MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Leaders of Wisconsin’s two public higher education systems signed an historic agreement today that identifies up to 48 core credits that students can transfer within or between the two systems.
University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross and Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) President Morna Foy signed the agreement following the June 6 meeting of the UW Board of Regents in Milwaukee. A proposal by Governor Scott Walker, which was included when the Legislature enacted the state’s biennial budget last summer, was the impetus for the agreement.
The “Universal Transfer Agreement” identifies a series of core general education courses and allows UW or technical college students to transfer the credits from those courses with the assurance that they will satisfy general education or general degree requirements at the receiving institution. This work builds on a history of collaboration that has resulted in numerous transfer opportunities between the two systems’ institutions, which remain in effect.
“This aligns nicely with our efforts to ensure that technical college credits deliver high value to our students, whether they pursue further education now or as part of their career progression,” said WTCS President Morna Foy.
“Building on the hundreds of existing articulation agreements between the UW System and the WCTS, along with the innovative Transfer Information System, this agreement is another step in our joint efforts to make post-secondary education accessible for more students, facilitating their progress to becoming successful contributors to the Wisconsin economy,” said UW System President Ray Cross.
This agreement between UW and WTCS goes into effect on July 1, 2014 for the 2014-15 academic year and will be renewed annually. It is also open to private and tribal institutions that choose to participate. Given the complexity of student intentions and college offerings, academic advisors will continue to play a key role in ensuring efficient credit transfer.
“It is critical that Wisconsinites have the flexibility to keep and transfer their earned general education courses in order to continue investing in the skills needed by the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Governor Scott Walker. “I’m thrilled that we now have an agreement strengthening our higher education systems and offering more options to our students, citizens and workforce.”
“We have a long history of collaboration and cooperation between the UW System and the WTCS at the local and statewide level,” said Michael J. Falbo, president of the UW Board of Regents. “This agreement makes transparent to students what in practice the two systems have been striving to do for decades, which is to offer transfer options that help meet students’ academic and career goals.”
“We have two tremendous systems of public higher education in Wisconsin. When they collaborate, everyone wins,” said Drew Petersen, president of the WTCS Board and a UW Regent. “This agreement will assist students in keeping college costs affordable by ensuring classes taken are accepted for transfer without question.”
The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) offers more than 300 programs awarding two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas and short-term technical diplomas and certificates. In addition, the System is the major provider of customized business solutions and technical assistance to Wisconsin employers. More than 340,000 individuals access the technical colleges for education and training each year.