Fair, Consistent, and Transparent: A Short Guide on Assessing Transfer Credits in Ontario

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A new ONCAT resource for faculty members, department chairs, and others who wish to uphold a seamless, transparent, and student-centred transfer process.


In a well-functioning transfer environment, students who transfer should not face barriers.
 
But for most postsecondary students in Ontario, there are significant challenges related to transfer. Transfer students may spend more time than direct-entry students completing their studies. And a significant number of these students do not graduate, period (Walters, Brown, Perekh, Reynolds, and Einmann, 2021).
 
Faculty and academic departments play a vital role in this process. These subject-matter experts assess transfer credit and make determinations about course equivalencies between two or more postsecondary institutions. And yet, despite this important role, many faculty members have shared that they do not receive guidance on how to make these decisions (Missaghian, 2021).
 
In response, ONCAT consulted transfer advisors, faculty members, and other key personnel to create guidelines for assessing credit. Now, in Fair, Consistent, and Transparent, we provide a starting point for faculty members, department chairs, and others who wish to ensure that their decision-making process is indeed student-centred and grounded in principles of equity. Throughout, we provide common elements to consider that can be adapted to fit the needs of a particular department or discipline. The guide also includes principles of credit assessment, guidelines for making credit-assessment decisions, and other information relevant to this important process.
 
We hope that these guidelines are useful, and we welcome your feedback for future iterations.
 
Together, let’s improve the transfer experience for all!
Read *Fair, Consistent, and Transparent* here or download a PDF below.
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