Transfer Action Plan
This action plan will help you explore the transfer process with students. The plan will also help you navigate the resources available to students as they go through transfer.
- Have students analyze their reasons for transferring.
Questions students should ask themselves about transfer
- What is your purpose in transferring?
- Are you transferring to a school based on location, cost, or types of programs?
- Is a school's reputation important to you?
- Have you visited websites to compare schools?
- Encourage students to research the program or institution they are interested in by visiting websites, talking with people who have attended the institution, and attending information sessions offered by the institution. Use these links to conduct an academic program search of various majors offered in Minnesota: Minnesota State, Private Colleges, and University of Minnesota.
- Have students look up the college or university accreditation status and accrediting body and compare it to the transfer policy at the college or university to which you intend to transfer. Colleges and universities consider an institution's or a program's accreditation as one of the factors they use to evaluate credit for transfer. Students can use the following links to look up accreditation depending on the state the school was located:
http://www.msche.org/institutions_directory.asp Middle States;
http://cihe.neasc.org/about-our-institutions/roster New England Association of Colleges and Schools;
http://www.hlcommission.org/Directory-of-HLC-Institutions.html Higher Learning Commission;
https://www.nwccu.org/member-institutions/directory/ Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities;
https://sacscoc.org/institutions/ Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
https://accjc.org/find-an-institution/ Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges;
http://www.wascsenior.org/institutions Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.
- Determine the type of degree (or diploma or certificate) that best meets your educational goal by talking to a transfer specialist and by researching your career. If you plan to attend a two-year college with the intention to transfer to complete a four-year baccalaureate degree, it is extremely important to plan your courses and program carefully since not all associate degrees or programs are designed for transfer. See Minnesota State Programs: Transfer for descriptions of the transferability of different types of associate degrees and programs.
- Help students research course equivalencies at the receiving institution or program based on their transfer profile.
Transfer profiles and course/program resources
Transfer Profile
Course Research Resources
Student has taken courses at a two or four year institution. He may have completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and/or an Associate in Arts degree.
- Transfer Guides: Assist students to select courses that will satisfy general education and major requirements for specific programs at universities.
- Transferology: Offers accurate course and credit equivalencies, and lets students create plans to see how courses transfer to specific majors. Students can see what courses are required for their major at participating colleges and universities.
- Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Provides details about the MnTC courses and goal areas.
- Programs Designed for Transfer Memorandum: Provides clarification of the purpose of two-year programs as they relate to transfer.
Student has completed a professional or technical program (e.g., AS, AFA, AAS, diploma, or certificate).
- Articulation Agreements: Articulation Agreements: Contains a searchable database of articulation agreements which show you if your present college has an agreement with receiving universities. Note: Articulation agreements are for program-to-program transfer, so you will need to transfer to a university that has an articulation agreement for your program. If no agreement exists, some or all of your courses may not transfer. The entire technical/specialized program usually has to be completed to be honored as fulfilling part of an articulation agreement.
- Programs Designed for Transfer Memorandum: Provides clarification of the purpose of two-year programs as they relate to transfer.
Student has not taken any college courses, and she wants to plan for a future transfer.
The student can use any of the resources listed above depending on where she will begin her education. Example: If the student chooses to complete an Associate of Arts degree at a community college, she can use the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), Minnesota u.select, and Transfer Guides to plan for transfer.
- Review the information in Other Types of Transfer Credit with students to see if they qualify for additional college credit.
- Encourage students to plan for the next steps in the transfer process.
Next steps
- Have students look through Course Schedules for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the University of Minnesota, and Private colleges and universities to see when courses are offered.
- View the information in the Application Action Plan section to support students as they apply to colleges and universities.
Always Keep in Mind
- Encourage students to keep a written record of all transfer correspondence, such as phone calls and in-person correspondence.
- Tell students to write down the names of the people they speak with, the date, and any advice they receive. This action will help them correctly remember their advising conversations.
- Have students write down the important points and the advisor's name, email address, and phone number. They should keep a folder with all advising information.
- Check out the transfer credit policy at the institutions your students want to attend. Some institutions have limits on transfer credits.
- Have students keep all course syllabi and outlines in a safe, accessible place. They may need them to transfer credits or if they return to college after absences.
- Colleges and universities have an appeal process if students are not satisfied with transfer decisions. Direct students to the appeal process on your website, in your catalog, or have them contact the registrar for more information. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities provide an appeal process at the college or university and at the system level.