Credential Evaluation and Articulation Agreements

1. Credential Evaluation and Articulation Agreements Tools for Marketing your Program

2. Most Effective Recruiting Activities: Merit Scholarships International Brochures Interviews Articulation Agreements Express Mail of Acceptance Letters Independent Travel (Fall) Small Group / Tour Travel (Fall) Information Sessions * Return on Investment in International Recruitment: A Qualitative Study NAFSA Conference | Minneapolis | 31 May 2007

3. Steps in Creating an Articulation • Who is in charge of creating the agreement? • What contacts do you have with that institution within your own institution?—Recruiters? Faculty? Alumni? • Determine the contact person and signatory at the potential partner institution • If no agreement is in place with an institution and you have determined there are a large number of interests from that institution, look at the institution to determine possible degree pathways

4. Steps in Creating an Articulation (cont) • Do a course by course evaluation to determine if specific pathways are clear • The review will result in an agreement by and between the two departments to accept the courses as the equivalent of the first two years of the course of study in the specified major (at a four-year school) • Students transfer approximate 60 credit hours and student matriculate as a junior.

5. Steps in Creating an Articulation (cont.) • Create completed drafts of program alignment complete with course equivalencies and the content of the agreement. • Obtain signatures of department chairs or Dean, signing off on agreement. • Send two copies of completed draft via express shipment for signatures from partner university. • Create webpage content and upload agreement with links to the college webpage.

6. Important Parts of an Agreement • Introduction • Objectives • Articulation Agreement • Promotion of the Agreement • Review, Continuation and Termination of the Agreement • Specifics related to course equivalencies

7. Introduction • Includes the relationship between the two institutions and how this agreement will enhance that relationship

8. Objectives • To facilitate the transition of students from the partner school to your school. • To encourage academic and administrative coordination between institutions, and the exchange of information. • To establish the guaranteed transfer of courses taken by students who have successfully completed specific courses or programs at partner schools

9. Articulation Agreement • Specific wording that insures student transfer credit • Official Academic Transcripts • Specifics regarding placement tests necessary for admission • Specific degree programs that benefit those students who follow specific degree programs

10. Articulation Agreements (cont.) • Other potential applications and possible enrollment in Grad Programs

11. Promotion of the Agreement • In partner school literature and on their website • Literature from your school to the partner school for promotion of the agreement • On school website and advertisement through myspace and facebook • Build it in BANNER or college

12. Transcript Evaluation • Resources (evaluation services, AACRAO country guides, accrediting bureaus, and online resources) • Concerns (diploma mills, fake transcripts, course equivalencies)

13. Resources • Online resources • NARIC--http://www.naric.org.uk/ • WES Grade Equivalency Site--http://www.wes.org/wes_tools/index.asp • Evaluation Services (Educational Credential Evaluators—Jim Frey, F) • Local colleagues (e.g., Wade Bird, Seattle University)

14. Resources (cont.) • Diploma Mills (http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx) • Other assorted (e.g., India--http://naacindia.org/Universities.asp?state=22 • NAFSA Training Workshops (National and Regional) • NAFSA (http://www.nafsa.org/_/Document/_/researching_internationalization.pdf)