B U S I N E S S N A M E Happy New Year! 2006 was a year full of transfer-related activity. The effort and ongoing pursuit is to increase the options for our students and to make available as much information as possible to our college campuses. With the same vigor and vitality, we will continue the pace in 2007. In January 2007, the office of Transfer Services/Articulation and University Relations will make available informational materials including: Quick Reference Guide to Degrees and Certificates, Transfer Information Guide, BAAS Information and the Articulation Process Guide. These materials have been designed to provide users with easy and quick access to transfer information. We thank you for your feedback, ideas and support this year; and we look forward to 2007. For more transfer, articulation and university relations information, please visit our Web site at: http://www.dcccd.edu/TransferServices. Articulation and Concurrent Admissions Agreement Signings University of Texas (Dallas)-Concurrent/ Dual Admission/Fixed Tuition Agreement (Dr. David Daniel, president , UTD, Dr. Wright Lassiter, chancellor, DCCCD) On October 24, UTD and DCCCD signed a new agreement that allows students to transfer seamlessly to the University of Texas at Dallas and enjoy two-for-one concurrent enrollment. The district's students also will be able to freeze the cost of their tuition for four years, beginning in fall 2007. Dallas County Community College District students who meet the University of Texas at Dallas admission requirements or complete the Associate of Arts/Science degree with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA will receive automatic admission to the University of Texas at Dallas. A student may apply for concurrent admission status at the time of first enrollment at any DCCCD institution, or at any time thereafter when enrolled at DCCCD, by completing a UTD Concurrent Admissions Application. (UTD Signing cont. on Page 4.) The Art Institute of Dallas and The Art Institute of Houston [l to r] Gregg Williams, Dr. Leslie Baughman, AID representative, Jan Parker, AID representative, Evilu Pridgeon, Deloris Keys, Dr. Betty Moran, Dr. Lassiter, chancellor, DCCCD, W.G. Garland , [sitting l to r] Simon Lumley, president, AIH , Micheal Jackson, interim president, ECC Dallas County Community College District students will have access to another option for study and career advancement with the addition of two new education partners, the Art Institute of Dallas and the Art Institute of Houston. Dr. Micheal Jackson, Interim President of El Centro College, and Simon Lumley, President of the Art Institute of Dallas, met December 6 to finalize an agreement guaranteeing ECC students who graduate with an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Interior Design seamless transfer to the Art Institute of Dallas (AID) to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The Art Institute of Houston will accept up to 78 credit hours (AID and AIH Signing cont. on Page 4.) /////////////////////// PAGE 2 Rising Star/TRIO Transfer Trips Get Students Connected El Centro Rising Star and TRIO Student Support Services believe one of the best ways for a student to make an informed college choice is to set foot on campus. Therefore, TRIO Student Support Services and Rising Star have teamed up in supporting the transition stage of transfer planning with customized Transfer Trips to some of the most accessible four-year institutions. Whether a student is in her first year, scoping out possible four-year destinations, or is a seasoned college veteran, securing a class schedule for his bachelor’s program, TRIO and Rising Star have a transfer trip for any student. Geared toward a smooth and successful move forward, the two programs have coordinated Transfer Trips in the Spring 2007 semester to include: • • • • • University of North Texas-Dallas and Denton campuses University of Texas at Arlington Nursing Program Texas A&M Commerce Texas Tech University University of Texas at Dallas These three-to-four-hour trips consist of touring the campus, collaborating with transfer advisors, learning about campus resources, meeting with faculty and/or El Centro alumni, and much more. Upon return, students and Rising Star and TRIO advisors are encouraged to process the Transfer Trip experience by completing evaluations and discussing the high and low points of the campus visit. Why Encourage Our Students to Complete the Core Curriculum? Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university get more when they complete the Core. Students in Career and Technical Education programs also may benefit from taking Core courses in addition to those that prepare them to enter the workforce immediately. Some of the benefits of completing the core curriculum include the following: • • • • *TRANSFER GUARANTEE: It is a state law that students who complete the DCCCD Core Curriculum with at least a 2.0 grade point average are guaranteed that it will transfer to any Texas public college or university.* GENERAL EDUCATION COMPLETION: Successful completion of the Core Curriculum satisfies the student’s general education requirements, and receiving institutions cannot require additional Core courses. MONEY SAVINGS: Low tuition at DCCCD saves students money! How much? Just look at the price of one threehour course around town: UNT $767.10 | UTA $840 | UTD $1,200. In the DCCCD, the tuition for that same highquality, three-hour course for in-district students is only $117! See complete tuition chart online. ACCOMPLISHMENT: With another 13 hours beyond the Core, students can earn an associate degree. Encourage a student today to register as soon as possible for spring courses and to see an advisor about how the Core Curriculum can fit into a sound educational plan! *Some universities may require additional courses to meet their undergraduate requirements in some major subjects. A New Transfer Resource Center at MVC On December 9, 2005, the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp. (TG) Board of Directors approved the TG Public Benefit Grant Program. The grant agreement between TG and Mountain View College is for the purpose of providing grant funding for the Opening Pathways for Educational Excellence project. As a part of the Public Benefit Grant Program, TG’s board of directors approved MVC’s Opening Pathways for Educational Excellence application and funding to establish a Transfer Resource Center. This center will provide financial aid and academic credit transfer of new-to-college and firstgeneration students entering MVC from high school or other institutions and leaving the college to other institutions. The project will operate as a comprehensive academic, support services advocacy program to include: • Academic advising • Personal and career advisement • Transfer and admissions services • Scholarships at four-year institutions • Monitoring of academic progress through mid-term reports A cohort of 200 students (where unmet need is determined) will receive financial stipends ($1,000 each), critical information and support services to ensure academic success. /////////////////////// PAGE Students Graduating From DCCCD (July 2005-June 2006)* DCCCD Core Curriculum Completers (by year)* Number of Students 2500 College 1944 2000 1680 1375 1500 1004 1000 521 500 133 0 200506 200405 200304 200203 200102 200001 Year UTD 22% UNT 21% TWU 9% 124 CVC 250 408 EFC 408 256 ECC 470 150 MVC 350 149 NLC 382 147 RLC 782 295 3,036 1,529 University of Texas-Dallas University of North Texas University of Texas-Arlington Texas Woman's University Texas A&M University-College Station University of Texas-Austin Texas A&M University-Commerce Texas Tech University Texas State University Stephen F. Austin University Prairie View A&M University Midwestern State University Texas Southern University Sam Houston State University UT Austin 7% TAMU-CS 8% 394 The Top 14 Institutions DCCCD Students Choose When It’s Time to Transfer (Fall 2004)** TSU 1% SHSU 1% Certificates BHC District Where DCCCD Students Transfer PVAMU 2% MWU TexStU SFA 1% 2% 2% TTU 5% TAMU-Com 7% Associate Degrees UT Arlington 12% 22% 21% 12% 9% 8% 7% 7% 5% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% Total Number of DCCCD Students Transferring to a Four-Year University and Total Number of Students Minority Students Transferring*** 10,000 5,000 Year Total Students Total Minority Students 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 8,887 8,175 7,887 7,677 7,634 8,119 8,344 8,739 9,265 9,476 1,901 2,070 2,317 2,517 2,663 3,029 3,311 *Prepared by District Office of Institutional Research and Planning, September 2006 **Source: The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-Student and Adult Learner Follow-Up System ***Legislative Budget Board 3 /////////////////////// PAGE 4 Does your institution need to work at customer service? At first it seems like a routine and minor question. You have so much to do, so many decisions to make. Things are going pretty well. Sure, costs are rising. Competition for new students is stiffer than it used to be. Does it really matter how welcome you make your students feel? Could exceptional, knock-your-socks-off customer service actually help students to succeed and encourage them to stay in school? Does this relate to the financial health of the campus? And how about staff morale? You may have insights into the answers, but have you translated your thoughts into meaningful numbers to make the investment decision easier to evaluate? Score your institution on the checklist below Look at your institution and see how your staff conduct themselves. The following checklist is just a sampling of areas to consider. If you don’t score 100 percent, improvement opportunities are possible. • • • • • Our telephones are answered by the second ring every time. All employees have had formal training in telephone etiquette —answering, taking messages, transferring, managing voice mail, etc. Our campus staff members greet each person promptly with a smile when arriving for services. Our front-line operating systems and procedures are thoughtfully designed and thoroughly understood by the front-line people who need to implement them. Our customers never get the “run-around” on campus. Everyone has a helpful attitude. Good customer service is based on a thousand little things done right every day, not on any one great area of performance. (Excerpt from Noel-Levitz-Summer 2006 issue) New Articulation Agreements Signed New or renewed articulation agreements have been signed with the following universities or colleges: • • • • Strayer University Midwestern University Excelsior College Northwood University and El Centro College (UTD signing-from page 1) Concurrent admission students will have access to the Pre-health Resource Center at UTD and be invited to participate in both pre-health and pre-law activities and sponsored events. Pre-health and pre-law advisors will meet with concurrent admission students on a DCCCD campus each semester. Concurrent admission students: • who have a Comet card will have access to UTD libraries. • will have the right to purchase tickets to athletic and other selected events on the UTD campus at the student guest rate. • have the right to participate in UTD’s Guaranteed Tuition Program. For questions, comments or suggestions, contact: maureen.moore@dcccd.edu. New Articulation Agreements in the Works • • Oklahoma University (Online) University of Houston (General, Culinary and Hotel/ Restaurant Management) (AID and AIH signing-from page 1) from DCCCD. The Art Institute of Dallas will accept 96 credit hours, allowing DCCCD students to take more courses before transferring. This option makes the degree a 3 + 1 agreement (three years at DCCCD and one year at AID). Larry Horn, President of the Art Institute of Houston, participated via teleconference to finalize the Institute of Houston’s agreement with DCCCD. Looking for Concurrent Admission Forms? Go to the Transfer Services Web site and find “Concurrent Admission Forms” under the following listings: • Students • Advisors/Counselors • Faculty/Staff • University Partners The TSAUR staff thanks you for your support and looks forward to partnering with you as we serve our students.