A Revolution in College Transfer

Interstate Passport

Interstate Passport® is a national program that enables seamless block transfer of lower-division general education attainment based on an agreed upon set of learning outcomes rather than on specific courses and credits.

Members of the Interstate Passport Network are institutionally accredited, nonprofit, public and private two- and four-year institutions. Students who earn a Passport and transfer to another Network member institution will have met all or nearly all of the receiving institution’s lower-division general education requirements. To join the Interstate Passport Network, an institution or system should declare its intent to become a member and define and submit a Passport Block.

Interstate Passport is based on four guiding principles: student focused; faculty driven; institutional autonomy; and quality assurance.

Become a Member

Prospective Members

Members

Students

Interstate Passport is a new way for students to transfer courses from one institution to another. Rather than having the receiving institution accept courses individually, earning a Passport means that students will have met all or nearly all of the receiving institution’s lower-division general education requirements. The Passport will be valid at any Network member institution to which the student is admitted.

NOTE: Receiving institutions may require students transferring in with a Passport to complete additional lower-division courses in the following circumstances. Some institutions may require certain prerequisites for entry into a specific program of study. Faith-based institutions may require the religion-related courses expected of other students. A few state legislatures require a specific course in state history or civics for graduation.

Interstate Passport is the only nationwide network of accredited, nonprofit, public and private two- and four-year institutions dedicated to the block transfer of lower-division general education attainment based on multi-state faculty-developed learning outcomes and proficiency criteria.

We track Passport students’ academic performance to inform institutions of the academic quality of transfer students’ general education preparation. As a result, member institutions can better serve a nationwide pool of well prepared transfer students leading to increased rates of retention and completion.

Save time, money, and frustration. Earn a Passport from a participating institution and you can transfer your lower-division general education courses as one block without the hassle of having each course you’ve taken approved for transfer to another Network member institution to which you have been admitted.

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How to Join Interstate Passport

1Review Learning Outcomes

Review your institution’s student learning outcomes for lower-division general education to determine if they are consistent with the Passport Learning Outcomes and cover a similar range of learning.

2Sign the Memorandum of Agreement

Once your institution has determined that the Passport Learning Outcomes are similar enough and cover the same range of learning as your institution’s general education learning outcomes, you can sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Interstate Passport membership. You will also be asked to sign the amendment to the institution’s Core Services Agreement with the National Student Clearinghouse giving them permission to accept your institution’s Passport data and provide Passport services to your institution.

3Construct a Passport Block and Interstate Passport Profile

A Passport Block is constructed by faculty compiling learning opportunities that align with the Passport Learning Outcomes just as it would compile the learning opportunities that constitute the institution’s General Education program, academic minor, academic major or any other program at the institution. The essential consideration is that the total of the learning experiences in the Passport Block must cover a similar range and depth of learning across the nine knowledge and skills areas as the PLOs.

4Set Up Progress Tracking

Take the necessary steps to participate in the Interstate Passport’s academic progress tracking.

Upcoming Events

What People Say

Peter Quigley Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

“These are not my students, nor your students, but our students. Together we can fix transfer.”

Peter Quigley

“The process of developing the learning outcomes in each knowledge and skill area—something that was done by faculty from institutions in multiple Western states —is truly an integral part of the Interstate Passport itself. We were very concerned with ensuring academic rigor throughout, and put a significant amount of energy and enthusiasm into the work.”

L. Lynn Vidler, Professor and Dean, College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

“The Interstate Passport program’s streamlined transfer process will allow our students to complete their education faster with less debt, and lower foregone earnings from unduplicated learning. It will increase successful transfer and completion for our students.”

Jose Fierro, President/Superintendent , Cerritos College, California

“Interstate Passport serves students. It is that simple. The common sense Interstate Passport is long overdue and its implementation will be one of the most impactful reforms higher education has seen in decades.”

Ann Clemmer, Senior Associate Director, Academic Affairs, Arkansas Department of Higher Education