Tool URL: http://www.uwyo.edu/transfer

Institution URL: http://www.uwyo.edu

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With seven community colleges and just one university, Wyoming is well-positioned to maintain thoughtful academic pathways for seamless transfer.

Wyoming transfers are too few, and while they are academically successful they complete far too many hours prior to graduation.

• Increase the success of transfers through streamlined articulation and development of guided pathways to a bachelor’s degree
• Increase the number of students who choose to transfer, to further the state’s need for a bachelor’s prepared workforce
• Increase the rate of “transfer with award” (students who complete an associate’s degree prior to starting university)
• Decrease the number of transfer students losing federal financial aid eligibility due to reaching max hours (150% of credits to degree)
• Close the gap on hours completed for transfer students at the time of bachelor’s completion

The 2+2 articulations apply to the top transfer degree programs in the state of Wyoming, and they represent guided pathways to associate’s and bachelor’s degrees throughout the state. Departments are encouraged to consider class-to-class articulation alignment as well as program-to-program articulation to ensure that students with an associate’s degree enter the university with junior-level standing. Students are encouraged to complete associate’s degrees prior to transfer, which is one of the top predictors of their success and ensures they are well-prepared for their transition.

The 2+2 articulation agreements are available in full online at uwyo.edu/transfer, including a scorecard for colleges and external stakeholders to use as they measure progress.

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• Number of existing updated 2+2 articulation agreements publicly available
• Percent of incoming Wyoming transfer students with associate’s degrees
• Academic probation rate of incoming transfer class
• Percent of incoming new student class that are transferring (or, number of new transfers)
• Hours gap at bachelor’s completion for new freshman versus transfer students

Close articulation at the program level improves relationships between institutions, facilitates student transfer and transition, improves student success, and grows enrollment.

University of Wyoming’s initial results:

• In 2014, 48% of UW’s incoming transfer class from a Wyoming community college had a transferrable associate’s degree. By 2016, 57% did.
• In 2014, 21% of transfers were on academic probation after their first UW semester. By 2016, the first-semester probation rate had dropped to 16.6%.
• In 2017, two years after the first 2+2’s were signed, the incoming transfer class increased 12.3%.
• Since 2015, the proportion of new UW students who are transfers increased from 42% to 45%.

The 2+2 articulation efforts have been transformational for UW’s approach to community college partnership. The state’s higher education institutions have never worked so effectively together, and it is for the students’ benefit. The outcomes are clear that when the right paths are put in place, everyone wins.

• This process is not one-and-done. Classes and curriculums change constantly and the 2+2’s need refreshed on a regular schedule. Consider tying the agreements to a catalog year.
• Telling the story to students needs a well-functioning website and searchable database.
• Think about infrastructure to continue to deepen the curricular alignment.

Intentionality and support from the top. Sustained attention from dedicated staff. Travel and event support. Web and database costs to promote 2+2’s.

COSTS

• Costs are flexible, and largely focused around the time of faculty and staff.
• Budgets may need to accommodate travel and gatherings, if applicable.

• The 2+2’s need considerable sustained attention, a much more robust website, and expansion into other programs.
• Wyoming has a tremendous amount of potential to continue to develop statewide alignment between institutions.
• UW is committed to continuing and increasing the support for transfer students attracted through these programs.

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Chicory Bechtel 
Manager of Articulation 
University of Wyoming 
Dept 4313, 1000 E University Ave 
Laramie, Wyoming 82071 
Phone: 307-766-5401 
transfer@uwyo.edu