Credit Transfer in Ontario

Transferability, Articulation & Pathways Session

June 2, 2013

The Year: 1967

Ontario’s postsecondary education system was purposefully established as a binary system with distinct roles for colleges and universities.

The junior college/transfer college model was explicitly rejected when the CAATs were established in 1967.

The Year: 1967

“You will note that I have not included in the list of courses what the Americans call the "transfer" or "college-parallel" courses, leading to advanced placement in universities, because there is no need for such courses in Ontario at the present time at least. In Ontario we have the Grade 13 course in our secondary schools now, and will probably long have its successor, the proposed Matriculation Year, specifically designed as a university-preparatory program for our academically able students.” – The Honourable William G. Davis, Minister of Education, June 1967

So What Has Ontario Been Doing for 46 Years?

Ontario’s binary system seemed to work relatively well for the first three decades as colleges focused primarily on employment preparation and demand for “transferability between colleges and universities” from students was not a pressing issue

This starts to change in the early 1990s as more students raise concerns about not receiving credit for courses and programs completed at colleges when they apply to universities

In mid-1990s, government establishes College-University Consortium Council (CUCC)with representation from colleges, universities & Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

CUCC purpose - to facilitate and promote joint college university initiatives and encourage college -university transfer pathway

Progress was very slow – was clear government had to take firmer hand

Slow Progress

2005 – Rae review of PSE calls for fairness in credit transfer, calling duplication of learning “wasteful of public resources”

2009 -Colleges Ontario commissions independent study on costs of credit transfer. Report showed:– a more coordinated system for college to university transfers would

save $25,000-$50,000 per student & significant savings to government

In 2009, MTCU struck a credit transfer steering committee to address credit transfer– Committee includes college and university sectors, student groups

2011 - government announces $73.7M over 5 years to implement a provincial credit transfer system, including funding colleges and universities to develop more credit transfer pathways.

The Year: 2013

Ontario’s new provincial credit transfer system was announced by government in 2011. It will be fully operational by 2014-15

Vision:

Ontario will have a comprehensive , transparent and consistently applied credit transfer system that will improve student transfer and mobility, support student success and make Ontario a postsecondary education destination of choice. The credit transfer system will assist qualified students to move between postsecondary institutions or programs without repeating prior, relevant learning.

What do Students Want? Aspirations of Students: Main Goal by Credential

Preparing for future PSE study is a primary goal for many college students. Interest in further study varies significantly by credential.

Source: MTCU – Student Satisfaction Survey

Where Do College Graduates Go Next?

In 2010-11, approximately 25% of graduates were pursuing further education 6 months after graduating. Graduates most often return to their original college or enrol in an Ontario university.

Source: MTCU – Graduate Satisfaction Survey

Expectations of a Mature System (2014-15)

When fully operational the new credit transfer system will:

Provide comprehensive information on routes to achieve academic and occupational goals

Maximize student access & choice seamlessly, without duplicating equivalent prior learning

Incorporate a searchable, interactive portal that provides timely and up-to-date information on credit transfer and allows students to save their searches.

A Mature System

Support institutional systems that provide information on transfer credit granted to students on registration

Include integrated student services for transfer students at all institutions, including early notification of transfer credit granted, orientation and student support

Include data and research capabilities to provide reliable information on student mobility to government, institutions and others

Overall Approach of ONCAT

Work with Institutions– no regulatory authority– work to help institutions achieve their strategic goals

 Student Focus– provide accurate information in a transparent

manner

Better Communications– recognize the sector’s accomplishments to date– acknowledge the institutions that have demonstrated

leadership

Progress to Date

1. Policy framework & guiding principles released2. New website ontransfer.ca launched3. Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer

(ONCAT) established as an arms-length agency– ONCAT is incorporated, Board has been established as a

member driven organization comprised of the 44 publicly funded colleges and universities in Ontario

– Accountability is through a TPA with the government

4. Individual institutional agreements to participate signed

5. Credit Transfer Innovation Fund – first round of projects nearly or already completed

– $4 M for 14 projects involving 24 colleges and 17 universities

ONCAT Activities to Date Supported more than 65 multi-institution bridging projects. These

include:

– apprenticeship to diploma bridges

– diploma to diploma projects

– high affinity college diploma to university degree projects

– low affinity college diploma to university degree projects

– college diploma to college degree projects

Funded more than 30 research projects looking at the student experience before, during and after transfer. 

– develop best practices in supporting students’ transitions

Almost all publicly funded colleges and universities are participating in one or more of these projects. 

ONCAT Activities to Date

Instituted a new web portal to provide information to students about transfer opportunities.

– The site contains almost 600 designated pathways between colleges and universities.

– In 2012, almost 80,000 unique visitors searched the site.

– The majority identified themselves as college students and ended their search with information on a transfer advisor.

– Website traffic increased 100% over last year.

Launched a marketing campaign (pilot project) in the GTA;

Presented the ONTransfer website at various conferences and recruitment fairs across Ontario.

Annual Student Pathways Conference to build a community of credit transfer professionals and share best practices.

Continuing Challenges in the 46 Year Struggle for Credit Transfer

Credit transfer is a priority in Ontario but progress is frustratingly slow

Data on the magnitude of the demand for transfer and students’ transfer experience is scanty. Ontario Education Number not implemented

Need to ensure that we don’t get bogged down in credit by credit analysis

Focus must be on recognizing learning outcomes

Looking Ahead to the Future

Demand for a new kind of postsecondary education experience that combines the practical and the applied

College degree granting

Partnership between colleges and universities that go beyond articulation agreements

Co-design and delivery of programs