Volume 5 | September 6, 2018
Transfer Steering Committee Selects Phase II Pathways
On Thursday, June 14th,the Transfer Steering Committee (TSC) convened at the Bengal Wildlife Center in Bath, Michigan to discuss the outcomes resulting from the May 18th Transfer Pathways Phase I Summit and determine the next group of disciplines for developing transfer pathways. The goal of the May summit was to identify required, recommended, optional and appropriate courses that meet associate and bachelor’s degree program requirements, especially in major-specific courses and program electives, with 5-6 courses selected in each major to be part of a MiTransfer Pathway. Phase I MiTransfer Pathways programs are business administration, psychology, biology, and criminal justice. All materials from the Summit are available on the MiTransfer.net website.  

At the June Transfer Steering Committee meeting, a data-driven discussion served as the forum for determining the next four high enrollment majors in Michigan that are most optimal for developing statewide transfer pathways.  

The Transfer Steering Committee identified four programs for Phase II of the MiTransfer project:

• Communications (general)
• Computer Science (general)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Social Work

In addition, the Transfer Steering Committee recommended that degree programs associated with the Business Administration major - one of the first four pathways being streamlined - be expanded to include all business-related programs that might serve as an appropriate fit for that pathway.  

The following graph illustrates the impact of Phase I and Phase II in relation to all degrees conferred in Michigan. Business will bridge Phase I and Phase II with the expansion of business-related programs.
The MiTransfer Pathways project is being coordinated by the Transfer Steering Committee. In the fall of 2016, Michigan community colleges and universities established the TSC with representatives from more than 30 colleges and universities to guide this work. The Transfer Steering Committee also includes members from the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (MACRAO).

Ultimately, building common pathways from community colleges to universities will make the transfer process easier to understand, more efficient, and simpler for students to navigate. The development of Transfer Pathways is intended to build on current institutional articulation agreements, engage faculty, include support from registrars and admissions officers, while increasing direct equivalencies and reducing general, elective, and departmental credit.
MiTransfer Pathways – Next Steps for Phases I & II
Phase I Intermediary work (Summer and Fall 2018)

Between convenings in the spring and fall, Phase I faculty will update direct equivalencies for transfer courses and develop program plans with the support of transfer liaisons from their respective institutions as the work to develop the statewide agreements advances.
 
MiTransfer Pathways Faculty Summit II (October 19th)

This Summit will take place at Adrian College where faculty groups will finalize the recommended program requirements of the statewide agreement for their program of study. Prior to that, the participants will complete their corresponding community college worksheet or university worksheet. The Fall convening will encourage participants to work with partners to establish direct course equivalencies and report updated equivalencies.

MiTransfer Pathways Phase II Faculty Summit (November 2nd)

The first Phase II Summit will be held at Jackson College's Maher campus. Academic Leaders have been asked to forward registration materials to appropriate faculty representatives in the Phase II pathways to begin discussions on the development of a common statewide transfer pathway in their areas.
 
Phase I Pathways Articulation Agreement Development—Phase I Program Pathways (Fall 2018 -Winter 2019)

Institutions will make adjustments necessary to facilitate their participation in the statewide agreements and prepare for Fall 2019 implementation of the pathways.
 
Phase I Articulation agreement signing ceremony (Anticipated Spring 2019)

A signing ceremony will cap off the development of the Phase I MiTransfer Pathways.
Michigan Transfer Network Replacement  
The Michigan Transfer Network (MTN) Replacement Team has been busy reviewing proposals to build the database and website for the new MTN website. Earlier this year, the team released an RFP and reviewed proposals from three vendors. Digital Active was hired to upgrade the MTN and will subsequently develop, test, and conduct training on the new site, with an expected launch in May 2019.  
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Felipe Gonzalez, Technical 
Consultant on the MTN Upgrade
The MTN replacement project also welcomed a new team member. Felipe Gonzalez joined the project team as a Technical Consultant. Felipe comes with extensive experience with databases and information systems and most recently worked in the Registrar’s office at Eastern Michigan University. He will be helping the team design the new database and website, support testing, develop training materials, and ultimately deploy the new site. University data reporters to the MTN should be on the lookout for communications from Felipe in the near future.  
A multitude of stakeholders at Michigan’s colleges and universities are enthusiastically engaging in the work of advancing the statewide student transfer agenda. Staff at MCCA, MASU and MICU are eager to harness this energy and to produce tangible results that will improve transparency and efficiency in the transfer process, while maintaining high-quality instructional delivery and student outcomes.

If you have questions or comments you wish to share as it involves advancing the student transfer and student success in Michigan, you are encouraged to contact a member of the Transfer Steering Committee . You are also encouraged to contact Erica Orians at the MCCA, Will Emerson at MASU, or Colby Cesaro at MICU; they are serving as the primary project coordinators and staff liaisons for the MTN replacement and MiTransfer pathways initiatives.           
Erica Lee Orians, Ph.D.                               
Executive Director, Center for Student Success          
Michigan Community College Association                                
517-372-4350 /  [email protected]          



 
Will Emerson, Ph.D.
Director of Student Success Initiatives
Michigan Association of State Universities               
517-482-1563 /  [email protected]   

Colby Cesaro
Vice President
Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities
734-646-4670 / [email protected]