An articulation agreement between Ohio University and Hocking College will simplify the transfer process for OU's No. 1 contributor of transfer students.
The agreement, signed March 12, solidifies pathways between associate degrees earned at Hocking College, a two-year technical school, and bachelor laureate programs at OU, making the transfer process for Hocking College students more efficient, said Myriah Short, co-author of the agreement and dean of Hocking College's New College.
University officials have attributed part of the university's projected budget deficit to the lower number of transfer students last year.
Transfer students are a large growth potential for OU because they compensate for students lost in the freshman and sophomore years, said Bill Willan, OU's associate vice president for University Outreach and Regional Campuses.
Transfer students are one way to offset attrition
Willan said. If we increase numbers we also increase our budget.
State subsidizing is based on the number of credit hours enrolled, with credits enrolled in upper-level courses receiving higher subsidies than lower-level courses, said Mike Williford, associate provost for Institutional Research and Enrollment Planning.
OU can receive more state money if it admits more students, or if students enroll in a greater number of upper-level classes, he said.
The general theory is that more students mean more subsidy Williford said.
Hocking College is the number one source of transfer students for OU, with 40 Hocking transfer students enrolling at OU fall 2006, according to the Office of Institutional Research.
Hocking College and OU faculty and staff are identifying Hocking College associate degrees and specific courses that correlate with bachelor programs at OU, Short said. OU guarantees that all credits designated by the articulation agreement will transfer directly from Hocking College to the student's major at OU, she said.
They don't have to take classes over so that will be saving them money
Short said.
Academic degree programs designated in the agreement are social work, nursing, technical and applied studies, specialized studies and criminal justice, Short said, but the universities are discussing the addition of OU's other academic departments, such as the Scripps College of Communication and the College of Fine Arts.
All of the degree pathways are in stages of development, but the Department of Social Work is close to finalization and should be ready for spring 2007 Hocking graduates, Short said. Social Work will be the first program to complete articulation.
OU will consider creating an administrative position to coordinate articulation efforts, which would be a position within University Outreach and Regional Campuses, Willan said, adding that any budget strain caused by a new administrative position will be offset by the advantage of attracting more transfer students.
Increasing the number of transfer students has the potential to pay back the investment
Willan said. Ohio University President Roderick McDavis said OU is considering constructing a similar agreement with Columbus State University.
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