Implementing Ontario’s Credit Transfer System
Presentation to
Student Pathways in Higher Education Conference
January 26, 2012
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Marie-Lison Fougère, Assistant Deputy Minister
Susan Golets, Manager
Geri Smith, Senior Policy Advisor
Overview
• What have we achieved?
 Progress of CT Implementation
• Where do we want to be?
 ‘Mature state’ Credit Transfer System
• How do we get there?




Credit Transfer System Components and Vision
Policy Framework
Transfer Model Framework
Detailed updates on key elements:
 Innovation Fund
 Institutional Grants
 Accountability Framework
 Next steps for implementation
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Designing Ontario’s Credit Transfer System
• In January 2011 Ministry announced an investment of just under $74 million over
five years to support the development of a province-wide credit transfer system.
• The new system was developed in close collaboration with the postsecondary
sector including student organizations and representatives from colleges and
universities.
‒ Credit Transfer Steering Committee
‒ Credit Transfer Working Group
• Key components of the credit transfer system have all been endorsed by the
Steering Committee
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Key Achievements
Key achievements over the past year include:
‒ The release of a policy framework to guide the implementation of the new
Credit Transfer System
‒ A new credit transfer website to provide transparent information on transfer
opportunities for student
‒ A new, independent, and sector-based, council responsible for central
coordination of the credit transfer system
‒ An accountability framework to track and monitor system progress
‒ Institutional Grants that provide new supports for students such as transfer
advisors and orientation programs
‒ A new Credit Transfer Innovation Fund to develop and expand credit
transfer pathways in demand areas
‒ Funding to support Research projects to develop best practices and fill
knowledge gaps
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A ‘mature-state’ credit transfer system
By 2014-15 the system will:
•
Ensure a seamless transfer system that maximizes student access and choice
•
Provide students and stakeholders with comprehensive information on pathways available
to achieve specific occupational and academic goals
•
Enable students to move from one Ontario credential to another without repeating
equivalent prior learning
•
Provide students with timely and up-to-date information on credit transfer through an
interactive website that includes:
a) opportunities for students to record searches and save results to a personal account
b) a fully searchable database of educational pathways moving in many directions (i.e. C-U, UC, U-U, C-C, A-C, C-A, etc.)
•
Support institutional systems that provide students with information on transfer credit
granted at the time of registration
•
Provide integrated student services for transfer students in all institutions, including early
notification of transfer credit granted, orientation programs and student support services
•
Provide reliable information on student mobility supported by comprehensive institutional
data and a robust research program
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Province-wide Credit Transfer System Vision and Components
By 2015, Ontario will have a comprehensive and consistently applied credit transfer mechanism
that facilitates and promotes student mobility, by assisting qualified students to move between
publicly funded postsecondary institutions without repeating prior, relevant learning successes
Core
Elements
Policy
Framework
Tracking and
Research
Transfer
Models
Communicatio
n and
Transparency
Accountability Framework
Coordinating Body
Foundation
Funding Framework
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Policy Framework
•
Transforming the current ad-hoc credit transfer process requires a multi-year approach leading to a
comprehensive credit transfer system that will truly serve students/learners
•
Government has a vital leadership role to play, otherwise the system will continue to be a patchwork
of practices
Govern
ment
Credit Transfer System Vision
• Navigate the postsecondary system effectively
• Reduce duplication of prior relevant learning
• Reach preferred educational destination faster
Students
College
s
Universi
ties
Goals of the Credit Transfer System
• Expand and improve transfer pathways
• Improve transparency and access to information about pathways
and credit transfer
• Support student success
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Transfer Model Framework:
•
The framework acts as a guide for the development of student pathways and
attempts to reflect the needs of both students and institutions
•
The Steering Committee agreed to initial focus on College-University transfers
•
Three components are included in all Transfer Agreements:
1. Partners to the Agreement: The number of institutions participating in the
agreement
2. Curriculum Analysis: The process through which learning equivalency is
determined
3. Transfer Credit Mechanism: The way in which the credit is applied by the
receiving institution
•
Consultation has begun to expand the framework beyond the College-University
(C-U) transfer pathways to include other pathways (U-C, C-C, U-U,
Apprenticeship-College/College-Apprenticeship)
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Ontario Credit Transfer Models
System
Bilateral
Multi-institutional
Partnerships
Multilateral
Regional
Language
Curriculum Analysis
Course-by-course
comparison
Analysis of Program Learning
Outcomes
Student record of successful
postsecondary at diploma or
advanced diploma level; program
affinity is not relevant
Transfer Credit Mechanism
Direct entry with course
credit toward degree
requirements
Assigned
Not
Assigned
Direct entry to a
specific point in a
program with
block credit
With
Bridge
Without
Bridge
Direct entry with
course credits
toward program
requirements
Assigned
Major
Elective
Not
assigned
Direct entry with
undifferentiated block credit
equal to a specific entry point of
a degree (usually 3rd year)
With
Bridge
Without
Bridge
Credit Transfer Innovation Fund
Purpose
• To support the development of new credit transfer models and student
pathways, particularly in high demand program areas
Background
• In January, 2011, a joint CUCC-MTCU call for participation in innovation fund
projects was issued to colleges and universities
• The Call solicited projects consistent with the new system and policy statement
and focused on supporting pathways that enable graduates of college programs
to move seamlessly into degree programs in Ontario Universities
Current Status
• Almost $4M in projects were selected for funding (14 projects); all projects have
begun and are anticipated to be completed between fall 2012/winter 2013
• Outcomes from most projects - pathways, bridging programs, etc. - are
expected to be implemented with a first intake of students in summer or fall
2013
• The coordinating body released a Call for Expressions of Interest for research
projects that relate to increasing knowledge and understanding of transfer
activity and transfer student experience/success
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Credit Transfer Institutional Grants
Purpose
• New supports are being provided to institutions for implementing the credit transfer
system to:
‒ improve resources such as introducing dedicated transfer advisors and orientation programs
‒ increase participation in credit transfer assessment and pathways
‒ improve information systems for tracking and reporting on credit transfer activity and student
success
Background
• The Ministry has entered into a transfer payment agreement with each of the 44 publicly
assisted postsecondary education institutions in Ontario
• Institutions report to the Ministry to outline the institution’s credit transfer activities
Current Status
• Final reports from institutions for grants provided in 2010-11 show substantial progress in
developing supports for credit transfer students, and enhancing institutional practices
• Institutions have also laid some groundwork for capturing more credit transfer information
in their student information systems
• New two-year agreements (2011-12, 2012-13) for grants have been signed by all
institutions, enabling the first instalment of funds to be flowed
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Credit Transfer Accountability Framework
Purpose
• The accountability framework will include both a funding model and a set of performance indicators that
will:
‒ Provide the mechanism through which: (1) system-wide goals and institutional participation and
activities are set out and (2) results are reported
‒ Link funding to measurable and auditable credit transfer activities
‒ Enable public reporting on the progress to facilitate the movement of students through the
postsecondary education system
‒ Allow the ministry to monitor and evaluate the success of the credit transfer system, conduct policy
analysis and research; and to pursue continuous improvement in the design and implementation of
the province’s credit transfer system
Background
• A Technical Working Group (TWG) was established in Spring 2010 (with representatives from CO,
COU, CUCC, universities and colleges) to advise the Ministry on the development and implementation
of the accountability framework
Current Status
• A short-term funding model for Institutional Grants was developed in consultation with the TWG in
winter 2011; this model will remain in place for two years (2011-12 and 2012-13)
• Discussions continue to finalize interim and long-term indicators, required data elements and a longterm funding framework
• A Definitions Task Group has been established to work through the operational definitions of each
proposed performance measure
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Next Steps
• Expand coordination of Ontario’s credit transfer system
• Continue focus on innovation and research
• Innovation and Research funding to expand new pathways (e.g.
university to university; college to college; college to university;
university to college, and transfers to and from apprenticeship)
• Develop and introduce an accountability framework to track and monitor
system progress
• Identify data needs and address gaps to begin tracking against identified
performance measures
• Develop Institutional Guidelines to articulate Ministry policy and grant
eligibility and requirements for institutions
• Continue development and enhancement of the credit transfer website with
a focus on expanding information available on the transfer guide to include
university-university, college-college and university to college transfer
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