COTA Meeting Minutes, January 2008

Committee on Transfer and Articulation (COTA)
Missouri Department of Higher Education
January 23, 2008

Participants: Evelyn Jorgenson (Chair), Jeanie Crain, Arlen Dykstra, Karen Finkenkeller, Steven Graham, Mike Grelle, Steven Kurtz, Alton Lacey, Aaron Podolefsky, Jim Scanlon, and Kandis Smith

COTA-AC Representative: Melissa Hattman

MDHE Staff: Chad Hampton, Hillary Fuhrman, Jeremy Kintzel, B.J. White, Ken Winn, Julie Chapman, and Ken Vollmar

Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.

Consent Item

I. Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Dr. Jeanie Crain and seconded by Dr. Mike Grelle to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2007 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

Old Business

II. 2008 Transfer Conference Planning

Ms. Hillary Fuhrman reported that she had recently spoken with the breakout session leaders, Ms. Paula Glover, Dr. Patrick Vaughn, Dr. Jeanie Crain, and Dr. Arlen Dykstra, and that they had discussed the logistics of the sessions. Ms. Melissa Hattman asked if another session leader meeting would be needed. Ms. Fuhrman responded that she and the session leaders felt that they had covered everything they needed to and another meeting would not be needed. Drs. Crain and Dykstra concurred. Dr. Crain asked if there would be an additional announcement/information sent out. Mr. Jeremy Kintzel replied that there would be an email sent out with additional information and that a webpage would be set up with the materials needed for the conference.

Dr. Jorgenson asked if there had been any concerns about the breakout session topics. Ms. Fuhrman reported that there had been some, but that the morning discussion would frame the breakout sessions and provide sufficient information on the Curriculum Alignment Initiative (CAI) to make the sessions productive. Dr. Jorgenson also asked the information from the conference would be wrapped up. Ms. Fuhrman stated that COTA-AC would be taking notes and compiling the information. Ms Fuhrman also noted that the feedback from the participants could not immediately be put into action, due to the nature of CAI, but that it would be taken into account during future stages of the CAI. Ms. Hattman noted that the evaluation forms and seating charts had been completed. Mr. Kintzel reported final arrangements had been finished at the hotel for the conference.
Dr. Jorgenson thanked COTA-AC for the time and hard work that they had put into planning the conference.

III. Dual Credit

Dr. Jorgenson noted that previously there had been discussion on sending out a new survey on dual credit and publicizing the dual credit policy. Dr. Jorgenson asked from where the previous surveys came. Mr. Kintzel stated that previous surveys had come from the Academic Affairs unit at the MDHE. Dr. Jorgenson asked if COTA thought it would be helpful to gather this data again. Dr. Steven Kurtz stated that the last time the data was gathered was in 2002. Dr. Crain stated that comparing current data with the 2002 data would be useful to COTA. Dr. Steven Graham stated that he would be concerned about truthful response would not be gathered. Dr. Jorgenson stated that it might be appropriate to add a section to the survey where institutions could share concerns about dual credit. Dr. Ken Winn noted that institutions might be willing to discuss unintentional compliance that resulted from a lack of information. Dr. Jorgenson concurred.

Dr. Graham asked what the purpose(s) of the survey would be. Dr. Winn noted that part of the problem was the concern for dual credit had been lax and thus institutions may have stopped concerning themselves with compliance. Dr. Winn asked how COTA could enforce compliance without punitive measures. Ms. Karen Finkenkeller suggested that provisions be made for certain exceptions. Dr. Dykstra concurred and suggested that institutions be expected to be at least ninety percent compliant with the policy and that the survey should assume that the institutions are compliant. Ms. Finkenkeller concurred. Dr. Dykstra suggested that one question on the survey should ask about whether or not institutions have had to drop any classes as a result of not being able to find qualified staff. Dr. Jorgenson concurred. Dr. Graham stated that COTA should have conversations with those institutions which may be out of compliance and then have the those institutions report back to COTA

COTA decided that a five to six question survey would work to gather information regarding institutional practices of dual credit. The survey will be sent to the CAO at each institution offering dual credit, and COTA would follow up if the survey was not received. Dr. Crain stated that a carefully worded letter about compliance should accompany the survey, and that the dual credit survey should be sent out to institutions. Dr. Jorgenson concurred and stated that there should be an open-ended question for institutions to report any the difficulties they face in their dual credit programs. Dr. Winn suggested that the cover letter be signed by Commissioner Stein and Dr. Jorgenson.

Dr. Jorgenson asked Drs. Dykstra and Graham to draft a set of questions to be shared at the February COTA meeting. Dr. Winn stated that he would draft the cover letter.

IV. Making Opportunity Affordable Grant

Mr. Kintzel reported that the MOA letter of intent had been submitted along with 36 other states and the awards would be announced in late March or early April.

New Business

V. Guidelines for COTA Membership

Dr. Jorgenson noted that there was a paragraph regarding COTA in the General Education Policy, but nothing too specific. Dr. Crain suggested that maybe some revisions regarding alternates. Mr. Kintzel reported that Commissioner Stein was open to suggestions for changes to COTA but that the commissioner appointment of members and sector distribution would not be changed.

Dr. Jorgenson asked for any suggestion. Dr. Crain stated that there should be guidelines that state when the COTA member is present they vote, but if they are not present then their representative or sector alternate will vote in their place. Dr. Jorgenson stated that she and Dr. Crain would draft additional rules for a future meeting.

Other

None

Adjournment

Dr. Jorgenson adjourned the meeting at 3:20 p.m.

Next Meeting

The next COTA meeting is scheduled for February 27, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. at the MDHE offices in Jefferson City.