History The two Boards approved a "Proposed Plan to Further Simplify and Facilitate Transfer of Credit Between Institutions" at their meetings in February 1996. This plan was submitted as a preliminary report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee in March 1996. Since that time, significant steps have been taken toward implementation of the transfer plan. At their April 1996 meetings, the Boards appointed their respective sector representatives to the Transfer Advisory Committee to direct, coordinate, and monitor the implementation of the proposed transfer plan. The Transfer Advisory Committee membership is listed in Appendix D. Basic to the work of the Transfer Advisory Committee in refining transfer policies and implementing the transfer plan has been the re-engineering project accomplished by the North Carolina Community College System, especially common course names, numbers, credits, and descriptions. The Community College Combined Course Library includes approximately 3,800 semester-credit courses written for the associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs offered in the system. Colleges select courses from the Combined Course Library to design all curriculum programs. Of approximately 700 arts and sciences courses within the Combined Course Library, the faculty and administrators of the community colleges recommended approximately 170 courses as appropriate for the general education transfer core. The Transfer Advisory Committee then convened a meeting on May 28, 1996, at which six University of North Carolina faculty in each of ten general education discipline areas met with six of their professional counterparts from the community colleges. Through a very useful and collegial dialog, these committees were able to reach consensus on which community college courses in each discipline were acceptable for transfer to University of North Carolina institutions as a part of the general education core. This list of courses was distributed to all University of North Carolina and community college institutions for their review and comments. Considering the recommendations of the general education discipline committees and the comments from the campuses, the Transfer Advisory Committee established the list of courses that constitutes the general education transfer core. This general education core, if completed successfully by a community college student, is portable and transferable as a block across the community college system and to all University of North Carolina institutions. With the establishment of the general education core as a foundation, joint academic disciplinary committees were appointed to draw up guidelines for community college curricula that will prepare students for intended majors at University of North Carolina institutions. Each committee consisted of representatives from each UNC institution offering such major programs and eight to ten representatives from community colleges. The Transfer Advisory Committee distributed the pre- majors recommended by the faculty committees to all University of North Carolina and community college institutions for their review and comments. Considering the faculty committee recommendations and the campus comments, the Transfer Advisory Committee established pre-majors which have significant numbers of transfers from the community colleges to the University of North Carolina institutions. The special circumstances surrounding transfer agreements for associate in applied science programs, which are not designed for transfer, require bilateral rather than statewide articulation. Special circumstances include the different accreditation criteria for faculty in transfer and non-transfer programs, the different general education requirements for transfer and non-transfer programs, and the workforce preparedness mission of the technical/community college AAS programs. A major element in the proposed transfer plan adopted by the two boards in February 1996 is the transfer information system. Simultaneously with the work being done on the general education and professional specialization (major) components of the transfer curriculum, the joint committee on the transfer information system laid out a plan, approved by the Boards of The University of North Carolina and the North Carolina Community College System, "to provide students with accurate and understandable information regarding the transfer of credits...[and] to increase the adequacy and availability of academic counseling for students who are considering a college transfer program." In addition to the printed publications currently being distributed to students, transfer counselors, admissions directors, and others, an electronic information network provides (1) electronic access to the articulation database which will include current transfer policies, guidelines, and on-line catalogs for public post-secondary institutions; (2) computerized common application forms, which can be completed and transmitted electronically along with transcripts and other education records; and (3) an electronic mail network for transfer counselors and prospective transfer students. Access to the e-mail network is available in the transfer counselors' offices and other selected sites on campuses. The final element of the transfer information system is the Transfer Student Academic Performance Report. This report, recently refined with suggestions from community college administrators, is sent annually to each community college and to the State Board of Community Colleges. These data permit the rational analysis of transfer issues and are beneficial to students and to educational and governmental decision-makers. This performance report provides the important assessment component necessary for evaluating and improving the transfer process. Articulation between the North Carolina Community College System and The University of North Carolina is a dynamic process. To ensure the currency of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), occasional modifications to the CAA may be necessary. These modifications may include the addition, deletion, and revision of courses on the transfer list, development and/or revision of pre- majors, and changes in course designation (i.e. additions to UGETC list or changing a course from general education to elective). The TAC will receive requests for modification only upon the recommendation of the chief academic officer of the NCCCS or UNC. Additions, deletions, and modifications may be subject to faculty review under the direction of the TAC. Because the modification process involves faculty and administrative review, this process may require up to 12 months for final action. Courses currently included on the approved transfer course list may be considered for inclusion as a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course through the following procedures:
1. The Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of any subscribing institution submits a written request for a change in course status to the CAO of the respective system. The request should include the rationale for the revised status.
2. The system CAO then submits the request to the Director of Transfer Articulation at UNC General Administration.
3. The Director of Transfer Articulation will send the request to the Chief Academic Officers of the universities. If all the universities approve of the addition, the recommendation will be sent to the TAC and the CAOs of the two systems.
4. If all universities do not approve the request, the Director of Transfer Articulation may assemble a discipline team comprised of university and community college faculty to see if the course can be revised in a manner that will be acceptable for inclusion in the UGETC. If so, the revised course will be sent to the university CAOs for consideration.
