Cooperation Between California State University and
California Community Colleges Faculty to
Improve Student Transfer Procedures

AS-2517-01/AA - January 18-19, 2001

ATTACHMENT TO AS-2517-01/AA

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU) recognize the importance of improving procedures for the transfer of students from the California Community Colleges (CCC) campuses to those of the CSU; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU support active cooperation between faculty of the CSU and the CCC to improve student transfer procedures; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU acknowledge the Memorandum of Understanding of May 8, 2000, between the chancellors of the CSU and the CCC on improving the effectiveness of transfer procedures of students from CCC campuses to CSU campuses; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU look forward to an active and collegial role in future efforts to improve student transfer procedures.

RATIONALE: The California Master Plan for Higher Education places a high priority on accommodating eligible CCC transfer students to CSU. Nearly 47,744 students transferred to the CSU from California Community Colleges during 1999-2000, compared to slightly more than 36,688 who entered the CSU as first-time freshmen and 9,657 who transferred from other institutions (some of whom also transferred credits from a community college). Thus, a very significant percentage of CSU students transfer college credits from a CCC campus, even though only a very small percentage of CCC students transfer to CSU in any given year. (For example, CPEC data for Fall 1999 indicate that there were 1,400,954 students enrolled in the CCC, compared to 30,447 who transferred from a CCC campus to a CSU campus and 8,696 to a UC campus.)

The expediting of student transfers from CCC to CSU involves complex and multi-layered issues, and many of those issues link directly to faculty responsibilities for curriculum, academic advising, and assessment of student performance in both systems.

On May 8, 2000, Charles B. Reed, Chancellor of the California State University system, and Thomas J. Nussbaum, Chancellor of the California Community Colleges system, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (see attachment) on improving the effectiveness of transfer procedures, to be in effect through June 30, 2003; the memorandum involved limited prior consultation with CSU or CCC academic senates.

APPROVED - January 18-19, 2001