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| Home > Transfer Information > New Agreement |
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| Expanding Access to Higher Education in Connecticut: CSUS and Community College Leaders Sign Agreement Encouraging Transfer |
HARTFORD, Conn., March 30, 2007 -- A memorandum of understanding between the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) and the Connecticut Community College (CCC) System was signed today in the Old Judiciary Room at the State Capitol with government and legislative leaders, and members of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, in attendance along with the Chancellors and Presidents of the State Universities and the Community Colleges participating in the signing.
The agreement is the result of discussions initiated by the Chancellors of the two systems, Dr. David G. Carter of CSUS and Marc S. Herzog of the CCCs, that involved the college and university presidents in establishing guiding principles that will streamline the process for students from any of the twelve community colleges throughout the state in transferring to the institutions within the Connecticut State University System.
This agreement represents a major step forward in strengthening the partnership between the two largest systems of public higher education in Connecticut. It is also a significant expansion of access to the opportunities offered by higher education for Connecticut students interested in continuing their educations beyond the associate degree (2-year) level at the 4-year baccalaureate level.
The principles established in the agreement will guide the collaborative efforts between the colleges and the universities in developing guaranteed admissions agreements that will apply to all twelve community colleges and allow a community college student, prior to completing 15 credits of coursework, to apply for guaranteed admissions to Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities.
Upon completing an associate's degree, within a maximum of five years, with a 2.0 average, the student will be able to transfer a minimum of 60 credits to enter the University as a junior or third-year student, as long as the transfer takes place within two years of the completion of the associate degree. Transfer students must complete the general education requirements of the receiving institutions, but will be able to transfer as many as 36 general education credits in eight discipline areas including Humanities, History, and Science. An oversight committee, with representatives of both college and university systems, will meet periodically and make recommendations for improvement of the agreements and to establish a process for review of admissions and appeals practices in general and in individual cases.
Overall, 62 percent of transfer students who attend the four universities have transferred in from other higher education institutions in Connecticut, with the vast majority transferring from community colleges. For example, for the fall 2006 semester, just over 1,100 students transferred from one of Connecticut's 12 Community Colleges to one of the four State Universities. (Data indicates that 1,709 students transferred from colleges and universities in Connecticut to a CSUS university, with 1,152 of them transferring from a Connecticut Community College.)
"This agreement is significant, because it will make a difference for students," said Lawrence D. McHugh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System. "I applaud the efforts of Chancellor Herzog and Chancellor Carter in moving us forward on this important effort."
According to Chancellor Marc S. Herzog, "this is a wonderful opportunity for community college students throughout Connecticut who want to continue their studies beyond their associate degree. As more younger students start their higher education at community colleges, we expect the number of students interested in transfer will grow. The
strengthened partnership between the community colleges and the state universities represented by this agreement will help those students to make the most of their opportunities, and it will provide more educated graduates for the State of Connecticut."
"Our efforts are driven by a desire to enhance educational opportunities for students throughout Connecticut, and ease their transition at every step along the education continuum, from pre-school through college and beyond. I look forward to continuing to work closely with our colleagues throughout the Community College system," said Chancellor Carter.
Jointly enrolled students will be considered as continuing students at Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities and will have access to advising, transfer counseling, library resources, and coordinated communications about their progress towards fulfilling agreement requirements, degree completion, and transfer.
Connecticut's Community Colleges are: Asnuntuck Community College, Capital Community College, Gateway Community College, Housatonic Community College, Manchester Community College, Middlesex Community College, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Northwestern CT Community College, Norwalk Community College, Quinebaug Valley Community College, Three Rivers Community College, and Tunxis Community College.
The partnership between the institutions will be strengthened through on-going communication about changes to curricula that would affect the transfer pathway and by sharing of student information as allowed by privacy requirements. Community College students choosing to transfer to a State University prior to completion of their associate degree who do not choose the Guaranteed Admissions approach will benefit from a course-by-course transcript evaluation done in accord with the Guaranteed Admissions guidelines.
Senator Joan Hartley, co-chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee praised the historic agreement and the "seamless transition within the state higher education system [as] pivotal to achieving an immediate and skilled workforce. This agreement between Connecticut Community Colleges and the Connecticut State University System will ensure that credits received in the Community College System will be accepted by the University System, thereby ensuring that students will not incur additional expense and the time of repeating course work."
According to Roberta Willis, co-chair of the Committee, "The goal of access to higher education for Connecticut's citizens is also supported by the work of the General Assembly's Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee. I applaud the efforts of the Connecticut State University System and the Connecticut Community College System, their Chancellors and their presidents, and the important step they have taken to benefit students and the State by broadening access, providing transfer opportunities, and encouraging continued education."
"College transfer should be a bridge built upon a foundation of consistency and excellence across our colleges. Moving college credits from a community college to one of our Connecticut State Universities should be a process that occurs with ease. Facilitating the movement of students, encourages the achievement of their educational goals, saves time and valuable resources, and ensures high standards and consistency within public higher education."
Representative Denise Merrill, co-chair of the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee, speaking at the signing ceremony commented that. "One of our primary goals for public higher education in Connecticut is to facilitate students' ability to complete programs efficiently across institutions. This is a great step towards that goal, and will help countless students reach their own educational goals. I applaud this partnership effort, and hope we can continue moving in the direction of a seamless system of higher education in Connecticut."
The twelve two-year public colleges that comprise the system of Connecticut Community Colleges share a mission to make educational excellence and the opportunity for lifelong learning affordable and accessible to all Connecticut citizens. The colleges seek to enrich the intellectual, cultural and social environments of the communities they serve. The Connecticut State University System, consisting of Central (New Britain), Eastern (Willimantic), Southern (New Haven), and Western (Danbury), is the state's largest public university system, with more than 35,000 students. Throughout the system, 93 percent of students are from Connecticut, and 86 percent of graduates remain in Connecticut after graduation.
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