Suggestions that Might
Minimize the Difficulties
Board of Regents Response
The new policies adopted by the Montana Board of Regents soften some of the barriers that have traditionally confronted transfer students.
- The General Education Transfer policy establishes options that permit students to complete most of the general education requirements of a four-year degree program, regardless of where in the Montana University System they do that general education coursework.
- The Minimum Grade policy establishes minimum and consistent grade standards throughout the System for program of study courses, general education courses and free elective courses;
- The Outdated Coursework policy establishes guarantees for students if they have completed college-level courses over a span of several years.
Unfortunately, these policies do not solve the difficulties faced by students when they change their program of study. The process of aligning program requirements throughout the system has begun, however, and starting in Fall Semester 2006, all of the MUS Licensed Practical Nursing programs will have common courses. LPN students should be able to transfer from program to program, but only if the new campus has room for new students, since all nursing programs in the Montana University System have limits on the number of students they can admit.
What Students Can Do
Transfer students can do several things to maximize the transition to their new campus.
- Develop a strong relationship with a knowledgeable advisor at their current campus. On most campuses of the Montana University System, the advising responsibility is handled by professional staff members hired specifically for that purpose, or faculty members in a student's program of study. Good advisors are familiar with the traditions and practices of higher education, and can assist students as they evaluate the degree expectations on a different campus.
- Use their current advisor to establish a relationship with a new advisor at their future institution. When two knowledgeable people from different campuses work on a student's program of study, the transition should be smooth.
- Use the Online Transfer Course Equivalency Guides that have been developed by some of the campuses of the Montana University System to determine equivalent courses at the new institution.
- Ask about transfer or articulation agreements that have been developed by individual campuses for particular programs. An articulation agreement is usually specific to two particular units of the Montana University System, and focuses on a specific academic program. The agreement has been developed by the program faculty at both institutions, and it is intended as a guide for students so they know what they have to take at each institution to earn their degree. For example, Flathead Valley Community College has several articulation agreements with campuses throughout the Montana University System.
All of these suggestions require some planning and thought, and won't be effective if students suddenly decide to change their program of study or transfer to a different campus.
