This article examines how states and community colleges can streamline the transfer process through an innovative national program known as Interstate Passport. The program enables block transfer of lower-division general education attainment based on a set of learning outcomes rather than on individual courses and credits. The article shows how…

With the growth in distance education programs and other interstate activities, community colleges increasingly need to be authorized by multiple states. State authorization provides the legal approval for postsecondary education providers to offer credentials and conduct related activities. Participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity…

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and its 16 members work collaboratively to expand educational access and excellence for all citizens of the West. By promoting innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy among its members and their institutions, WICHE strengthens higher education's contributions…

In 2011, the Harvard Graduate School of Education released "Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century." The report argued that the current education system was too narrowly focused on the goal of preparing all young people to pursue a four-year college or university degree immediately…

Following an introductory discussion of tuition reciprocity agreements in the western states and the four types of state authorization of tuition reciprocity, the authorizations of individual states are provided. Five states have authorizations in general terms, and six have authorizations with specific requirements. The tuition reciprocity…

The pressures engendered by the scarce resources of the 1980s demand the development of new organizational designs that respond to local cultural, economic, and social needs. In the Cumberland and Shenandoah Valleys, a four-state region containing 12 postsecondary institutions, a voluntary association of colleges was formed to solve mutual and…

The New England Regional Student Program, while not providing direct scholarships, does result in major savings to both the participating student and the New England state governments. Students qualifying for study under the program receive admissions preference among out-of-state applicants and are charged only the equivalent of the in-state…

Increasing the numbers of students who participate in financial aid programs has become a critical issue for many state systems. Reasons for the low rates of financial aid uptake vary, from lack of awareness among students to the many and complex types of aid available to inadequate capacity at the institutional level for conducting outreach to…

Describes the development and function of Western Governors University, a virtual university, and its implications for the role of the community college. Recommends that community colleges continue to develop the capacity to provide electronic instruction. Suggests that partnerships between virtual universities and community colleges will be…

Reviews the literature related to distance education under three thematic areas: learners and learning, teachers and teaching, and mission and boundaries. Suggests that, as distance education becomes more central to the community college, educational focus will shift from teaching to learning. (54 citations) (JDI)

Because of the existence within the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia of pockets of populations near the state borders that are underserved in regard to access to higher education, an information Tri-State Reciprocity Committee (TSRC) was convened to investigate the possibility of developing a tri-state tuition reciprocity…