Introduction

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formally recognizes that the Dallas County Community College District and Bellevue University are active educational partners, committed to providing greater educational opportunities and services for students transferring between institutions. This commitment strongly supports the concept of seamless transfer that embraces the principle that transfer students should not be required to repeat competencies already achieved.

DCCCD and Bellevue University enter into this MOU in the spirit of cooperation and mutually recognize each other as quality institutions of higher learning. Each institution, furthermore, is dedicated to serving students from all walks of life, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, disability, color, age, marital status, national origin or other non-merit factors.

Purpose

The purpose of the agreement is to enable DCCCD students who transfer to Bellevue University to carry with them the credit they have already earned for as much relevant study as possible. The MOU provides a structure through which transfer articulation on all levels can be supported. Bellevue University understands and agrees that transfer articulation is with DCCCD as a whole and not with individual colleges within the district. Therefore, it is understood and agreed that courses taken at any DCCCD college are considered equally transferable. This is particularly important at DCCCD where students may be enrolled at more than one DCCCD college.

Transfer Elements

DCCCD Associate Degrees

This MOU establishes the principle that all Associate Degrees -- Associate in Arts (AA), Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), Associate in Applied Sciences (AAS)*, and Associate in Sciences (AS) at DCCCD transfer to Bellevue University as a block. Completed blocks are treated as a whole; the components are not examined separately to determine transferability.  DCCCD graduates with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 entering under the terms of the agreement are guaranteed admission into the university.

*NOTE: AAS degrees from Brookhaven College, Cedar Valley College, El Centro College, Mountain View College, and Richland College will transfer. However, all DCCCD students who take core courses within their AAS degree, such core courses will be transferable.

DCCCD graduates will not have to repeat lower-division requirements at Bellevue University. All college level credits are accepted and applied toward the designated/appropriate university degree(s).  All DCCCD graduates applying for admission to Bellevue University must meet all admission requirements and program requirements.

DCCCD students transferring without an Associate Degree, will have all courses, numbered 1000 and above and with a grade of C or better, accepted for transfer as either an elective, general education requirement, or an exemption or replacement for a required course.

DCCCD graduates will go through the Bellevue University transfer process and therefore must meet all applicable requirements and deadlines pertaining to application for admission, orientation and registration, and payment of tuition and fees. They will abide by the policies and procedures, along with any revisions thereof that apply to all students from that institution.

DCCCD - Core Curriculum

Completion of the DCCCD Core Curriculum, a 48 semester-credit general education program of study will transfer as a block and will satisfy lower-division general education requirements at Bellevue University. The Core can be transferred and accepted as a component of an Associate Degree or as a stand alone general education block not affiliated with an Associate Degree.

Total Number of Transferable Credits

Bellevue University will accept all transfer credits from DCCCD and will apply the credits to degree requirements accordingly.  Only 45 upper division hours are required by Bellevue University to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science Degree.  Bellevue University has a 2+ONE Plan that allows a student to finish his degree in one year after transferring at least 82 credit hours from DCCCD.

Joint Obligations

DCCCD and Bellevue University agree to provide direct links between their institutional web sites, indicating the existence of this Agreement. 

No transfer articulation materials developed by an articulating institution are valid without a MOU signed by the DCCCD Chancellor.

Development, distribution, and accuracy of all transfer articulation products (e.g., Transfer Guide) are the responsibility of Bellevue University.  DCCCD and Bellevue University agree to exchange data and documents as agreed that will contribute to the maintenance and improvement of these transfer arrangements, and promote effective cooperation between the two institutions. The institutions will exchange admissions, grades, and retention data upon request after obtaining appropriate permission from the students involved and in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.

Evaluation

There will be an annual evaluation process of the partnership supported by this MOU. The information obtained from this evaluation will be used to improve the transfer process for the benefit of students.

Longevity of the Agreement

This MOU is in perpetuity or until it is discontinued by either educational partner by submitting written notification to the other partner one year prior to the identified cancellation date in order to protect all students transferring between these institutions.