Programs: Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree (ATP) Procedures Guide
OVERVIEW
The Associate in Transfer Partnership (ATP) Procedures Guide includes the following sections:
Introduction
Catalog Common Pages ATP Information
MCCCD Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree (ATP)
Elements of the Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree (ATP)
Purpose of the Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree (ATP)
MCCCD Transfer Partnership Degree Pilot
Modifying Transfer Partnership Degree in the MCCCD Pilot
Processes for Development of Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree (ATP) Proposals
Individuals and Groups Involved in the ATP Processes
Process for Submission of ATP for Approval by District Curriculum
Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree Process Flowchart
ATP Template (blank form for development purposes)
Sample of a Completed ATP Proposal
The following information on transfer partnership degrees is made available
for college users to assist them in the process of developing ATP degrees
and submitting them for review and approval.
Transfer partnership degrees
first became available at MCCCD in 1996. The MCCCD Curriculum Committee
approved the development of transfer partnership degrees in response to
students’ transfer needs. Initially the degrees were referred to
as TPDs or Transfer Partnership Degrees. The degrees were piloted from
1996 to the end of the 1999 summer session. Prior to spring 1999, completion
of a transfer partnership degree resulted in the awarding of an Associate
of Arts degree. Beginning spring 1999, the award type is an Associate
in Transfer Partnership degree or commonly known as ATP.
As with any development of curriculum by the colleges, the initiator follows the college’s internal curriculum processes, which includes the college Curriculum Development Facilitator who is knowledgeable of the college and district processes and available resources.
Catalog Common Pages ATP Information
The following information is sent to the MCCCD Governing Board on an annual basis for their review and approval. This includes the Elements of the ATP Degree.
MARICOPA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT (MCCCD)
ASSOCIATE IN TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP DEGREE (ATP)
The Associate in Transfer Partnership (ATP) degree is designed to meet the needs of Maricopa County Community College District students transferring to public and private colleges and universities. This degree is developed specifically for students who have an identified major and have selected the baccalaureate degree-granting institution to which they intend to transfer.
The Associate in Transfer Partnership degree is an articulated academic program of study established among the student, the accredited baccalaureate degree-granting institution selected by the student, and the primary Maricopa Community College the student attends. The program of study will "parallel" the student's four-year degree as designated by the baccalaureate degree-granting institution. That is, the courses and number of credit hours in the degree will consist of the Freshman and Sophomore lower division course degree requirements of the major as jointly planned and agreed on with the community college and the accredited institution to which the student plans to transfer.
The ATP degree requires a core of general education credits in the following general education categories: First-Year Composition (6 credits); Mathematics (3 credits); Natural Sciences (4 credits); and Humanities and Fine Arts/Social and Behavioral Sciences or related area general education requirements (6 credits). Also included in the ATP degree are the general education and major requirements to meet the lower division requirements of the major at the baccalaureate degree-granting institution. The ATP degree must consist of at least a minimum of 60 credit hours.
Exemption From Arizona University Admission Requirements
The Associate in Transfer Partnership degree provides for exemption from Arizona university admission requirements for students who complete the degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution with a minimum 2.0 on a 4.0=A scale for Arizona residents and a minimum 2.5 on a 4.0=A scale for non-residents.The ATP degree does not assure admission to the specific program at the baccalaureate degree-granting institution. Students participating in the ATP degree will be treated as "native" students by the upper division institution in terms of course evaluation and course changes.
Advising is a critical element of the transfer partnership degree, and students must work closely with a community college academic advisor prior to entering into a transfer partnership agreement. Once a transfer partnership agreement has been initiated by the student, approved and signed off by a community college academic advisor and university authorized official, the student is responsible for periodic meetings with the community college advisor and, if/when determined necessary, with the appropriate baccalaureate degree-granting institution academic advisor. Upon completion of 36 hours, the student must receive formal MCCCD advising before the remainder of their classes can be scheduled.
ELEMENTS OF THE ASSOCIATE IN TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP (ATP) DEGREE
| ELEMENT | CREDITS | |
MCCCD General Studies Core |
19 |
|
Approved Lower Division Transfer Courses (Major dependent with maximum
to be determined by receiving baccalaureate degree granting institution) |
Variable |
|
Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree Total Hours |
60 minimum |
Purpose of the Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree (ATP)
The Associate in Transfer Partnership (ATP) degree is designed to meet the needs of Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) students who plan to transfer to public and private colleges and universities. The degree is developed specifically for students who have identified a major and have selected a university to which they intend to transfer. Completion of the degree guarantees admission to the university provided that the student earns a GPA of 2.00 (for Arizona residents) or 2.50 (for non-residents). However, completion of a transfer partnership degree does not guarantee admission to any specific program. Students participating in a transfer partnership degree will be treated as "native" students by the upper division institution in terms of course equivalency and course changes.
The transfer partnership degree is an articulated academic program of study established among the student, the accredited university selected by the student, and the primary Maricopa college the student attends. The partnership between MCCCD and the university provides for the program of study stipulating the requirements taken at lower division as designated by the university. That is, the courses and number of credit hours in the degree will consist of the freshman and sophomore lower division course degree requirements of the major as jointly planned and agreed on between the community college and the university to which the student plans to transfer.
The transfer partnership degree requires a core of general education credits in the following categories:
First-Year Composition
6 Credits Mathematics
3 Credits Natural Sciences
4 Credits Humanities & Fine Arts/
Social & Behavioral Sciences/
or related area general education
requirements6 Credits
Also included in the degree are the lower division general education and
major requirements as stipulated by the university. The transfer partnership
degree must consist of at least a minimum of 60 credit hours and a maximum
of 64 credit hours. Beginning spring 1999, students completing the transfer
partnership program of study will be awarded an Associate in Transfer
Partnership degree (ATP).
MCCCD Transfer Partnership Degree Pilot
Piloting the transfer partnership degrees created a partnership among the Maricopa colleges with Arizona State University (ASU) Tempe Campus and ASU West Campus. Maricopa piloted the transfer partnership degrees in the areas of business, education, psychology, social work, and housing and urban development. The pilot continued through the 1998-99 academic year. The pilot terminated at the end of second summer session, 1999.
During 1998-99, the Maricopa colleges were allowed to submit requests to create new transfer partnership degrees. The addition of new areas to the transfer partnership degree pilot was contingent upon the technical supports being in place at Maricopa to allow for the certification of transfer partnership degree completion and the tracking of students via existing technologies. This contingency on new ATP development still continues.
Processes for Development of Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree (ATP) Proposals
The development of a new ATP may be pursued only if the new ATP addresses a need for transfer that is not currently being met by an existing degree. In effect the proposed ATP must address the way in which the transfer program will serve student who are currently underserved.
Development of the transfer partnership degree begins with consultation
between ATP partners. Consultation between the Maricopa college and
the university is an essential step in discussing the ATP benefits to
students. The institutions begin to develop a conceptual framework by
which the ATP will be designed and implemented.
In the early stages of ATP development as the program requirements
are being defined, the processes should include:
Partner institution and MCCCD facultyThe articulation office for the partnership institutions and the MCCCD Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation participate in the planning discussions and are resources for the development of the ATP. These individuals along with the initiating college determine an appropriate timetable for completion and implementation. This development is supported by the ATP template in place at MCCCD level for defining the ATP requirements and is used to format the final ATP for approval at MCCCD level.
The articulation office for the partner institution
The MCCCD Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Initiating college Curriculum Development Facilitator
Initiating college Vice President of Academic Affairs
Appropriate MCCCD instructional council(s)
The processing of the ATP for approval expands the circle of participants and continues to include the MCCCD Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation. The District Curriculum Committee (DCC) is the agent for review and recommendations to the MCCCD Governing Board. The ATP is processed for approval per the MCCCD Curriculum Processing Calendar and must be developed, reviewed and approved by January for implementation in the fall semester.
Process for Submission of New ATP Degrees for Approval by the District Curriculum Committee
The initiating MCCCD college submits a copy of the final ATP proposal to
the appropriate MCCCD Instructional Council(s), the articulation office for the partner institution and the Coordinator of Transfer Articulation-Curriculum.
The new ATP proposal which consists of the following:
1. An ATP Background Statement that includes brief background information describing the development of the ATP, need statement, faculty members who collaborated on the development and the proposed effective term. Other pertinent information may be provided that will help the District Curriculum Committee in their review and decision-making processes. A sample of an ATP Background Statement is included in the ATP Procedures GuideIf a college decides later in the process to offer the ATP, they would submit a request to the MCCCD Director of Curriculum to have the degree added to their program offerings.
2. The initiating college Vice President of Academic Affairs’ request to process the proposal for approval.
3. The ATP requirements listed on the official form or template and agreed upon by the MCCCD proposal initiators and the university partner.
Note: Once the university has signed off on the ATP no additional edits should be made to the proposal. If edits are made, then the initiating college must start the process again and ensure that the university signs off on the revised proposal.
4. The Instructional Council’s recommendation on the ATP.
Barring any further concerns or objections raised by the articulation partner(s) and acceptance of the final proposed ATP by the partner(s), the MCCCD Director of Curriculum and Transfer Articulation moves forward with placement of the new ATP proposal on the District Curriculum Committee agenda.
The District Curriculum Committee takes action on the proposal. A recommendation for approval by the District Curriculum Committee (DCC) allows for all the Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs to inform the DCC of their college’s decision on offering the ATP.
The new ATP degree is placed on the MCCCD Governing Board agenda for review and approval.Note: the above posting of approved ATPs may differ per partner institution. In all cases the Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation is responsible for posting the ATP on the Center's website. The development of an ATP with Arizona State University is the exception. ASU is responsible for posting the completed ATP once the Director for the ASU Academic Transfer Articulation Office receives the notice of final MCCCD Governing Board approval from the MCCCD Coordinator of Transfer Articulation-Curriculum. This arrangement has been in place for several years and was reaffirmed by ASU the Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation in 2006
Once the ATP is approved by the Governing Board, the MCCCD Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation places the approved ATP on its website and in the degree audit system for release to the colleges offering the ATP. The updates to the website and the degree audit system follow the schedule per the District Curriculum Processing Calendar.
Modifying Transfer Partnership Degrees
It is the responsibility of the partner institutions and appropriate faculty members to keep their ATP degrees current. ATPs are reviewed on a yearly basis by the District Curriculum Committee at their March general meeting and also prepared for March MCCCD Governing Board action.
The modification of an ATP may be driven by two different needs. For example, A modification may be generated by the articulation partner institution requesting updates due to changes at their institution and affecting the ATP program requirements, and/or equivalencies. A modification may also be generated by MCCCD faculty who have collaborated with the partner institution in generating substantial changes beyond the items noted above.
The business processes for ATP modification includes the following:
An ATP Summary of Changes would be included in the ATP modification proposal listing all changes, rationale for change and if applicable, the names of the faculty members collaborating on the change. A sample of a completed ATP Summary of Changes is provided in the ATP Procedures Guide.
Any and all changes to the ATPs require collaboration between the partner institutions. Thus the faculty members collaborating on the ATP modification must be listed on the proposal.
Updates to the existing degrees are submitted by the university partner and/or the MCCCD faculty in the fall semester but no later than the MCCCD Curriculum Proposal Submission Deadline for February of each year.
Proposed changes take effect in the fall semester. Changes are not retroactive.
Mid-year changes are not allowed as these types of changes may have a negative impact on students who have already identified the ATP as their program of study and have made decisions on course requirements and enrolled in classes.
The contact for the articulation partner institution communicates changes to the transfer partnership degrees to the MCCCD Coordinator of Transfer Articulation-Curriculum in the Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation. An example of a partner institution contact is the Director of the Office of Academic Transfer Articulation at ASU Tempe Campus. The ASU Director has worked out operational procedures with the Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation in order to strengthen the business processes for ATPs and both parties have defined required ATP communication.
The MCCCD Coordinator of Transfer Articulation-Curriculum distributes the updates to the MCCCD college partners and appropriate Instructional Council(s) for their review immediately after receiving the proposed changes. If changes are submitted as late as February by the university/MCCCD partners, the Instructional Councils must respond on the proposed changes before the March District Curriculum Committee General Meeting. At the March DCC General Meeting a composite of changes from different sources, produced by the District Curriculum and Transfer Articulation Office, is submitted to the District Curriculum Committee for review and action. The March deadline supports the next steps of the business processes in submitting the modifications to the Governing Board for final review and action.
The District Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation monitors the monthly processing of courses to determine the impact on ATP degrees. If changes are required on the MCCCD ATP course elements, these changes are also addressed and completed as part of the procedures in finalizing ATPs submitted to the MCCCD Governing Board for action.
If no objections are raised by the District Curriculum Committee on the updates/modifications, then the changes are accepted and the official transfer partnership degree information is submitted to the MCCCD Governing Board for action.
If objections, questions or concerns are raised, the process will provide for discussion of the issues by the faculty initiating the proposal, the partner institution and the District Curriculum Committee.
ATPs may be deleted based on the following:
Lack of student interest as evidenced by small number of completers over a five year period once an ATP has been implemented.
Development of a statewide degree in same discipline that better supports the transfer of MCCCD students.
Lack of faculty follow up in maintaining their ATPs current.
Request by the partner institutions to delete an existing ATP after reaching mutual agreement.
The Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation will provide a yearly update to the District Curriculum Committee in February of each year including data on ATP completers, student interest, statewide degree development affecting ATPs, and status of faculty response related to ATP maintenance. This information will be used by the DCC to make decisions on continuation or deletion of existing ATPs. The proposed deletion of ATPs is an informational item to the appropriate instructional council(s). In all cases students in the process of completing ATPs targeted for deletion will be considered and an appropriate end term will be defined to allow for student completion of requirements.
ATP Template (blank form for development purposes)
The template may be accessed for the development or modification of an ATP degree. Reformatting of the ATP Template may be necessary once the information has been downloaded.
The template identifies the types of information required for the ATP. For example:The Proposal: Header
Program header requires the developer of the proposal to list the institutions (university and MCCCD), award type, major and the catalog year. The MCCCD Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation will provide the major code for the program once the program has been approved.
ATP Proposal: Student Section
The second section provides a place for student’s name, student ID number and if needed, the name, number and college of the person advising the student on ATP requirements.
ATP Proposal: Requirements, Transfer hours, Cousre Equivalencies, General Studies Designations
The main portion of the ATP requires the developer of the proposal to identify the MCCCD courses, course title, credit hours accepted in transfer (or credit hours for the course, and ASU equivalency. The ASU equivalency section may also list the general studies designation for the equivalency and may have references to pertinent ATP notes.
A statement is included regarding the need for students to consult with MCCCD ATP degree advisors.
The requirements that follow usually consist of courses, general education areas, and information on electives. These are additional ATP requirements allowing students to meet the minimum 60 credits maximum 64 credits for the ATP. The developer of the proposal must also identify the transfer credits required, and again the equivalency information. It is not unusual to find a mix of course and area information specific to MCCCD or the university partner within this section.
ATP Proposal: ATP Notes
The information within ATP Notes should provide expanded information to help the student better understand the requirements and policies unique to the ATP. The information should be treated as a “heads up” notice to the student. The notes do not attempt to identify each and every requirement and policy supporting the ATP. Thus, the student should meet with an ATP advisor while pursuing completion of the degree. ATP notes may consist of expanded information on the degree requirements, specific policies related to the requirement/program, specific recommendations addressing ways in which to meet a program requirement as well as other information deemed necessary by the initiating college.
Sample: Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree Proposal Document - Revised 10-12-07
Template: Associate in Transfer Partnership Degree Proposal Document - Revised 10-12-07
The Curriculum Procedures Handbook is a product of the Maricopa County Community Colleges District. Any and all changes to the Handbook are monitored and coordinated through the District Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation. Please give credit to the Maricopa County Community College District if the Handbook or sections of the Handbook are duplicated.
