COTA Meeting Minutes, September 2006
Committee on Transfer and Articulation (COTA)
Missouri Department of Higher Education
September 27, 2006
Approved October 25, 2006
Participants: Evelyn Jorgenson, Kandis Smith, Stephen Lehmkuhle, Don Doucette, Jeanie Crain, Arlen Dykstra, James Scanlon
MDHE Staff: Robert Stein, Jeremy Kintzel, Laura Vedenhaupt, B.J. White
Chair Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Dr. Don Doucette noted that the C-BASE score of 230 referenced in discussion of the Associate of Arts in Teaching degree should be corrected to 235. A motion was made by Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson to approve the minutes of the May 16, 2006, meeting as corrected. The motion carried unanimously.
Advanced Credit Opportunity
Jeremy Kintzel explained that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) collected data on dual credit and would make that data available to COTA. This year, DESE will also collect information in its Core Data system on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. COTA members asked if DESE's data was disaggregated between dual credit and dual enrollment. Mr. Kintzel will follow up with DESE on this issue. Dr. Jorgenson noted that Moberly Area Community College had used DESE's data in a previous analysis and had found an error rate of 20%. Mr. Kintzel said that DESE's system was based on self-reported data but that a separate COTA survey would be as well. Dr. Stein said any data received could be distributed to colleges and universities for verification.
Mr. Kintzel advised that due to the availability of DESE's data, the Advanced Credit Opportunity survey drafted by MDHE staff would be modified in order to garner a greater response from high school administrators. COTA directed MDHE staff to distribute the survey when revised.
Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) Degree
Dr. Doucette provided background on the development of the proposed AAT degree. Dr. Doucette will request Chief Academic Officers sign an articulation agreement to be submitted with the program for approval at the December 7, 2006, CBHE meeting. COTA members expect engaged conversations between the two- and four-year sectors when the proposal is posted to the MDHE website but also expect that each sector will respond favorably to the proposed program. Dr. Doucette said that he expected endorsement by the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) at that organization's October 6, 2006 , meeting.
Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhle stated that the AAT would be discussed during a statewide conference call with four-year CAOs on October 3, 2006, in order to receive collective input. Dr. Lehmkuhle anticipated a positive response and would approach the Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE) at the October 11, 2006, meeting for endorsement. Dr. Lehmkuhle suggested a formal joint endorsement letter from MCCA, COPHE, and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri (ICUM).
Dr. Doucette noted that while DESE remains supportive of the proposed AAT, each community college would be required to submit their program curriculum to DESE for approval.
COTA members noted that the articulation agreement should not contain the specifics of transfer, due to the fact that each institution will process transfers according to individual institutional policy. Three issues that the articulation agreement should address include: (1) the entire AAT degree should be accepted in full faith and credit, (2) students are not required to repeat courses, and (3) the time to degree will not vary from native students, assuming that transfer students successfully complete the required lower division and pre-requisite courses.
COTA prepared a statement of support for the AAT program that commended institutions for their work and commitment to preparing qualified teachers. A motion was made by Don Doucette and seconded by Stephen Lehmkuhle to approve the COTA Statement on the Proposed Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) Degree Program. The motion carried unanimously and the following statement was approved:
COTA Statement on the Proposed Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) Degree Program
COTA commends the hard work and dedication shown by community college leadership in responding to COTA's request to develop a statewide articulated Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) proposal. The progress made by the two-year institutions in development of a proposed structure and curriculum for the AAT is greatly appreciated. Your enthusiasm and commitment to a high quality education for the future teachers of our state will benefit all Missourians.
COTA recommends that as next steps toward degree approval, the MDHE website be used to engage four-year institutions with teacher education programs in responding to the proposal's curriculum and structure. COTA also encourages COPHE and ICUM to work with their institutions to formulate coordinated responses.
Once the comment process is complete, community colleges will reaffirm the curriculum and structure of the proposed AAT. Following that, four-year institutions with state-approved teacher education programs will be invited to become official signatories to a statewide articulation agreement with the AAT degree. COTA encourages Missouri 's four-year colleges and universities to respond positively to the effort to create an effective statewide articulation agreement to improve transfer and articulation of students among two- and four-year institutions in support of the state's efforts to prepare qualified teachers.
It is important to note, signatory institutions are expected to make any adjustments to their curriculum beyond the core curricula of the two-year AAT in the months following degree approval.
Transfer and Articulation Conference
Mr. Kintzel reported that the Transfer and Articulation Conference Coordinating Committee (TACCC) met in May and July 2006 to outline the 2007 Transfer Conference. TACCC is currently planning to issue a data source book in January 2007, hold a one day meeting for practitioners in January 2007 and organize a half-day conference for Presidents and Chancellors and CBHE members in February 2007 that would coincide with the CBHE meeting.
The January 2007 practitioner conference will be in mid-Missouri, and the space for the conference would need to accommodate approximately 100 people. Mr. Kintzel reported that Dr. Kandis Smith's staff had suggested several locations. Dr. Stein asked if any institution was willing to be the fiscal agent for the conference because state regulations restrict the MDHE from assuming the role. Dr. Lehmkuhle will discuss the possibility of UM as the agent and will review transfer accounts to see if COTA has any funds available. Dr. Jorgenson stated that MACC is willing to serve as fiscal agent if UM is unable to do so. Dr. Stein advised that the fiscal agent may have to fund the conference pending receipt of registration fees.
Standing Advisory Subcommittee
Dr. Lehmkuhle stated that he was approached by advisors offering to participate in a standing subcommittee that would guide student advisors and high school counselors on communicating and implementing CBHE policies on transfer and articulation. The subcommittee would be comprised of advisors, high school counselors, and MDHE and DESE staff. Dr. Jorgenson noted that administrators should have input as well as advisors. Mr. Kintzel said that MDHE staff were represented on DESE's Guidance Advisory Council, which meets several times per year, and could be approached for feedback.
Dr. Lehmkuhle stated that he would work with Dr. Smith and Mr. Kintzel, as well as presidents and chancellors, to obtain advisor volunteers to work on the subcommittee and to begin discussing transfer issues.
2006-2007 Goals
Due to time constraints, this agenda item was tabled until the next meeting.
Other Items
Dr. Stein asked that each COTA member identify an alternate to participate in COTA meetings if they are unable to attend.
Next Meeting
The next COTA meeting will be held on October 25, 2006, beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the MDHE offices in Jefferson City .
