Resources and Services
As part of its mandate, BCCAT develops practical resources for post-secondary institutions to assist personnel in aspects of their work related to admissions, transfer, and articulation. Three key examples are provided below.
a) The Transfer Credit Evaluation Service (TCES)
The Transfer Credit Evaluation Service (TCES) is the central online resource enabling BC Transfer System institutions to create and manage course-to-course transfer agreements for inclusion in the BC Transfer Guide. (See Appendix 5 for a breakdown of usage statistics of the TCES this year.) Work was undertaken this year to expand the use of the TCES to manage block transfer, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate equivalencies.
b) New Members' Resource Book
The New Members Resource Book was formerly called The Private Institution's Articulation Framework. This reference manual was developed by Finola Finlay (formerly Associate Director, Transfer and Articulation) in fall 2010. It is intended to help orient new member institutions to the norms of the BC Transfer System. "New member institutions" are those private institutions admitted to the BC Transfer System by having one or more programs reviewed by the Degree Quality Assessment Board and given Minister's Consent. The Transfer and Articulation Committee (TAC) approved the resource book for publication and distribution to the system in early 2011. It was designed to be a practical resource for institutions intending to apply for degree authorization through the DQAB process or for career colleges wishing to conclude block transfer agreements with public institutions. All current BC Transfer System members and prospective members should also find this a useful resource. The resource book describes the culture of the BC Transfer System and the rights and obligations of membership. It also provides an overview of articulation tools, resources, and processes.
c) An Overview of Admissions Practices at BC Post-Secondary Institutions
In 2008-09, under the auspices of the Admissions Committee, a survey of post-secondary and secondary personnel was undertaken by Nick Heath, former Director of Admissions at SFU, on behalf of BCCAT to assess whether there is a perceived need and support for system-wide work on admissions processes and practices for the benefit of students. The resulting report included a number of recommendations, one of which was to develop a best practice guide on admissions to serve as a resource for post-secondary institutions.
The Overview of Admissions Practices was completed by Nick Heath in 2010-11 under the guidance of an advisory committee comprised of admissions and registrarial staff and with the additional input of three registrars representing different post-secondary sectors. Through this process it was determined that the guide could not be an exhaustive account of admissions practices nor should it be overly prescriptive; therefore, it evolved into an overview of admissions practices at BC post-secondary institutions. The various sections include Issues and Challenges that admissions staff may encounter along with suggested Practices to Consider. Hard copies have been mailed to the Registrar's Office at BC institutions. The BC School Counsellors' Association has been notified of the online version.
