COTA Meeting Minutes February 2004 (Conference Call)
Committee on Transfer and Articulation
Department of Higher Education
Conference Call
February 17, 2004
DRAFT MINUTES
Participants: Alton Lacey, Henry Shannon, Don Doucette, Walter Nolte, Karen Finkenkeller, James Scanlon, and Stephen Lehmkuhle
DHE Staff: Robert Stein, Laura Vedenhaupt
Observers: Jeanie Crain, Kandis Smith, Fred Janzow
Alton Lacey called the meeting of the Committee on Transfer and Articulation (COTA) to order at 3:30 p.m.
HB 1242
The committee reviewed House Bill 1242, which would require public four-year institutions to accept certain credits in transfer from public two-year institutions. The bill is currently in the House Education Committee. Issues discussed included:
- Independent institutions do not want to be included in the proposed legislation
- "Regionally accredited" in bill language excludes nationally accredited proprietary institutions
- Frustrations/concerns about transfer in general, especially from the two-year sector
- Some public four-year institutions have old policies in place that run counter to current CBHE policy on credit transfer, such as placing limitations on the number of credit hours that may be transferred
- There should be consequences for public institutions that do not abide by CBHE policy
- There is a real interest in building a system that will instill confidence in students - guaranteed transfer of lower-division coursework and AA degrees
This issue was tabled until the next meeting. Each member should consider how COTA could promote adherence to the policy and how COTA could modify the existing policy to establish enforcement processes with meaningful consequences.
ACT/PLAN Equivalency for Dual Credit Eligibility
The intent of dual credit is to allow opportunities for high-performing high school juniors and seniors to obtain both high school and college-level course credit. COTA reviewed a request to waive the ACT eligibility requirement so that sophomores could participate in certain dual credit courses in order to increase student MAP scores. The courses would be offered in collaboration with policy signatory Hannibal-LaGrange College. As sophomores, the students have not taken the ACT; instead, the students have taken the PLAN. According to the ACT organization, the PLAN test is a good comparison and is a good predictor of what the student would score on the ACT.
The committee decided that while the PLAN assessment for gifted freshmen and sophomores may be a valid comparison to the junior/senior ACT assessment, the members could not justify waiving the student eligibility requirements based on the rationale offered by the high school. DHE staff was directed to contact Hannibal-LaGrange College and advise the institution of this decision.
(DHE staff contacted Dr. Garry Breland, Hannibal-LaGrange College, and advised of the decision of the committee.)
Transfer Performance Indicators
The committee reviewed a draft report card on transfer developed by Stephen Lehmkuhle. The purpose of such a report card is to inform COTA, the CBHE, and the public about the transfer activities among public institutions in the state. The members expressed overall support for the draft and agreed that the report should be brief, straightforward, and easily understood by stakeholders.
COTA will consider what data should be collected and will develop appropriate measures of the selected performance indicators to be included in the report card.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
