The Transfer Coordinator

In early 1970, Dr. G. Robert Darnes brought together a small group of individuals interested in the transfer student process. It was Dr. Darnes' idea to create a network of individuals around the state who could work toward improving channels of communication, identifying problems and concerns, and arriving at solutions related to the transfer process.
This first meeting hosted by DePaul University and Dr. Darnes' early initiatives of the Illinois Community College Board was the beginning of what we now refer to as the Transfer Coordinators of Illinois Colleges and Universities.

Each president of a public or private senior institution or a public community college was asked to designate an individual to serve as the college's Transfer Coordinator, whose responsibility would involve communicating with other institutional representatives on transfer matters. The Transfer Coordinator would serve as a facilitator, a resource person, a referral agent, and a problem solver on transfer issues.

The Coordinators began meeting formally in conjunction with the annual fall meeting of the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators. In these early years, the Coordinators were divided into two groups, those from two-year institutions and those representing the four-year colleges and universities. Each group elected a chairperson. The two groups met separately and as a combined group.

The issues and concerns of both groups were common to the student and the transfer process. Sometime later, the two groups merged into one body and began holding two combined meetings annually, one in the fall and the other in the spring.

The group has continued to meet on a regular basis without any formal organizational structure. Currently, membership includes each Illinois public two- and four-year institution and 37 private four-year and two-year institutions. Representatives from the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Board of Higher Education also participate.

Specific responsibilities of a Coordinator may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coordinating the course articulation between the two-year and four-year colleges and universities in     Illinois as it affects the students transferring from one institution to another.
• Processing "Course Articulation Exhibit Forms";
• Arranging articulation workshops for faculty, including visits to a campus;
• Preparing course equivalency tables for in-house and external uses;
• Serving as an advocate for the student who transfers from one institution to another;
• Coordinating or overseeing the publications prepared for the transfer student and/or advisors such as     the counselor advisement catalogs, curriculum guides, advising handbooks, and general or program     brochures;
• Coordinating information regarding the transfer process;
• Coordinating all communication regarding course and program articulation activities;
• Monitoring and reporting on the academic progress and mobility of students;
• Representing the institution at meetings of the Transfer Coordinators;
• Serving in a liaison role between institutions and ICCB.

Activities involving the Transfer Coordinators:

• Participation in Phase I of the Illinois Articulation Initiative, including appointment of Transfer
• Coordinator representatives to the steering and general education panels and to each discipline     panel in Phase II of the Illinois Articulation Initiative;
• Participation in the development of a computerized database of general education courses and     courses intended for the various majors;
• Development and implementation of a statewide "Course Articulation Form" and process;
• Conduction of a "Statewide Study on Articulation.";
• Development and support of three longitudinal statewide follow-up studies of transfer students;
• Conduction of statewide subject matter conferences;
• Development of a model associate degree program for select disciplines;
• Development of an articulated course syllabus for the introductory computer course for business     majors;
• Establishment of Focus Group Committees for:
  • Computerized Course Data Bank
  • Program/Course Articulation Activities
  • Recruitment/Admission/Financial Assistance Activities
  • Academic Progress/Mobility Of Students
  • Minority Student Recruitment/Retention
  • Academic Advising/Career Counseling
  • Transfer Coordinator Communications/Networking
  • Dual Credit Policies
  • Compact Agreements