Transfer And Articulation :: Thrive :: Securing Regional Growth through Education & Workforce

A key goal of the Ohio Skills Bank is transfer and articulation. In fact, all public universities, colleges, adult career-technical and adult basic and literacy education are all part of the “University System of Ohio” managed by the Board of Regents.

Ohio envisions a seamless statewide educational system through adulthood where courses and credits are more uniform to eliminate confusion and disparities, and to enhance transferability. The Thrive region is in complete agreement that a person who lives in north central Ohio should not have to unnecessarily retake classes when they have already proven subject-matter competency. The partner institutions are actively collaborating to ensure a seamless pathway for area students.

The Transfer Assurance Guide (TAG) Approved Courses Reporting System. This is a resource to help users with the transfer process by identifying equivalent, or equal, TAG- approved courses at Ohio public institutions of higher education. A TAG course is unique in that it has been matched to a set of learning outcomes in a specific academic subject area. If the current and destination institution have an approved course during the same time period that meets the same set of learning outcomes, then the courses are equivalent. Approved TAG courses carry the guarantee that the courses and their credits will transfer and apply toward the major at any of Ohio’s public institutions of higher education, provided the course was taken when the courses were equivalent.

U. Select. Bilateral transfer agreements regarding the credit transfer still exist between Ohio public colleges and universities and are not reflected in this Reporting System. This online tool that will help you view program requirements, course equivalencies, and see how courses you have taken or plan to take transfer to another college or university.

Career Technical Credit Transfer (CT²). State law now requires the Board of Regents and the Ohio Department of Education to develop policies and procedures ensuring that students at an adult career-technical education institution or secondary career-technical education institution can transfer agreed upon technical courses completed there (that adhere to recognized industry standards) to any state institution of higher education "without unnecessary duplication or institutional barriers." To view a list of current transfer guarantees, see this list.

Transfer of Military Credits. The military has a system for translating courses and training into potential college credit, and the American Council on Education analyzes and makes recommendations on how much credit should be awarded. Nine Ohio universities and 14 community/technical colleges are members of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, a consortium dedicated to helping veterans succeed in their college careers. Members, including several Thrive partners, agree to a set of principles that call for providing flexible policies and procedures to assist veterans in gaining all the educational opportunities to which they are entitled.

Dual admission (coming soon). Students who know from the outset that they intend to use the community college as a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree should be able to take advantage of dual admission, allowing qualified students to be admitted into a community/technical college and university simultaneously. Dual admission is intended to allow students to move seamlessly from a community/technical college or two-year degree program into a university. The Chancellor of the Board of Regents has established dual admission as a key statewide strategy, and partnerships are now beginning to form in parts of Ohio.

Expanding the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees to Ohio’s Technical Colleges. Three Thrive institutions (Central Ohio Technical College, Marion Technical College, North Central State College) have been granted authority to offer Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. These degrees are intended to provide the first two years of general education coursework and generally are the degrees most transferable to a university for two years of credit.

Stackable Certificates. Three pre-collegiate “Stackable Certificates” have been designed by the University System of Ohio to provide a transparent pathway for the adult learner. These certificates will create a foundation which the learners will build upon to increase their chance of success in postsecondary education and the workplace. ABLE providers will offer a Basic Skills Certificate (grade equivalency 8.9) and Advanced Skills Certificate (grade equivalency 12.9), while community colleges and adult education programs will offer a College-and Work-Ready Skills Certificate (includes first college-level math and English).