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Press Release Transfer News

New Mexico State University Joins the Interstate Passport Network

New Mexico State University has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. NMSU becomes the 59th member of the Network and the first institution in New Mexico to sign up, bringing the total number of participating states to 17. Located in Las Cruces on a 900-acre campus, NMSU is a NASA Space-Grant College and also a Hispanic Serving Institution. It enrolls more than 14,000 students from 49 states and 89 foreign countries. 

NMSU Provost Carol Parker said NMSU’s position as the first institution of higher learning in New Mexico to participate in the Interstate Passport Network is exciting.

“Initiatives such as the Interstate Passport program are vital to the successful implementation of NMSU’s mission and our LEADS 2025 Stragegic Plan, which fosters learning, inquiry, diversity and inclusion, social mobility, and service to the broader community,” Parker said. “Enabling successful transfer of credits from other institutions, especially community colleges, supports student mobility. NMSU looks forward to welcoming Passport holders in the future.”

New Mexico State University offers hundreds of bachelor degree completion programs and master’s and doctoral degrees from eight different colleges, including The Honors College, a liberal arts college embedded within the bigger university. NMSU is ranked number one in the nation among peers for science and engineering funding. The university serves a multi-cultural population of students and community members across the state at five campuses, a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, cooperative extension offices in all 33 counties, and 12 agriculture research and science centers.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are excited to welcome New Mexico State University to the Interstate Passport Network, our first member from New Mexico,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. Students who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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Press Release Transfer News

University of Nevada, Reno Joins the Interstate Passport Network

The University of Nevada, Reno has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. The University becomes the 58th member of the Network, signing up with two other Nevada institutions: Nevada State College and Truckee Meadows Community College. Founded in 1874 as a land-grant school, the state’s first institution of higher education, the University now enrolls over 21,000 students across 11 schools and colleges, and employs 1,049 academic faculty.

“We are excited to be accepted into the Interstate Passport consortium and join other leading universities in this wonderful initiative,” University of Nevada, Reno Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Carman said.  “Being a member of the consortium validates the quality of our University’s  general education curriculum and gives us access to a new pool of highly qualified transfer students that will no doubt enrich our University community.”

The University of Nevada, Reno offers hundreds of degrees, certificates and licensures in more than 145 academic majors, as well as master’s and doctoral programs for over 3,000 students. The University also has a continuing and professional studies program and offers online learning in a number of programs across all levels. The University is a member of the Mountain West Conference with six men’s and 10 women’s sports teams.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome the University of Nevada, Reno to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “With the recent growth of the Network membership to 60 institutions in 17 states across the nation, students have expanded options and improved access. Students who earn a Passport will be able to easily transfer to other Network institutions without losing or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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Press Release Transfer News

Interstate Passport Welcomes Truckee Meadows Community College

Truckee Meadows Community College has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Truckee Meadows becomes the 56th member of the Network, signing up with two other Nevada institutions: University of Nevada, Reno and Nevada State College. Established in 1979, TMCC is a comprehensive community college that is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. It serves more than 25,000 students each year in credit and non-credit programs at five educational sites and more than 20 community locations.

“Speaking on behalf of TMCC, we are thrilled to be part of a network dedicated to academic and transfer success. The Interstate Passport program is a efficient way to eliminate the pesky transfer trouble spots that hinder student access and achievement,” said Karin Hilgersom, president of the college.   

Located in Reno, TMCC offers a wide range of academic and university transfer programs, occupational training, and career enhancement workshops. Students can earn an associate of arts, associate of science, associate of applied science or associate of general studies degree, plus one-year certificate or certificate of completion in more than 50 career fields. TMCC prepares students for jobs in industries in Nevada, with 95 percent of students remaining in Nevada after completing their studies.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011 and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Truckee Meadows Community College to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. All TMCC students who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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Press Release Transfer News

Nevada State College, one of three new members from Nevada, joins Interstate Passport

Nevada State College (NSC) has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. NSC becomes the 57th member of the Network, signing up with two other Nevada institutions: University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College. Located in Henderson, Nevada State College (NSC) is a four-year comprehensive public institution. NSC ispart of the Nevada System of Higher Education, a system that serves a critical need between the two-year colleges and the research institutions with a commitment to personalized education. Over 5,500 students were enrolled in the fall 2019 semester.

“Transferring between institutions can be a complex and time-consuming process, particularly when each class must be evaluated individually,” said Vickie Rutledge Shields, Provost and Executive Vice President at NSC. “We’re impressed by the simplicity and standardization that Interstate Passport offers – it will be a tremendous benefit for our diverse population of students.”

NSC offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees from the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, and the School of Education, which also offers a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. The college also offers for-credit internship courses for a number of majors and free one-on-one and group tutoring.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from NSC who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Nevada State College to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. Students who earn a Passport will be able to easily transfer to other institutions within the Network without losing credits or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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Press Release Transfer News

Chaminade University of Honolulu Joins Interstate Passport Network

Chaminade University of Honolulu has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Chaminade University becomes the first private institution from the state of Hawaiʻi to join. The university was founded in 1955 as the only Catholic university in Hawaiʻi and one of three Marianist higher education institutions in the country. It serves just over 1,000 students from Hawaiʻi, the mainland, and the Pacific region.

“Chaminade University always puts students first, which is why we are proud to join the Interstate Passport Network to further streamline the credit transfer process and put the focus back on each student’s educational journey,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, Chaminade president. “Our strong Marianist and public service mission means we stress an individualized academic experience for each student that helps them grow as learners and leaders, and ensures they’re inspired to bring their talents to bear to make positive change. We look forward to welcoming more students to our campus through Interstate Passport.”  

Chaminade University offers 25 undergraduate and graduate programs in the fine arts and humanities, sciences and mathematics, behavioral sciences, business and communication, education, and nursing. One hundred percent of students participate in a service-learning project by the time of graduation, and 98 percent of students receive some type of financial aid. At Chaminade, students develop professionally through service learning projects, research and internship experiences, and leadership and community networking opportunities.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from Chaminade who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Chaminade University of Honolulu to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. Especially because all institutions in the University of Hawaiʻi System are members of the Network, we are so pleased that now a private university in the state is a member. Through the Interstate Passport Network students will be able to easily transfer to other institutions within Hawaiʻi as well as to other Network institutions on the mainland without losing or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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Press Release Transfer News

Interstate Passport Welcomes Casper College

Casper College, located in Casper, Wyoming, has joined the Interstate Passport Network, a national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Casper College is also the third institution in the state of Wyoming to join the Network. Established in 1945 as the first junior college in the state, Casper College enrolls nearly 3,000 students in more than 140 academic transfer and technical and career programs. In addition, 11 universities offer advanced degrees on the campus through college-university partnership programs. The college offers a robust scholarship and financial aid program, awarding nearly $17 million in 2018-19.

“We are very excited to be part of the Interstate Passport Network and the many opportunities it will offer our students that wish to continue their education beyond their associate degree,” said Dr. Darren Divine,  the college’s president.

Recently named one of the top 25 community colleges in the nation, Casper College is a public comprehensive two-year institution with a primary focus on student success. The college offers associate degrees in arts, applied science, business, science, fine arts and nursing, as well as certificates and post-certificates. Approximately 44% of Casper College students end up transferring to a 4-year institution after graduating from Casper College each year.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from Casper College who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Casper College to the Interstate Passport Network, joining founding member Laramie County Community College and the University of Wyoming as members in Wyoming,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “Interstate Passport will now allow students from Casper College to easily transfer to other Passport institutions, particularly in other Western states, without losing credits or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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Press Release Transfer News

Interstate Passport Welcomes College of Eastern Idaho

The College of Eastern Idaho joins the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Located in Idaho Falls, the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) becomes the second institution to join the Network from Idaho. CEI is Idaho’s newest comprehensive community college (formerly Eastern Idaho Technical College), offering academic associate of arts and science degrees with transferable general education credits, as well as Early College Programs for high school students.

“College of Eastern Idaho is excited to join the Interstate Passport because of the benefit to our students when transferring to four-year instituions,” said Lori Barber, vice president of academic and student affairs. “Earning a Passport removes barriers and ensures transferability of lower-division general education credits to participating colleges and universities, including out-of-state institutions. It is a wonderful addition to CEI’s already very student-centered approach to education.”

In 2019 CEI served over 19,000 students in a nine-county region, awarding 146 degrees and 108 certificates. Programs of study include business and technology, health professions, trades and industry, general education and adult basic education – offered on campus, online and via three outreach centers. The majority of students (82 percent) attend part time and range in age from 18 to 50 years old.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from CEI who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome College of Eastern Idaho to the Interstate Passport Network, joining North Idaho College as members from the state of Idaho,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. Through the Passport Network CEI students will now be able to easily transfer to other Passport institutions, particularly in other Western states, without losing or repeating their lower-division general education credits.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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Press Release Transfer News

Washington State University Joins the Interstate Passport Network

Washington State University (WSU) has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. WSU becomes the first institution from the State of Washington to join. Founded in 1890 as Washington’s original land-grant university, WSU serves nearly 31,000 students on five campuses and online.

“We are very proud to be the first Washington institution to join the Interstate Passport member network,” said Bryan Slinker, interim provost and executive vice president at Washington State University. “WSU applauds the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education for developing and overseeing this valuable option for our students. Washington is now the 15th state—including our neighbors Oregon and Idaho—to join the network. Every WSU undergraduate who completes lower-division general education requirements at our university has attained an educational benchmark that is recognized at every Interstate Passport member school.”

Washington State University offers 98 majors for undergraduates, 78 master’s degree programs, 65 doctoral degree programs, and professional degree programs in medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. It manages more than 500 study-abroad programs in over 48 countries, and delivers $380 million in financial aid and scholarships for undergraduate students.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011 at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from WSU who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Washington State University to the Interstate Passport Network – our first member from Washington,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “The proximity of WSU campuses to state boarders naturally lends itself to interstate student transfer with with Oregon, and Idaho. Through the Interstate Passport Network, students who have earned a Passport will now be able to easily transfer to other Network institutions, without losing or repeating thier lower-division general education coursework.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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Interstate Passport Briefing Transfer News

American Council on Education to use Passport Learning Outcomes as a Workforce Framework

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and the American Council on Education announce a collaboration to help more students with prior learning attain high-quality postsecondary credentials. WICHE’s Interstate Passport Network®, with 46 members in 15 states, enables block transfer of completed lower-division general education among participating institutions based on an agreed upon set of learning outcomes. Basing transfer articulation on the 63 Passport Learning Outcomes (PLOs), rather than on matching specific courses and credits, can help reduce credit loss, saving students time and money and increasing their chances of graduating. The discipline specific learning outcomes were developed by multi-state faculty teams convened by WICHE. Now, ACE will also use the PLOs as a framework in evaluating and recommending college credit for training, certifications, and exams offered by hundreds of providers and major employers.

For over 60 years, using an industry standard process, ACE’s faculty panels have evaluated learning that happens outside of the formal college setting and issued recommendations for academic credit. Going forward, ACE will use the PLOs as a framework for evaluating general education, college-level knowledge and skills embedded in some of these extra-institutional learning opportunities. The specific PLOs achieved by a learner will appear on a new digital transcript on Credly’s Acclaim platform, which institutions can use to translate students’ documented knowledge and skills into courses for general education credit. The PLOs provide colleges and universities with more depth as to what ACE transcript holders know and are able to do as they consider credit recommendations. 

“Post-traditional learners face an uphill battle towards their degree goals when institutions are unable to recognize their prior learning. The Passport Learning Outcomes are a great example of a framework that could become the common language for general education to help a wider array of students get the credit they’ve earned for what they know, regardless of where they learned it,” said Louis Soares, ACE chief learning and innovation officer. 

Students who receive credit for prior learning graduate at higher rates, which results in more credits taken from their chosen institutions. This benefit holds true across racial/ethnic populations. Today more than ever, all students need flexible pathways to help them restart their careers, resume interrupted educational journeys, or skill up for new opportunities.

“Interstate Passport is a game changer on many levels with the WICHE/ACE collaboration extending its benefits even further than we had hoped,” said Demaree Michelau, WICHE president. “With the significant economic downturn and impacts of COVID-19 having disproportionate adverse impacts on underserved students and students of color, this collaboration has great potential to not only mitigate some of the negative effects of the pandemic, but we also expect that it will go further and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.”

The Passport Learning Outcomes can serve as a common language describing knowledge and skill attainment that happens in different contexts, building connections between workforce and academia so that students can move more easily between them without losing ground on the journey.

The Passport Learning Outcomes and ACE digital transcripts were developed with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Lumina Foundation. For more information, visit ACE’s Learning Evaluation and the WICHE Interstate Passport program.

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Transfer News

Interstate Passport Welcomes the University of Alaska Fairbanks

June 11, 2020

Boulder, Colo. – The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) becomes the second higher education institution from the state of Alaska to join the Interstate Passport Network. With seven campuses across the state, UAF enrolls more than 8,500 students from all over the world. It becomes the 41st institution across 14 states in the Interstate Passport Network, a national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students.

“We are excited to be a part of the Interstate Passport and are looking forward to welcoming a nationwide pool of students and providing them a modern student experience,” said UAF Chancellor Daniel M. White. “UAF attracts exceptional individuals – those students who seek a world-class academic experience but also desire a respectful, diverse, inclusive and caring environment. Consistent with our motto, ‘you belong here,’ we are making deliberate efforts to welcome a diverse body of students.”

Founded in 1917, the university includes the 2,250-acre campus on Troth Yeddha’ in Fairbanks, plus six community and rural campuses and nine learning centers across the state. UAF has 10 colleges and schools that offer 146 degrees and 32 certificates in 112 disciplines.

The Interstate Passport program was created in 2011 and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. All students from UAF who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

“By joining the Interstate Passport system, we are paving the way for transfer students to complete their degrees without repeating courses for credit they have already earned elsewhere,” said UAF Provost and Exective Vice Chancellor Anupma Prakash. “This will make the transfer process easier and their time to completion shorter.”

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are excited to welcome the University of Alaska Fairbanks to the Interstate Passport Network, joining both the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Southeast,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “Having all Alaska institutions as Network members will expand opportunities for students across the entire state as well as those who look to transfer to Alaska. Since Interstate Passport launched, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports and as Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable and documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.