Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-21.3 - Associate of arts and associate of science transfer major programs
(1)
General
program. Each community college shall offer a general college parallel
program of study leading to an associate of arts award or an associate of
science award, pursuant to subrules 21.2(9) and 21.4(2). These programs shall
offer courses equivalent to the first two years of a baccalaureate program and
shall not be discipline-specific.
(2)
Transfer majors. A
community college may establish discipline-specific transfer major programs to
improve student recruitment, advising, and success and enhance transferability
of associate-level courses into aligned baccalaureate degree programs. The
transfer major program shall consist of discipline-relevant credits from an
approved discipline framework which satisfies the requirements of paragraph
21.3(2)"b." A community college shall ensure all students are
appropriately advised regarding the availability, structure, purpose, and other
pertinent information related to the transfer major program.
a.
Degree option. A transfer
major shall be embedded within an associate of arts or associate of science
degree which meets the requirements of this chapter and any applicable
statewide transfer agreement between the Iowa community colleges and public
universities. Credits within the transfer major may be utilized to fulfill the
general education requirements of an associate of arts or associate of science
degree, as appropriate.
b.
Discipline framework. Each approved transfer major program
shall adhere to the appropriate adopted discipline framework to ensure
transferability with the aligned baccalaureate program of study at one or more
public universities in Iowa.
(1) A discipline
framework shall consist of a minimum of 18 discipline-relevant semester credits
(27 quarter credits) that align with a framework of elements based on accepted
practices of an aligned baccalaureate degree program of study at a public
university in Iowa.
(2) The courses
within the discipline framework shall articulate with a regionally accredited
public university in Iowa so that the course credits are recognized by the
university as fulfilling equivalent course requirements in at least one aligned
baccalaureate degree program of study.
(3) If the requirements of subparagraph
21.3(2)"b"(2) cannot be achieved with at least one regionally
accredited public university in Iowa, a request may be submitted to the
department for articulation with a regionally accredited public institution in
a contiguous state or a group of no less than three regionally accredited
private postsecondary institutions which confer baccalaureate degrees, are
based in Iowa, and are approved under Iowa Code chapter 261 to operate in the
state of Iowa.
(4) The discipline
framework shall be developed and adopted by a statewide committee convened by
the department .
c.
Use of term. Consistent with department guidance, each
community college shall exclusively use the term "transfer major" to record the
completion of an approved transfer major program on the student's official
transcript and other academic records, publish in the college catalog, and
market the transfer major program to current and potential students and the
general public. A community college shall not transcript, catalog, or market an
associate of arts or associate of science program using other terms which
contain or are synonymous with the term "major" or which imply a specialization
within a subject area.
(3)
Approval. Per Iowa Code
section
260C.14,
each transfer major program shall be submitted to the department for approval
utilizing the state system for program management. Approval shall be obtained
prior to the enrollment of students in the transfer major program. The approval
process shall not include components specific to career and technical education
program approval, including advisory committees and labor market
analysis.
(4)
Reporting. Each community college shall comply with data
reporting requirements established by the department . The department shall
produce and make available a report detailing enrollment and outcomes of
participants in transfer major programs.
(5)
Effective date. The
requirements of this rule shall take effect beginning with the 2019-2020
academic year. In implementing the provisions of this rule, the department
shall consult key stakeholders including, but not limited to, representatives
of Iowa's community colleges and public universities.
Notes
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