The expansion of collegiate transfer programming has again become a topic of conversation within the technical colleges and with the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

The technical colleges, responding to mounting pressure from the State Legislature, began pursuing an expansion of collegiate transfer programming in 2005.

In late 2005, the WTCS State Board adopted a series of policy changes that cleared the way for all 16 technical college districts to offer collegiate transfer programs. Technical colleges now can offer liberal arts programs (Associate of Art or Associate of Science degrees designed to satisfy the first two years of a four-year degree) and pre-professional programs (degrees with both general education and occupational components designed to facilitate “seamless” transfer between a technical college and a UW institution’s professional program).

The technical colleges, however, cannot simply choose to offer liberal arts or pre-professional degrees in a vacuum. State statutes require the UW Board of Regents give final approval to technical colleges seeking to offer new collegiate transfer programs (the WTCS State Board has similar authority over new vocational programs sought by the UW System). The provision is intended to avoid duplication by ensuring that one system does not encroach on the mission of the other.

The UW Board of Regents approved criteria for approval of WTCS liberal arts and pre-professional programs at its February 2007 meeting. Herein lies the problem. These criteria indicate that WTCS districts seeking to implement pre-professional degree programs should seek to offer the programs in collaboration with a UW institution. This could mean that UW Board of Regents may not approve a technical college pre-professional program unless a UW institution is responsible for teaching some or all of the degree’s general education component.

With the criteria now in place, the UW Board of Regents is now prepared to consider collegiate transfer programs proposed by the technical colleges.

In March, the Regents are expected to consider a liberal arts transfer program proposed by Chippewa Valley Technical College. If approved, Chippewa Valley would become the fourth technical college to offer a liberal arts transfer degree, joining Madison, Milwaukee and Nicolet.