Transfer Information

TRANSFER INFORMATION

Minnesota’s public colleges and universities are working to make transfer easier. Students are urged to PLAN AHEAD, ASK QUESTIONS, and DEVELOP PROGRAM PLANS WITH AN ACADEMIC ADVISOR. Some of the services and policies that make it easier to plan progress and prevent loss of time and credits are:

• help from the transfer advisors on campus;

• transfer guides on the MnSCU Transfer website;

• written Intersystem Agreements regarding:

– transfer of general education courses and the Associate in Arts Degree;

– early application/admission to a university;

– courses to take for transfer in key areas such as engineering and nursing;

– understanding the criteria for admission to the institution/major selected;

– the transfer appeals process on every campus.

Applying for Transfer Admission

• Application for admission is always the first step in transferring. Students desiring to transfer should fill out applications as early as possible prior to deadlines. Required application fees should be enclosed.

• Students should request that official transcripts be sent from every institution attended. Students may be required to provide a high school transcript or GED test scores.

• Most colleges do not make decisions until all required documents are in the student’s files.

Students should recheck to be certain the college or university received all the necessary paperwork.

• If the intended college of transfer does not respond after one month, students should call to check on the status of their application.

• After the College notifies students that they have been accepted for admission, their credits will be evaluated for transfer. At a minimum, a written evaluation should indicate which credits do not transfer. How a transfer student’s courses specifically meet degree requirements may not be decided until orientation or the choice of major has been made. Students with questions about their evaluations should call the Office of Admissions and ask to speak with a credit evaluator. Rationale for judgments regarding specific courses should be available. Many concerns can be cleared up if students understand why decisions were made. If not satisfied, transfer students can appeal.

GENERAL ADMISSIONS POLICIES

Preparing for Transfer Students who are currently enrolled in a college or university should:

• confer with a campus transfer advisor about transfer plans and find out who can assist in selecting courses that will transfer.

• visit the intended transfer college and pick up a college catalog and transfer brochure.

• call the intended transfer college and find out what the admissions criteria are for the institution/major of interest. Request transfer application materials, find out what materials (e.g. portfolio, transcripts, test scores) may be required for admission, ask whether there is a deadline for all materials to be submitted, and request information about financial aid and application deadlines.

• make an appointment to talk with an advisor/counselor in the college or program of interest to the student. Ask about course transfer and admission criteria. Prepare for this meeting by reading catalog information about the specific major or area of interest. Rights of Transfer Students

Transfer students are entitled to:

• a clear, understandable statement of an institution’s policy.

• a fair credit review and an explanation of why credits were or were not accepted.

• a copy of the formal appeals process. Usual steps are:

– student fills out an appeals form;

– providing supplemental information (syllabus, course description, or reading list) can help;

– department or committee will review;

– student receives, in writing, the outcome of the appeal. Students can appeal the decision to the Academic Administrator.

– a review of eligibility for financial aid or scholarships takes place.

Some Facts About Transfer of Credits

• Once a student has been admitted to a college or university, all courses earning grade points shall be considered for transfer.

• The receiving college or university decides which credits meet its degree requirements. The accreditation of both the originating and the receiving institution can affect the transfer of the credits the student has earned.

• Institutions accept transfer courses to the major if they are similar to courses they offer. They look for similarity in course goals, content, and level. “Like” transfers to “like.”

• Not everything that transfers helps students graduate. Baccalaureate degree programs usually count credits in three categories: general education, major/minor courses and prerequisites, and electives. The key question is, “Will credits fulfill requirements of the degree or program chosen?”

• If students change career goals or majors, they might not be able to complete all degree requirements within the usual number of graduation credits. For help with transfer questions or problems, the Transfer Specialist may be consulted.

Mesabi Range Transfer Procedures

Admission in Good Standing

Applicants are admitted to Mesabi Range Community & Technical College in good standing if they are eligible to return to the last institution(s) attended and if they have a 2.0 overall grade point average based on a 4.0 scale for all courses taken at all post-secondary institutions attended.

The grade point average (GPA) from the transfer institution is not used in computing the student’s GPA at Mesabi Range. Transfer students may be given provisional admission until the College receives all transcripts.

Failure to supply the necessary transcripts may lead to suspension from the College.

GENERAL ADMISSIONS POLICIES

Transfer of Credits

Transcripts will be evaluated to determine credits that are acceptable to be applied to degree or certificate programs. Lower division credits earned at a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association may be accepted as equivalent courses or as electives as determined by the college’s credit evaluator. Students may appeal the transfer credit evaluation by filing a petition with the Academic Administrator or designee.

All college courses in which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, or D, shall be considered for transfer evaluation. P grades shall be accepted as earned credit. If the student’s cumulative GPA at the originating institution is less than 2.0; no “D” grades will be accepted in transfer from that school. Students retain the right to appeal the acceptance of credits.

Transfer of Technical Credits

Mesabi Range may accept, for full credit, college-parallel general education courses offered by Minnesota Technical Colleges with regional accreditation. Mesabi Range’s Virginia Campus shall accept for transfer as electives a maximum of 16 semester credits of college level occupational or professional courses offered by Minnesota Technical Colleges with regional accreditation. Mesabi Range shall accept for transfer occupational/ professional credits from technical colleges for those courses that are judged to be comparable or equivalent to courses offered at Mesabi Range Community & Technical College.

Regional accreditation for this policy is defined as the accreditation conferred by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by parallel accreditation agencies in other regional areas of the United States.