Student Transfer Advisory Council
MINUTES
January 12, 1999
(Approved March 30, 1999)

Call to Order

Membership: Barbara Murray, from BCCC, was introduced and welcomed as a STAC member representing the Faculty Advisory Council. All members concurred that faculty representation is essential for addressing transfer issues.

Electronic Transcript Coding: C. Cox shared that after discussion with the Assistant Secretary it was decided that a letter will go out to Vice Presidents of Administration (cc’s to registrars) from the Assistant Secretary, John A. Sabatini, requesting completion of the process of electronically coding general education designations, particularly for designations of nontraditionally earned credit.

Language clarifying the definition of "continuous enrollment (degree-seeking students)" from the "Guiding Principles" document was distributed. This revision, approved by the CAOs on November 24, 1998, serves to include certificate students within the definition of continuous enrollment. These students, if continuously enrolled, also have the option of choosing to follow the general education requirements in place when they first enrolled or the general education requirements in place as of fall 1996.

Members also raised concern about eliminating the publication of the Student Guide, leaving on-line access as the only means of securing copies. Members felt strongly that hard copies were necessary; T. Clowes of MSDE confirmed the value of sending copies to high school guidance counselors. Members agreed to request of Secretary Florestano that MHEC continue to publish and disseminate the Student Guide. Members felt distribution of remaining current copies, which are not up-to-date, would not be useful.

Members discussed several 1999 priorities including: outstanding issues related to the implementation of general education (e.g. performance indicators for general education courses; transfer of D grades), the review of effects of regulations such as the second-degree student regulation, credentialing of work-based learning, and the State Plan tactics addressing improving advising and the transfer rates of African American students. The focus of discussion was on the role STAC should play in addressing the State Plan Goal #9 - "Postsecondary institutions in the State should accelerate degree programs and increase retention and graduation rates." The identified strategy for meeting this goal is to ensure student awareness about the requisite courses for transferring. Two tactics were discussed:

1. Developing strategies for improving advising and counseling and
2. Developing a pilot project to improve the transfer rates of African American community college students.

Materials were distributed on the International Baccalaureate Organisation; members were asked to ensure that the organizations they represent and their respective institutions are informed of the IBO exams for advanced standing credit.

Teri Hollander reported that process for completing course evaluations on-line will be available next month. ARTSYS training sessions will be offered in January (USM-Shady Grove site) and February (UB site). Also, Teri announced that the Business Roundtable and USM are working with secondary schools to develop a plan to host a website for employer access to electronic high school transcripts, in support of the MBRT's Achievement Counts campaign.

A new degree proposal, the Bachelor of Professional/Technical Studies, will be presented to the MHEC Education Policy Committee on January 19. The degree provides for the articulation of selected A.A.S. degrees (60 credits) to a 4-year degree which is designed to complement the learning acquired in the first two years. A pilot in the Health Sciences area is near completion. Members raised questions about this degree and indicated interest in being informed of Education Policy Committee agendas.

Tom Clowes attended as the MSDE representative; Tom is the new Tech Prep Coordinator at the State (tclowes@netman.msde.state.md.us). MSDE and the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board (GWIB) are developing a unified state plan as required for receipt of new Perkins $. In mid-March, listen for PSAs on Career Connections done by Bill Cosby.

Meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.