Category: Press Release

The Los Angeles Community College District – made up of nine colleges serving the greater Los Angeles County area – has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the higher education transfer process for students. These nine institutions bring the total number of Network members to 60 across 17 different states. LACCD joins Cerritos College and College of the Siskiyous as members from the state of California.  For the past 70 years, LACCD has served more than three million students, providing accessible, affordable, and practical education to a diverse population. Eighty percent of LACCD students are from underserved populations and more than half of all LACCD students are older than 25 years of age.

“We are proud to join with forward-leaning colleges and universities across the country in the Interstate Passport Network to benefit students and their ability to reach their higher education and career goals. Now, perhaps more than ever, higher education must stand together to serve students and craft clear, unambiguous pathways for transfer. We believe Interstate Passport will become an integral part of that process for thousands of transfer students from Los Angeles and community colleges everywhere,” said Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D., Los Angeles Community College District.

The “Colleges of Los Angeles” that make up the LACCD include: East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Trade-Tech College, Los Angeles Valley College, and  West Los Angeles College. Overall enrollment in 2017-18 was over 230,000 students, and half enrolled with the intent to transfer. Almost 70 percent of students attend part time, and nearly half of all students are first generation. The LACCD meets the needs of a society where “lifelong learning” is the rule and multiple careers and continual retraining are the norm.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are excited to welcome the nine colleges of the Los Angeles Community College District to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “With the recent growth of the Network membership to 60 institutions in 17 states across the nation, students have expanded options and improved access. Students who earn a Passport will be able to easily transfer to other Network institutions without losing or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

Western Colorado University, located in Gunnison, Colorado, has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Western becomes the 56th member of the Network and the second institution in Colorado to sign up. (Adams State University became a Passport member last year.)

Founded in 1901 and situated at 7,700 feet above sea level, Western Colorado is a public four-year liberal arts institution that offers more than 90 areas of study for undergraduates and seven graduate programs with class sizes averaging 18 students.

Western offers a variety of Accelerated Master’s (3+2) programs that allow students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. In addition, the university participates in the Bridge to Bachelor’s Degree Program with the Colorado Community College System, which guarantees first-time students at any of the 13 CCCS colleges admission to Western and eight other Colorado four-year colleges and universities upon completion of an associate degree. On-campus enrollment at Western is about 2,300 students, with another 1,000 students taking coursework remotely via concurrent enrollment program. Eighty percent of Western students receive financial aid.

“Western has been a popular and rewarding place to matriculate for students who may start at other institutions but ultimately earn degrees at Western,” said Dr. William Niemi, vice president of academic affairs at Western. “As COVID-19 is prompting many to reconsider their ideal university setting, it is great to see the Interstate Passport program remove obstacles for students transferring from out of state. ”

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Western Colorado University to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “With the recent growth of the Network membership to 60 institutions in 17 states across the nation, students have expanded options and improved access. Students who earn a Passport will be able to easily transfer to other Network institutions without losing or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

New Mexico State University has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. NMSU becomes the 59th member of the Network and the first institution in New Mexico to sign up, bringing the total number of participating states to 17. Located in Las Cruces on a 900-acre campus, NMSU is a NASA Space-Grant College and also a Hispanic Serving Institution. It enrolls more than 14,000 students from 49 states and 89 foreign countries. 

NMSU Provost Carol Parker said NMSU’s position as the first institution of higher learning in New Mexico to participate in the Interstate Passport Network is exciting.

“Initiatives such as the Interstate Passport program are vital to the successful implementation of NMSU’s mission and our LEADS 2025 Stragegic Plan, which fosters learning, inquiry, diversity and inclusion, social mobility, and service to the broader community,” Parker said. “Enabling successful transfer of credits from other institutions, especially community colleges, supports student mobility. NMSU looks forward to welcoming Passport holders in the future.”

New Mexico State University offers hundreds of bachelor degree completion programs and master’s and doctoral degrees from eight different colleges, including The Honors College, a liberal arts college embedded within the bigger university. NMSU is ranked number one in the nation among peers for science and engineering funding. The university serves a multi-cultural population of students and community members across the state at five campuses, a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, cooperative extension offices in all 33 counties, and 12 agriculture research and science centers.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are excited to welcome New Mexico State University to the Interstate Passport Network, our first member from New Mexico,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. Students who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

The University of Nevada, Reno has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. The University becomes the 58th member of the Network, signing up with two other Nevada institutions: Nevada State College and Truckee Meadows Community College. Founded in 1874 as a land-grant school, the state’s first institution of higher education, the University now enrolls over 21,000 students across 11 schools and colleges, and employs 1,049 academic faculty.

“We are excited to be accepted into the Interstate Passport consortium and join other leading universities in this wonderful initiative,” University of Nevada, Reno Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Carman said.  “Being a member of the consortium validates the quality of our University’s  general education curriculum and gives us access to a new pool of highly qualified transfer students that will no doubt enrich our University community.”

The University of Nevada, Reno offers hundreds of degrees, certificates and licensures in more than 145 academic majors, as well as master’s and doctoral programs for over 3,000 students. The University also has a continuing and professional studies program and offers online learning in a number of programs across all levels. The University is a member of the Mountain West Conference with six men’s and 10 women’s sports teams.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome the University of Nevada, Reno to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “With the recent growth of the Network membership to 60 institutions in 17 states across the nation, students have expanded options and improved access. Students who earn a Passport will be able to easily transfer to other Network institutions without losing or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

Truckee Meadows Community College has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Truckee Meadows becomes the 56^th member of the Network, signing up with two other Nevada institutions: University of Nevada, Reno and Nevada State College. Established in 1979, TMCC is a comprehensive community college that is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. It serves more than 25,000 students each year in credit and non-credit programs at five educational sites and more than 20 community locations.

“Speaking on behalf of TMCC, we are thrilled to be part of a network dedicated to academic and transfer success. The Interstate Passport program is a efficient way to eliminate the pesky transfer trouble spots that hinder student access and achievement,” said Karin Hilgersom, president of the college.   

Located in Reno, TMCC offers a wide range of academic and university transfer programs, occupational training, and career enhancement workshops. Students can earn an associate of arts, associate of science, associate of applied science or associate of general studies degree, plus one-year certificate or certificate of completion in more than 50 career fields. TMCC prepares students for jobs in industries in Nevada, with 95 percent of students remaining in Nevada after completing their studies.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011 and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Truckee Meadows Community College to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. All TMCC students who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

Nevada State College (NSC) has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. NSC becomes the 57th member of the Network, signing up with two other Nevada institutions: University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College. Located in Henderson, Nevada State College (NSC) is a four-year comprehensive public institution. NSC ispart of the Nevada System of Higher Education, a system that serves a critical need between the two-year colleges and the research institutions with a commitment to personalized education. Over 5,500 students were enrolled in the fall 2019 semester.

“Transferring between institutions can be a complex and time-consuming process, particularly when each class must be evaluated individually,” said Vickie Rutledge Shields, Provost and Executive Vice President at NSC. “We’re impressed by the simplicity and standardization that Interstate Passport offers – it will be a tremendous benefit for our diverse population of students.”

NSC offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees from the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, and the School of Education, which also offers a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. The college also offers for-credit internship courses for a number of majors and free one-on-one and group tutoring.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from NSC who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Nevada State College to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. Students who earn a Passport will be able to easily transfer to other institutions within the Network without losing credits or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework, a seamless transition that will keep students on their pathway to a degree.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

Chaminade University of Honolulu has joined the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Chaminade University becomes the first private institution from the state of Hawaiʻi to join. The university was founded in 1955 as the only Catholic university in Hawaiʻi and one of three Marianist higher education institutions in the country. It serves just over 1,000 students from Hawaiʻi, the mainland, and the Pacific region.

“Chaminade University always puts students first, which is why we are proud to join the Interstate Passport Network to further streamline the credit transfer process and put the focus back on each student’s educational journey,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, Chaminade president. “Our strong Marianist and public service mission means we stress an individualized academic experience for each student that helps them grow as learners and leaders, and ensures they’re inspired to bring their talents to bear to make positive change. We look forward to welcoming more students to our campus through Interstate Passport.”  

Chaminade University offers 25 undergraduate and graduate programs in the fine arts and humanities, sciences and mathematics, behavioral sciences, business and communication, education, and nursing. One hundred percent of students participate in a service-learning project by the time of graduation, and 98 percent of students receive some type of financial aid. At Chaminade, students develop professionally through service learning projects, research and internship experiences, and leadership and community networking opportunities.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from Chaminade who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Chaminade University of Honolulu to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. Especially because all institutions in the University of Hawaiʻi System are members of the Network, we are so pleased that now a private university in the state is a member. Through the Interstate Passport Network students will be able to easily transfer to other institutions within Hawaiʻi as well as to other Network institutions on the mainland without losing or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

Casper College, located in Casper, Wyoming, has joined the Interstate Passport Network, a national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Casper College is also the third institution in the state of Wyoming to join the Network. Established in 1945 as the first junior college in the state, Casper College enrolls nearly 3,000 students in more than 140 academic transfer and technical and career programs. In addition, 11 universities offer advanced degrees on the campus through college-university partnership programs. The college offers a robust scholarship and financial aid program, awarding nearly $17 million in 2018-19.

“We are very excited to be part of the Interstate Passport Network and the many opportunities it will offer our students that wish to continue their education beyond their associate degree,” said Dr. Darren Divine,  the college’s president.

Recently named one of the top 25 community colleges in the nation, Casper College is a public comprehensive two-year institution with a primary focus on student success. The college offers associate degrees in arts, applied science, business, science, fine arts and nursing, as well as certificates and post-certificates. Approximately 44% of Casper College students end up transferring to a 4-year institution after graduating from Casper College each year.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from Casper College who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Casper College to the Interstate Passport Network, joining founding member Laramie County Community College and the University of Wyoming as members in Wyoming,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “Interstate Passport will now allow students from Casper College to easily transfer to other Passport institutions, particularly in other Western states, without losing credits or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

The College of Eastern Idaho joins the Interstate Passport Network, the national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Located in Idaho Falls, the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) becomes the second institution to join the Network from Idaho. CEI is Idaho’s newest comprehensive community college (formerly Eastern Idaho Technical College), offering academic associate of arts and science degrees with transferable general education credits, as well as Early College Programs for high school students.

“College of Eastern Idaho is excited to join the Interstate Passport because of the benefit to our students when transferring to four-year instituions,” said Lori Barber, vice president of academic and student affairs. “Earning a Passport removes barriers and ensures transferability of lower-division general education credits to participating colleges and universities, including out-of-state institutions. It is a wonderful addition to CEI’s already very student-centered approach to education.”

In 2019 CEI served over 19,000 students in a nine-county region, awarding 146 degrees and 108 certificates. Programs of study include business and technology, health professions, trades and industry, general education and adult basic education – offered on campus, online and via three outreach centers. The majority of students (82 percent) attend part time and range in age from 18 to 50 years old.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from CEI who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome College of Eastern Idaho to the Interstate Passport Network, joining North Idaho College as members from the state of Idaho,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees. Through the Passport Network CEI students will now be able to easily transfer to other Passport institutions, particularly in other Western states, without losing or repeating their lower-division general education credits.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.