The Associate VP for Academic Services maintains a template articulation agreement. It may be modified, but agreements must include the following elements:
• The institution’s correct name
• Clear statement as to whether the agreement is for the entire four-year institution or is with one of its colleges, campuses, or programs
• College-wide articulation agreements may include special stipulations for individual schools or colleges within the university
• Clear statement as to whether the agreement is for all of NOVA or for a specific program • Clear about whether AA and AS graduates will receive junior status and whether their
general education requirements will be considered as met • Clear about what grade is needed for courses to transfer
• Clear about what happens to transfer students when degree requirements at the senior institution change or if a degree is discontinued
• Signature of person from four-year institution, with his/her name and correct title printed below
• Signature of NOVA President
• Date on which the agreement becomes effective
• Date by which it must be either reviewed or terminated The following elements are nice to include but are not required:
• Priority or even guaranteed admission for students who have completed an AA or an AS degree at NOVA
• Junior status for these students
• General education requirements met for these students
• Clear statement as to whether students may enroll at both institutions simultaneously, and if so, how this affects financial aid arrangements
• Special financial aid or scholarships for NOVA graduates
• Clear statement as to whether students may take NOVA courses after being admitted to the senior institution
• Course equivalencies as an addendum
• Acceptance of common courses that NOVA offers at the 200 level but which the other institution offers at the 300 level
• Addenda showing articulation of specific programs
• Agreement that the four-year institution will forward to NOVA transfer data for any year in which ten or more NOVA students transfer to that institution
• Permission for each institution to use the other’s name in publications such as the catalog Reasons for some desirable elements:
Accredited institutions: NOVA generally will only negotiate articulation agreements with
regionally accredited colleges and universities. An articulation agreement allows the receiving institution to use NOVA's name in its literature and may represent an endorsement of the receiving institution in the eyes of NOVA students. Also, many students reverse transfer back to NOVA.
Degree as a unit: It is desirable for students to have the associate degree accepted as a
64 AA or AS degree should be able to enter with junior status at the receiving institution.
General education met: In conjunction with accepting the associate degree as a unit, it is
desirable for the receiving institution to recognize that all lower division general education requirements have been met regardless of the general education required of native students. This is the case for most public Virginia institutions. Exceptions such as foreign language or math competency are listed in some agreements.
Course-by-course equivalencies: It will be necessary to do a course-by-course analysis to
determine if prerequisites have been met for upper level courses. Also, course-by-course equivalencies will be necessary for students who have not completed the associate degree. If the receiving institution requires more information than is implied by the course
description, a course content summary may be sent for evaluation. These are available on the Associate VP for Academic Services’ website. Course equivalency tables may be an addendum or attachment to the main agreement.
Acceptance of common courses that may be offered at 300 level: Where NOVA teaches
a course at the 200 level that has an equivalent 300 level course at the receiving institution, it is desirable for students to receive credit for the 300 level course. This generally requires faculty from NOVA and the receiving institution to exchange information about their courses to assure that they are essentially the same. When a 200 level NOVA course is substituted for a 300 level course at the receiving institution, the student typically cannot use the NOVA course to meet the minimum upper division or residency credits required at the receiving institution.
Admissions priority: To market articulation to potential NOVA students, many receiving
institutions give students who have completed an associate degree some priority in
admissions or early registration opportunities. Many universities go so far as to guarantee admission for graduates with good GPAs.
Program to program match: Another effective strategy in attracting potential students is
to create a specific articulation pathway from comparable programs at NOVA to the
receiving institution. Where there are electives or options in the NOVA program, a transfer sheet directing students to courses that meet the requirements of the receiving institution may be helpful. For instance, if a program typically specifies MTH 151 Math for the Liberal Arts at NOVA, but the receiving institution requires a statistics course, the NOVA student can be directed to substitute the statistics course for MTH 151. Transfer sheets for specific programs may be addenda or attachments to the main agreement.
Financial aid: Special financial aid opportunities are very helpful in attracting talented
associate degree graduates to four-year degree programs. All of NOVA's students are commuter students. If the receiving institution is out of the geographic area, financial aid may provide the incentive for students to consider the additional cost of moving to the receiving institution.
Unique Opportunities: Other unique opportunities that students might enjoy while they are
still students of NOVA may be listed in the articulation agreement. These also help the student decide early which receiving institution the student wishes to plan for. Some examples used in other agreements include allowing the student to participate in on-campus student activities, purchase sporting event tickets at student rates, or attend orientation activities prior to completion of the NOVA degree.
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8.0 Curriculum Advisory Committee Procedures