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Early Advantage Transfer Agreement
Brandman University and San Diego Miramar College
Memorandum of Understanding
This Early Advantage Transfer Agreement Memorandum of
Understanding (“Agreement”) is made this ____ day of ______ by and between
Brandman University (Brandman) and San Diego Miramar College (Miramar)
with respect to the following facts:
A. Brandman University is one of the 7 schools and colleges of Chapman
University, an institution of higher learning whose main campus is
located in the City of Orange, State of California. Chapman University
is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
(WASC). The University’s teacher training and credential programs
are approved by the California State Department of Education.
B. San Diego Miramar College is accredited by the Accrediting
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges.
C. The agreement is specifically between San Diego Miramar College
and the San Diego Campus of Brandman University, located at 7460
Mission Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92108
D. The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to delineate the
terms of the Agreement and define the responsibilities of both
institutions.
Brandman University Transfer Options
Brandman offers a wide array of transfer options which meet the needs of
community college students at any point in their decision-making process to
transfer to a baccalaureate program:
1. Acceptance of CSU and IGETC in lieu of Brandman’s own general
education requirements if completed prior to matriculation. This option
supports community college students who plan to continue their
education but are unsure as to which institution they will attend upon
graduation.
2. Block transfer upon completion of associate degree. This option
allows students who have earned an associate degree from a
California community college to transfer a minimum of 60 semester
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credits from a regionally accredited college. The coursework toward
completion of the Associate degree is evaluated for general education
and major requirements with the remaining credit needed to reach the
60 credits added as general elective credit. This option benefits
community college transfer students who complete classes which are
vocational in nature and later decide to pursue a baccalaureate
degree.
3. Articulation Agreement. This option assists community college
students in selecting classes which are equivalent to those offered at
Brandman. The agreements are also used extensively by Brandman
students who wish to satisfy many of their degree requirements at a
community college.
4. Early Advantage Transfer Agreement. This option supports students
who decide early in the educational process to pursue a baccalaureate
degree at Brandman.
Purpose of the Early Advantage Agreement
Brandman University (formerly Chapman University College) was
established to provide quality education for adult learners. For almost 50 years,
Chapman University campuses have served thousands of adult learners who are
interested in integrating higher education into their busy lives. Chapman
University has offered programs in San Diego for approximately 40 years. The
majority of Brandman’s undergraduate students transfer into its degree programs
from local community colleges.
The Early Advantage Transfer Agreement (EATA) is designed to provide a
“roadmap to completion” for students who enter the community college system
with the goal of continuing on for a specific undergraduate degree. It provides a
seamless process of transferring to a baccalaureate degree program and
removes the emotional and academic barriers of transferring credit to another
institution of higher learning. Through the availability of concurrent advising and
web resources, the implementation of this Agreement between Miramar and
Brandman has the potential to increase both graduation and transfer rates of
community college students.
Students benefiting from this Agreement (hereon referred to as “Early
Admits”) may complete degree requirements specified in the catalog in effect at
the time they are admitted to the Early Advantage Transfer program; thus,
eliminating the “guesswork” of taking classes which may or may not apply to
programs in future catalog years. Both institutions will participate in the
development and maintenance of program-specific articulation agreements. Early
Admit students will have the opportunity to be concurrently enrolled at both
institutions.
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Brandman University will:
 Provide appropriate staff and technology support (via WebAdvisor) to
advise Early Admits and track their academic progress
 Provide appropriate collateral for Miramar students and transfer center
staff (e.g. applications, catalog access, etc.)
 Provide advising and information sessions at the San Diego Miramar
College campus
 Attend annual transfer fair
 Provide Miramar with Early Admit student matriculation information
 Develop Educational Plans that are based on program-specific Miramar –
Brandman articulation
 Provide the opportunity for Early Admit students to enroll in Brandman’s
courses, including upper-division courses that will apply to the Early
Admit’s baccalaureate degree program.
San Diego Miramar College will:




Provide Early Advantage Transfer information to interested students
Help promote the Early Advantage Transfer program
Provide transfer advice for students wishing to transfer to Brandman
Provide a space for Brandman representatives to meet with prospective
Brandman transfer students
 Subject to student authorization, provide Miramar course enrollment
information and academic transcripts for each Early Admit to Brandman
on a semester-by-semester basis.
Policy Guidelines for Early Advantage Transfer Agreement
1. A Signed Agreement: A signed program articulation agreement between
Brandman and San Diego Miramar College shall be in place prior to the
implementation of this program. This agreement will only pertain to
undergraduate degree programs available at any Brandman University location
(i.e., not programs available at the Chapman University main campus). The
Agreement will remain in effect for five years renewable at any time when
approved by both parties. The Agreement is automatically cancelled should
either institution lose accreditation.
2. Eligible Applicants: Students are eligible to apply for the program after
completing 12 transferable credits and at least one academic term/semester at
Miramar and after earning a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all previous
baccalaureate-level coursework. Transcripts from all previous colleges and
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universities attended must be submitted with the application to verify GPA
eligibility.
3. Academic Program/Articulation Agreement: All Early Admits must select a
baccalaureate-level academic program which is part of the official Articulation
Agreement between Brandman and Miramar in effect for the catalog year in
which the Early Admit has been approved. Articulation agreements between the
two institutions will be updated annually.
4. WebAdvisor Access: Early Admits will receive access to WebAdvisor, a
Chapman email address, as well as access to other approved resources.
Through WebAdvisor, Early Admits will be able to access their Program
Evaluation, Transfer of Credit, Change of Address, etc.
5. Advising: The official articulation agreement along with the Early Admit’s
specific program evaluation will serve as the guide for advising. Early Admits will
also be assigned a Brandman Academic Advisor who can support the Early
Admit on such advising issues as financial aid eligibility and course selection
decisions. All final course choices, however, are the responsibility of the
prospective student and must fall within the approved official articulation
agreement in order to guarantee transferability.
6. Catalog in Effect: Early Admits will have catalog rights to the Brandman catalog
in effect at the time of enrollment in the Early Advantage Transfer program. Early
Admits must meet the degree requirements of the catalog under which they are
admitted to this program or may select a later catalog for a year in which they are
enrolled at Brandman.
7. Grade Reporting: Subject to student authorization, Miramar will provide course
enrollment information and academic transcripts for each Early Admit to
Brandman on a semester-by-semester basis, preferably via XML/Electronic
formats which automatically transfer information between institutions. Course
information will be entered into Brandman’s Datatel system, resulting in
automatic transfer course evaluation and Program Evaluation/Degree Audit
updates.
8. Transfer of credit: All successfully completed coursework contained within the
articulation agreement for the Early Admit’s academic program will automatically
transfer to the student’s BRANDMAN Academic Program and apply to program
requirements. All other coursework taken outside of the Articulation agreement
will be evaluated in accordance with standard Chapman transfer credit
guidelines.
9. Matriculation to BRANDMAN: Early Admits are eligible to transfer to
BRANDMAN after successful completion of a minimum of 45 transferable
semester credits and within one year after their last term of attendance at
Miramar, up to a maximum of 4 years after their initial Early Advantage Admit
status at Brandman. Early Advantage Admits must submit a formal “Change of
Location” notification to both Brandman and Miramar and must document a
current cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of notification. Upon receipt
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of this notification, Early Admits will fully matriculate to Brandman and assume
regular Brandman student status.
10. Financial benefits: Early Admits who matriculate to Brandman with a minimum
of 45 transferable semester credits will have initial application fees waived and
will receive a 10% tuition discount for classes taken at Brandman’s San Diego
Campus for a period of up to 4 years after submission of a formal “Change of
Location” to Brandman and Miramar. Early Admits who fully matriculate to
Brandman before the completion of 45 transferable semester credits or who
matriculate to a non-San Diego Brandman campus are not eligible to receive
these financial benefits. Early Admit students who are concurrently enrolled in
Brandman courses while also attending Miramar under the provisions of this
agreement will receive these financial benefits.
Program Specific Articulation
Articulation agreements are currently in effect for the following Brandman programs:
* Applied Studies
* Business Administration
* Computing Technology
* Criminal Justice
* Early Childhood Education
* Legal Studies
* Liberal Studies: Culture and Media Studies Emphasis
* Liberal Studies: Multiple Subject Teaching Emphasis
* Organizational Leadership
* Psychology
* Social Science
* Sociology
* Sociology: Social Work Emphasis
In Witness Whereof, the undersigned have executed this memorandum of
understanding as of ________________, 2009.
_____________________________
Patricia Hsieh, Ed.D.
Date
President
San Diego Miramar College
_____________________________
Saskia M. Knight
Date
Vice Chancellor
Brandman University
_____________________________
Constance Carroll, Ph.D.
Date
Chancellor
San Diego Community College District
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