Transfer Information Online: Websites and Articulation Agreements at The City University of New York

Abstract

Objective: Transfer students face a range of potential challenges as they prepare to move from one college to another. Websites are critical resources for transfer students because they can be easily accessible sources of information concerning credit transfer, advising, articulation agreements, and additional transfer administrative policies and procedures. Detailed assessments of colleges’ website transfer information can provide information useful to higher education institutions regarding how transfer information should and should not be communicated online. Methods: The present study examined transfer information on the websites of 19 colleges of The City University of New York (CUNY). This examination assessed the presence on these websites of information about credit transfer, transfer advising, and articulation agreements. This study also assessed the number of within-CUNY articulation agreements listed on each website and whether these articulation agreements were present on the websites of the agreements’ partners. Results: The results showed that, even within an integrated system of colleges such as CUNY, and for both colleges that offer associate degrees and colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees, the ways in which colleges transmit transfer information online can vary significantly. In addition, this information can frequently be incomplete, confusing, and misleading. Finally, providing adequate and accurate information on articulation agreements for transfer students can be particularly challenging. Conclusions: This study concludes with recommendations regarding best practices and policies to support enhancement of online information transmission for transfer students, including standardization of website transfer information across groups of colleges, with continuous monitoring for information accuracy and completeness.