A seamless transition: university, community college partnerships can increase student success

Matrix: The Magazine for Leaders in Education, Feb, 2001 by Nicole Rivard

When Nick Kelton, a business major, decided to transfer from Portland Community College in Oregon to Portland State University last fall, he didn't experience a seamless transition.

First, it took a month to get his transcripts approved. "It was kind of a hassle," he said. "I missed out on a summer and fall course."

Then he had difficulty meeting his new adviser. During his two years at PCC, the same adviser had helped him select classes, but at PSU when he finally met with his advisers, he said he felt as if "they didn't know who I was."

Now PCC transfer students won't have to face the challenges Kelton did because of a co-admission agreement that paves the way for joint admission and enrollment for current and prospective students at each of the schools. The agreement was signed by Portland State University President Dan Bernstine and Portland Community College President Dan Moriarty in November of last year.

"It's a good idea. I wish it was in place when I transferred," Kelton said. "I think it will benefit people because it's a big step to go from one school to the other."

The university already has co-admission agreements with Mount Hood Community College and Clackamas Community College. CCC was the first to sign the agreement in 1997.

Research conducted by a consortium of institutional research officers from CCC and PSU prompted the partnership. The group analyzed students who were enrolled at PSU as well as at one of the three community colleges. The consortium discovered that less than 50 percent of students followed a traditional path to the baccalaureate degree. In an article, "Understanding the Impact of Reverse Transfer Students on Community Colleges," the consortium concluded that students often made double or multiple reverses back and forth between the community colleges and the university, rather than going from high school to the community college to the university.

"The study found up to 70 different patterns which challenged the assumption our system is built on--which is that students will bring closure to their attendance at an institution and then move on to the next level," Janine Allen, vice provost and dean, enrollment and student services at PSU, said.

Although four-year and two-year institutions have operated as separate systems, students viewed them as one educational system, and they were putting together "educational packages" so they could meet their educational goals and deal with family issues. While some students finished the baccalaureate in fewer than six years, most took more than seven years from the time of their first postsecondary enrollment to completion of a B.A. or B.S. degree.

"The research challenged us to think about the model that had traditionally been developed," Allen said. "The degree completion process was well above the normal number of years it takes if you started at a university as a freshman."

So CCC and PSU administrators decided to begin viewing students as "our" students since the schools jointly serve them. The co-admission agreement, which admits students to both institutions so they can move freely between the two, allowed them to do this.

PARTNERSHIP COMPONENTS

The co-admission agreement is designed to provide the most efficient and least costly route to a college degree. It helps ensure that students don't take unnecessary courses and helps eliminate student confusion about which courses count toward a degree. The other goal is to increase the degree completion rate in metropolitan areas.

"We're hoping students will be more efficient in their college experience so they can complete their degree as quickly as possible in light of family and job responsibilities," Allen said. She also said that PSU recommends that students finish their associate of arts Oregon transfer degree at the community college before transferring to PSU but this is not required because for many students it's not the best option. For example, if a student is majoring in engineering or nursing, it's quicker to skip the associate's degree and concentrate on work toward the bachelor's degree.

Since the goal is to achieve whatever is best for the student, a major component of the agreement is collaborative advising. One PSU adviser is devoted solely to work as the community college liaison. The school is trying to raise money to create an additional position. Dian Connett, dean of instructional/ student services at CCC, said the PSU adviser comes to the CCC campus at least once a month.

"Students are particularly appreciative that the two schools are coming together and advising them," she said. "There's more of a connection and they feel reassured that the courses they are taking are the ones necessary for transfer. Parents are happy to know public institutions are working together to provide the clearest career track for their son or daughter."

The CCC and Mount Hood agreements also have curricular components. When the co-admission program began at CCC, PSU decided to transform its general-education curriculum. The program evolved into inquiry classes taught by multiple instructors. For instance, a faith and reason course was team taught by biology and philosophy professors.