A new program benefiting Pennsylvania college students has been established to help students maximize the number of credits they can transfer and count toward a college degree.

“Pursuit of a college degree has grown more common in recent decades,
but also more complicated because of the nature of our increasingly mobile
and multi-tasking society,” Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak said.
“Many students move from region to region and often earn college credits at
multiple institutions over many years as they work toward a degree.”

One problem students are facing when attempting to transfer credits is that the entire process has become too burdensome and bureaucratic. Oftentimes students learn that credits earned for courses completed at one institution are not accepted by another.

To counter this problem, the state established the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Center (PA TRAC) Web site that allows users to search for transferable courses, find information about participating institutions and get step-by-step instructions for transferring.

To date, at least 32 institutions will guarantee credit transfers through PA
TRAC, including Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges and the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Three private institutions and one state-related university also participate. The initiative builds on the voluntary articulation agreements already used by
many of Pennsylvania’s public and private institutions.

“This effort saves students time and money, since a clearly defined articulation agreement will spare them from having to take a course a second time to get the same credits that were earned the first time,” Zahorchak said.

The 32 schools participating in the transfer and articulation effort are as follows:

State System of Higher Education

• Bloomsburg University
• California University
• Cheyney University
• Clarion University
• East Stroudsburg University
• Edinboro University
• Indiana University
• Kutztown University
• Lock Haven University
• Mansfield University
• Millersville University
• Shippensburg University
• Slippery Rock University
• West Chester University

Community Colleges

• Bucks County Community College
• Butler County Community College
• Community College of Allegheny County
• Community College of Beaver County
• Community College of Philadelphia
• Delaware County Community College
• Harrisburg Area Community College
• Lehigh Carbon Community College
• Luzerne County Community College
• Montgomery County Community College
• Northampton County Area Community College
• Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
• Reading Area Community College
• Westmoreland County Community College

Other Participating Institutions

• Lincoln University
• Lackawanna College
• Seton Hill University
• St. Francis University

(Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

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Tags: college, college credit, college degree, college transfer, community college, Pennsylvania, university

The state of Minnesota is offering a unique program for high school students: free college credits are being given to those who take (and pass) certain state-approved tests. Unfortunately, the response from high school students has been disappointing as the program is being underutilized. With more than $5 million earmarked by the state through 2009 to cover the tests, only $43,000 has been spent so far.

Save Thousands On Tuition Costs 

Minnesota’s “Get Ready, Get Credit” program is unique in that it is the only state to pay the test fees to help students get college credit. Although still responsible for administrative fees of $15 to $25 per test, Minnesotans are passing up the opportunity to receive free college credit and the opportunity to save thousands of dollars in tuition costs.

Lack of Publicity Hurts

Part of the problem with the program is that it hasn’t been receiving the publicity necessary to catch the attention of students. Some are saying that the college-level exam program is being passed by in favor of more popular choices for college credit, including Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate. Additionally, many guidance counselors and teachers just aren’t that familiar with the state-paid exams. As a result, the state is planning to publicize the program and is hoping more students take the tests this Spring.

Students May Take Up To Six Exams

Students are allowed to take as many as six of the tests which include Algebra, Spanish, and U.S. History. Credits are accepted by member schools of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system however the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities is only accepting a handful of the 34 exams that students may take, as their admittance requirements are stricter than the state system.

For more information about Minnesota’s CLEP program, please visit the state’s Department of Education for details. Please visit the following links for aid charts and planning tools to help you prepare for college.

Source: Department of Education, State of Minnesota

Tags: CLEP, college aid charts, college credit, college planning tools, Department of Education, Minnesota, University of Minnesota