, Kandis Smith (COTA ex–officio), Yvette Sweeney, and B.J. White (DHE Research Associate)

Members absent: LaShandra Shepard,

Guests: Heather Fabian (DHE Research Associate), Jeremy Kintzel (DHE Research Associate), and Julia Leeman (COTA)

Acknowledgements:
Hillary Fuhrman expressed gratitude to COTA AC for their efforts over the inaugural year from DHE and COTA. Hillary also announced that she will be leaving Missouri but will still be connected to DHE. B.J. White will serve as the DHE ex–officio to COTA AC for 2008–2009.

Kandis Smith shared that COTA expressed their appreciation for the feedback that was shared from the AC group and that it “makes a difference”.

COTA AC expressed appreciation to Bruce Miles (Metro Business College) and Doug Couch (University of Central Missouri) for their service during the inaugural year. Appreciation was also given to Hillary Furhman, in recognition of her support of the group.

Election Results:
New members, LaShanda Boone (Harris Stowe State College) and James Kralicek (Pinnacle Career Institute) were welcomed. Julia Leeman (COTA member, Sanford Brown College–St. Peters) was introduced and welcomed. Angelette Prichett (DHE) was introduced and will serve as a resource to COTA AC.

Rita Gulstad was installed as the new committee chair. Appreciation was expressed to Melissa Hattman for her leadership during 2007–2008, and congratulations on her re–election to the committee.

Elections were held for the Chair Elect, Secretary, and Membership Coordinator positions. Election outcomes:

Chair Elect:Yvette Sweeney
Secretary:Artie Fowler
Membership Coordinator:Debbie Schatz

The 2008–2009 meeting schedule:
September 4, 2008 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
October 2, 2008 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
November 13, 2008 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
December 4, 2008 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
January 8, 2009 (optional) – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
January 29, 2009 (Columbia Missouri) – 4:00 P.M.
February 5, 2009 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
March 5, 2009 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
April 2, 2009 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
May 7, 2009 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
June 4, 2009 – 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

July 2007 to July 2008, Year in Review/Accomplishments:

• Election of COTA AC officers
• COTA AC Mission Adoption
• Establishment of a meeting schedule
• Transfer and Articulation Conference planning, presentation, and evaluation
• Establishment of COTA AC web site
• Reviewed current issues in Missouri higher education
• Conference presentations to raise awareness of COTA AC
  • MoACRAO (Missouri Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers)
  • UM System Transfer Conference
  • NACADA Region 7 (National Academic Advising Association)
  • MACADA (Missouri Academic Advising Association)
  • MCCA (Missouri Community College Association)
• Invitation for COTA AC Chair (whenever possible) to attend COTA meetings
• Creation of a replacement system for lost AC members
• Discussion of best time and larger venue for Transfer and Articulation conference
• Successful election process for new members (two years)
• Investigated the creation of best practices for proprietary credit evaluation

Issues to be continued for 2008–2009:

• Enhanced membership voting list
• Continue investigation of 42 hour general education notation on transcripts
• Investigate standardized data collection on transfer
• Continue to develop best practices for proprietary credit evaluation
  • Create a form and template explanatory letter on COTA AC website that schools could adapt to fully explain needed data for credit evaluation to expedite the process for students (include contact number for person completing the form)
  • Investigate alignment of faculty credentials between nationally and regionally accredited programs
  • Creation of a DHE guide on transfer for parents/students with helpful hints and FAQ’s

Regionally accredited institutions asked if the nationally accredited school catalogs could be added to their web sites. It was also suggested that we try to educate students who are trying to transfer credit so they know what they need to ask for and to whom they need to seek the information from. Also, it was requested by the nationally accredited institutions that when credit was denied, could a follow up communication be established to determine what criteria and course objectives were missing for equivalent credit to be issued in the future.

It was determined that DHE houses the records for proprietary schools that may have closed. It was also suggested that program to program articulation between national and regional accredited institutions may enhance the transfer process.

2009 Transfer and Articulation Conference:
The Transfer and Articulation conference will be on January 30, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Select, Columbia Missouri. Day long access has been secured for three breakout rooms, including two large spaces. AC members discussed the follow up fall 2009 conference (smaller scale) and then the transition to a fall conference from that point (2010 and beyond).

Suggestions needed for:

• Topics
• Keynote
• Breakout Sessions
• Possible overriding theme, “State initiatives as they relate to transfer”

Review of 2008 conference:

• Too much talking in the morning
• Not enough proprietary participation/topics of interest
• Does AC want a keynote speaker?

Suggestion was made to send out a call for proposals. AC members developed the conference tracks and will seek presenters on topics of interest:

• Track 1: Statewide initiatives as it relates to transfer
  1. Curriculum Alignment Initiative update
  2. Coordinated Plan
     • Who, what, where, why
     • Transfer data and how it relates to your institution, in relation to state level transfer policy and the Coordinated PlanDual Credit
  3. College readiness/Developmental Education
  4. Conversation of developmental and college level and how it relates to transfer and graduation rates
  5. How has data book information helped make good statewide policy and higher education better in the state
• Track 2: Best practices in transfer credit
  1. 42 hour general education and how documenting
     • Including documentation on transcripts and how block is really transferring
  2. Proprietary credit
     • Best practices in credit transfer between nationally and regionally accredited institutions
  3. Articulation agreements
  4. Upside down articulation/Innovative transfer programs
• Track 3: Transfer student data/research
  1. Definitions
     • Create a statewide standardized definition:
       • transfer
       • transfer student
       • transfer credit
       • success rate
       • benchmark for success
       • remedial education
  2. How to track and share student data
  3. At risk/Early intervention programs
  4. Student success programs
  5. Retention/Graduation programs
  6. Transfer shock data and programs to help reduce effect
  7. How community colleges define student success – how do they document meeting student expectations when that isn’t a degree

Other suggested topics of interest:

• Look at transfer of courses from various types of institutions
• Begin conversation regarding a model transfer program for Business degrees (similar to AAT)

Reminder that evaluations should be sought immediately following each session, as well as an overall evaluation being given to conference attendees.

COTA will confirm adoption of track themes by end of August, 2008. The call for proposals should be sent by September 1, with a deadline to submit of October 1. Call will be sent to Chief Academic Officers, Transfer and Articulation officers, and all voting members with an invitation to share widely.

Artie Fowler was elected the conference coordinator for COTA AC. Proposals will be sent to the AC mailbox; Artie will distribute them to the AC readers who will be divided by tracks.

Conference subcommittees:

• Programming
• Logistics (food/facilities)
• Registration
• Evaluation results and follow up feedback
• Promotion and marketing

Request will be made to COTA to pick date for the fall conference (third or fourth week of September) so that conference facility reservations can be secured.

Minutes submitted by Yvette Sweeney