Athens State University (ASU) is the only upper-division university in the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) with the primary mission of serving ACCS transfer students as well as students transferring from other accredited institutions. As an upper-division institution, the University does not offer remedial or lower division coursework.
All students admitted to Athens State University have taken general education and possibly other coursework at other accredited institutions. In transferring coursework to Athens State, each student must conform to all admissions and transfer-of-credit requirements, policies, and procedures. Additional information on admissions and transfer-of-credit policies can be found in the narratives for Core Requirement 2.7.4, Comprehensive Standard 3.4.3, and Comprehensive Standard 3.4.4.
The institution identifies and evaluates college-level competencies in two ways: (1) evaluation of transfer credits of general education following the unified statewide curriculum for the first two years of undergraduate instruction, and (2) evidenced-based assessment of general education skills.
All degree programs at Athens State include a general education component as part of the degree requirements. University advisors evaluate transfer credits in general education Areas I-IV according to the specific guidelines and criteria adopted by the legislatively-mandated Alabama General Studies and Articulation Committee (AGSC). Transfer credits are restricted once a student achieves junior status or sixty-four (64) semester hours, after which a student may not transfer credit for courses taken at a junior college except by prior written permission from the Dean of the appropriate College. No more than 64 semester hours of junior/community college credit will apply toward graduation degree requirements. Deficiencies in the general education requirements may be addressed through the Special Instructional Request (S.I.R.) Agreement with Calhoun Community College, another institution in the ACCS. Through this agreement, currently enrolled Athens State University students who have general education deficiencies can take coursework at Calhoun following established guidelines.
In addition to the review and evaluation of transferred general education coursework, the University has implemented an evidenced-based method to assess basic college-level skills to ensure students’ preparedness to pursue upper-level coursework. Effective Spring 2010 pursuant to the New Student Academic Assessment Policy, entering students are required to take the ETS® Proficiency Profile Test (formerly MAPP) by the seventh week of their first term at Athens State. The test is designed to measure competencies in a common set of skills that include reading, writing and mathematics. Results from this test will allow the University to assess the effectiveness of the general education background of incoming students in order to develop teaching and learning strategies aimed at addressing identified areas in need of improvement. Analytical and critical thinking skills evidenced by the ability to weigh evidence, facts, and ideas and draw conclusions are measured through the course and program level outcomes assessment.
Since Athens State University does not offer remedial or lower level courses, deficiencies in general education skills identified by the test, if any, will be addressed through an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) developed by the New Student Academic Assessment Committee (NSAAC). Each IEP delineates the education plan the student must follow to address identified weaknesses based on the test results. The IEP specifies objectives, activities, and assessment methodology. The NSAAC will send an IEP to the student’s advisor who will provide feedback of the student’s progress to the committee at the end of each semester. Upon full execution of the IEP by the student, the NSAAC will deem that student as having completed the remediation and notify the advisor. Learning resources such as the Math Lab and the Writing Center are available to assist students to improve their skills as determined by the NSAAC.
Identification and evaluation of college-level competencies is further evidenced by the which documents learning outcomes at the program level. These outcomes include not only degree-specific skills but also build upon the general education competencies that broaden the scope of a university degree beyond the study of a particular major of study.
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