A-11: ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS

Introduction:

University Faculty Senate legislation (3-31-98) identifies policies to guide the development, implementation, and maintenance of articulation agreements with other institutions. Articulation agreements bypass normal admission procedures and are generally understood to involve agreements between Penn State and another institution to admit students to Penn State, to agree to transfer courses in a block, or otherwise to encourage movement from the other institution to Penn State.

Articulation agreements between Penn State and other colleges and universities are to be consistent throughout the University and equitable to all constituents, both within and outside the University. An articulation agreement should not have a negative impact on any Penn State program or campus in terms of enrollment or academic quality but should be made from the perspective that it will enhance the University. Students admitted to one of the University's academic programs through an articulation agreement must be held to equivalent entrance and admission requirements as are in effect for Penn State matriculated students.

Articulation agreements should be viewed as a component of Penn State's academic advising system. The agreement is to provide a procedure for students who begin their college studies at some non-Penn State location and then complete them by earning a Penn State degree. The procedure is to include an outline of the most appropriate courses to schedule in pursuing a plan to matriculate at Penn State and complete a Penn State degree program.

Senate Policy on Articulation Agreements (see Senate Agenda, 3-31-98):

1. The executive vice president and provost is the University officer responsible for administratively authorizing, extending, or terminating articulation agreements with other academic institutions relating to the admission, curricular offerings, enrollments, or awarding of degrees for academic programs and students at all college and campus locations.

2. Academic deans may propose to enter into, extend, or terminate articulation agreements with external institutions and agencies or with graduate and professional units within the University.

3. Proposals are to be developed after consultations with appropriate academic and administrative officers within the University, including other deans.

4. When an agreement is proposed with an institution that is located within the geographic service area of a Penn State campus, the dean/campus executive officer of that campus must be consulted before an agreement is finalized. An articulation agreement should not have a negative impact on any Penn State program or campus in terms of enrollment.

5. Whenever appropriate, articulation agreements shall include the provision for multiple campuses and colleges of the University to participate in the agreement.

6. All academic and administrative policies of the University will be honored in the proposed articulation agreement. This includes, but is not limited to, Policy 42-82, Credit by Transfer from Other Institutions:  Accredited U.S. Institutions, which stipulates that course work completed at an accredited college or university may be evaluated for transfer credit if passed with a grade equivalent to A, B, or C at Penn State and useful to the candidate's program of study at Penn State. As such, if an articulation agreement is using a block grant approach, only courses with a C or better will become a part of the student's Penn State academic record. An articulation agreement should not have a negative impact on any Penn State program or campus in terms of academic quality.

7. When a student is admitted to the University through an articulation agreement, the entrance and admission requirements for enrollment in a college and entrance to a major will be no less than those in effect at the time for Penn State matriculated students.

8. The Undergraduate Admissions Office will evaluate the application and scholastic credentials for students seeking entry to the University through an articulation agreement.

9. Articulation agreements involving undergraduate students shall be subject to a review by the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid (ARSSA) before being authorized by the provost. Articulation agreements involving graduate students shall be subject to a review by the Graduate Council before being authorized by the provost.

10. Once established, articulation agreements should be reviewed periodically for viability by the sponsoring unit, approximately every five years.

11. A register of authorized articulation agreements will be maintained by the vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education.

12. Articulation agreements authorized prior to the approval and implementation of these recommendations shall be reviewed and, if necessary, modified to ensure that they are in accord with this policy.

Administrative Procedures for Articulation Agreements:

1. All requests for establishing, renewing, or terminating articulation agreements are forwarded to the vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education. The dean sponsoring the articulation agreement includes the proposal and supporting documentation, as well as recommendations resulting from consultations with other units of Penn State.

2. Proposals are reviewed in terms of:

1. Rationale for the proposed articulation agreement;
2. Description of how the agreement may be renewed or terminated;
3. Estimate of the number of students transferring to Penn State annually;
4. Admission requirements and transfer of academic credits;
5. Advising and special services at both the non-Penn State location and at Penn State, if appropriate;
6. Impact of the agreement, if any, on other programs, colleges, and campuses of the University, including evidence of consultation within Penn State.

3. The vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education forwards the proposal to ARSSA or the Graduate Council for a review and recommendation.

4. The vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education forwards a recommendation to the provost for final authorization.

5. The vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education will maintain an up-to-date Web site of all approved articulation agreements.

Approved: ACUE (3-4-99)

The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. Please consult a Penn State academic adviser for more detailed information. Penn State is an affirmative action, equal opportunity university.