Memorandum of Understanding
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formally recognizes that the Dallas County Community College District and Ashford 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 Ashford 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 Ashford 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. Ashford 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.
Note: Remedial/developmental or technical/vocational courses will not be included for transfer in this General Articulation Agreement from DCCCD colleges unless specified by individual colleges in a Program-to-Program Articulation Agreement.
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 Sciences (AS), at DCCCD transfer to Ashford University as a block. Completed blocks are treated as a whole; the components are not examined separately to determine transferability. Please consult the Ashford University Course Evaluation Guide for details regarding which DCCCD degrees transfer in block towards which AU degrees.
DCCCD graduates will not have to repeat lower-division requirements at Ashford University. Some DCCCD courses are considered equivalent to AU upper division courses. These courses will not need to be repeated. AU does require 30 upper division credits for graduation. DCCCD graduates with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 entering under the terms of this agreement are guaranteed admission into the university.
DCCCD graduates will go through Ashford 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 42 semester credit general education program of study will transfer as a block and will satisfy lower-division general education requirements at Ashford 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
A maximum number of 90 lower division transfer credits can be accepted from DCCCD institutions and applied toward degree completion at Ashford University. An additional nine upper division credits can also be accepted leaving a residency requirement of 21 credits.
Joint Obligations
DCCCD and Ashford University agree to provide direct links between their institutional Web sites, indicating the existence of this Agreement.
Official lists of programs (AA, AAT, AS) for which articulation agreements have been approved by both DCCCD and Ashford University will be made available at both institutions.
No transfer articulation materials developed by an articulating institution are valid without a MOU signed by the DCCCD Chancellor.
DCCCD and Ashford 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 after obtaining appropriate permission from the students involved and in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.
DCCCD institutions agree to provide Ashford University with lists of student contact information for any or all of the following populations: students who would benefit from this partnership, students who are ready to transfer to a four year institution, students who have agreed to be contacted by educational institutions, students with 45+ credits, as well as graduation and alumni lists.
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.
Dallas County Community College District
______________________________________
Dr. Wright L. Lassiter, Jr.
Chancellor
___________
(date)
Ashford University:
______________________________________
Dr. Jane McAuliffe
President
___________
(date)
Contact Information at DCCCD:
Gregg Williams
Transfer Services/Articulation and University Relations Office
1601 South Lamar Street
Dallas, TX 75215
214-378-1742
gewilliams@dcccd.edu
Contact Information at Ashford University:
David Vande Pol
Senior Director of Academic Partnerships
13500 Evening Creek Dr. North
Suite 600
San Diego, CA 92128
(Tel) 858-513-9240
david.vandepol@ashford.edu
Updated: March 27, 2012