Student Services, Resources and Activities

University Transfer and Graduation Information

University Transfer Information (A.A.)

Any student transferring from Florida Community College with an associate in arts degree is guaranteed the transfer of credits earned toward that degree and junior–level standing within the state university system by the State Articulation Agreement (SBE Rule 6A–10.024, FAC). However, a transferring student is not guaranteed admission to specific colleges or programs within the university.

The following are steps that require action on your part for transferring to be successful:

• identify a major (before accumulating 24 college credit hours);
• identify a transfer institution (as soon as possible);
• know the admission requirements to the university;
• in case of a limited–access major, identify the course and admission requirements;
• complete these requirements (items listed above) while attending Florida Community College;
• complete all of the requirements for A.A. degree; and
• complete the admission and application process as required by the university.

There are many things to think about when transferring to another college or university to earn your bachelor’s degree. If you need assistance in identifying a transfer institution, please use the Transfer Planning Checklist available on the Florida Community College Transfer Services Web page. This checklist guides students through the process of determining goals and educational needs, as well as the type, location/course delivery, cost, value and accreditation of potential transfer institutions. Determine if Florida Community College has a transfer articulation agreement with any of your selected institutions and for the specific major. Determine which of the colleges on your chart best fit your goals and educational needs and rank them in order of preference.

The Florida Community College university transfer guide is an overview of the transfer process. This guide, along with the admission requirements for the 11 Florida state universities, can be found on the College Web site.

University Transfer (A.S.)

Students graduating from Florida Community College with an associate in science degree in radiography, hospitality and tourism management, nursing, criminal justice technology, computer engineering technology, or business administration and management may articulate into the corresponding bachelor’s degree program with junior level standing at designated universities within the state university system, under the Statewide Articulation Agreement (SBE Rule 6A–10–024).

Students enrolled in degrees not identified above who intend to transfer to a state university upper division upon receipt of the associate in science degree will be guaranteed admission to a state university. Graduates of any associate in science degree program may articulate all general education courses and may articulate some technical courses from that program into the corresponding baccalaureate programs in the state university system. Students with A.S. degrees not covered under statewide articulation agreements who plan to transfer to a state university should contact a counselor or advisor to assist in identifying courses that will ensure the maximum number of course credits are transferred.

University Transfer (A.A.S.)

Students who intend to transfer to a state university upper division upon receipt of the associate in applied science degree must satisfy certain additional requirements before being accepted for transfer. These requirements do not affect the award of the associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree by Florida Community College but do affect the ability of the senior institution to accept students with the A.A.S. degree.

Students with A.A.S. degrees who plan to transfer to a state university should contact a counselor to determine the additional requirements necessary for transferring.

Articulation Agreements

State Articulation Agreement

Florida’s statewide articulation agreement provides specific guarantees for associate in arts graduates. In essence it provides a 2 + 2 agreement between the 28 Florida community colleges and the eleven state universities. The 2 + 2 articulation agreement states that associate in arts (A.A.) degree graduates of a state–approved Florida community college must be admitted as a junior to any state university as long as the university has space, money and the curriculum to meet the students’ needs. This is a student’s “right.” However, the articulation agreement does not guarantee entrance into a specific state university or major, should that major be “limited access.” Most universities are divided into different colleges (e.g. College of Education, College of Business, College of Engineering), each of which establishes its own admission requirements. So whether students spend their first two years at a community college or the university, they still must meet specific admission requirements for that major, usually beginning with the junior year.

The state of Florida has given students certain rights and responsibilities. The following is a brief outline of the articulation agreement.

1. General Education Core
   Each state university and community college must require at least 36 semester hours in communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities and natural sciences; these hours are collectively termed the “general education core curriculum.” Once students have been certified by the community college on an official transcript as having satisfactorily completed the prescribed core curriculum, with or without the completed associate in arts (A.A.) degree, no other state institution to which they may transfer can require further general education core curriculum. If they do not complete the general education core curriculum before transferring, the general education requirements must be satisfied according to the requirements of the new institution.
2. Associate in Arts Degree
   The associate in arts (A.A.) degree is awarded according to the following conditions.
   1. completion of 60 semester hours in an established program of study including the 36 semester hours of general education core curriculum, and the common program prerequisites and electives that have prior approval by the state university system, and
   2. a minimum 2.0 GPA in all attempted courses that comprise the A.A. degree and all such courses taken at the community college awarding the degree — only the final grade received is used to compute this average. A grade of “D” will transfer and count toward the associate and baccalaureate degree in the same way as “D” grades obtained by native students in the receiving state university. The receiving state university will determine whether courses with “D” grades will be accepted toward any major. The 60 hours that comprise a completed Associate in Arts degree shall be accepted in total upon transfer to an upper division program at a state university.
3. Accelerated Programs
   One of the goals of articulation is to allow students to advance easily, equitably and rapidly through the educational system. There are seven acceleration methods, beginning at the high school level and proceeding upward through the system: Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate Program, Early Admission, College–Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced International Certificate of Education Program (AICE), Defense Activity for Non–Traditional Education Support (DANTES) and the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP).
4. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
   Credits awarded on the basis of scores achieved on examinations in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) are transferable. Credits earned by general examinations and subject examinations must be accepted by the upper division institution. A total of 45 CLEP credits is the maximum that may be accepted in transfer.
5. Advanced Placement (AP) Credits
   Credits awarded on the basis of the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) are transferable. The credits are awarded based on College Board AP scores of three, four or five on any of the examinations in the program. College Board AP credit that duplicates CLEP credit shall not be awarded or accepted in transfer.
6. Advanced International Certificate of Education Program (AICE).
   Transfer of Advanced International Certificate of Education credit under terms of this rule is mandatory, provided that the award of credit is consistent with the Articulation Coordinating Committee’s recommended minimum scores and the statutory maximum amount of 30 credits.
7. The Defense Activity for Non–Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
   Credits awarded on the basis of scores achieved on examinations in the DANTES program are transferable.
8. Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) Credits
   Excelsior College Examinations, formerly known as the Regents College Examinations or the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP). Credits awarded on the basis of the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) are transferable.
9. Electives for Major
   The state university that awards the baccalaureate degree will determine major course requirements, including courses taken at the community college for a specific major.
10. Limited Access
    Limited access program selection and enrollment criteria must be established and published by the university in catalogs, counseling manuals and other appropriate publications. Community college transfer students shall have the same opportunity to enroll in baccalaureate limited access programs as native university students. (Limited access programs must be approved by the State Board of Education and registered with the articulation coordinating committee. It is required that the university denying students admission to a limited access program inform students of other educational options.)
11. Catalog Year
    The catalog year (e.g., 2007–2008) in which a student initially entered the College is also the catalog that is in effect when students enter the university, provided they maintain continuous enrollment as defined in the university catalog. Because course requirements change from year to year, a university catalog should be obtained for the academic year that a student first entered the community college in order to determine the upper division prerequisites for the individual majors.
12. Statewide Course Numbering System
    Credits earned in the state community college system are identical to those at the state university as long as the statewide course designation has the same prefix and last three digits. Transferred credits are used on the same basis as those of native university students.
13. Articulated Programs
    The Articulation Coordinating Committee, appointed by the Florida State Board of Education, oversees the articulation agreement. This committee makes sure that students rights are safeguarded. The members of the committee can review individual cases of student transfer and admissions difficulties, and then recommend resolutions. Committee members also recommend policies and procedures to improve articulation systemwide.

For more information concerning student rights and the articulation agreement, contact a counselor or the university articulation officer.

Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) Statewide Agreement

In November 1992, the signing of an articulation agreement took place between the State Board of Community Colleges and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. Florida has long been a leader in the articulation of students between Florida’s Community College System and the public State University System and, once again, Florida has taken the lead by the signing of a statewide agreement between the Community College System and the private colleges and universities.

The intent of the agreement was to establish “an effective and orderly transfer process for students entering a state community college, completing an associate in arts degree and transferring to an independent college or university.” Under the agreement, community college students holding an associate in arts degree are guaranteed junior standing, recognition of the general education core and the application of a minimum of 60 credit hours toward the baccalaureate degree. The ICUF manual contains admission and course prerequisite information to properly advise students planning to transfer to these institutions. This manual can be found on the FACTS Web site (Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students).

Transcript Requests

Upon request of students, the College will provide to the students or to individuals or institutions designated by the students, an official transcript of their academic record. Transcript requests may be made on the Web through Artemis, in person or in writing to the campus enrollment services office.

No transcript request will be processed until all financial obligations to the college are clear and the student’s admission file is complete.

Students are advised to make requests for transcripts approximately two weeks before the transcript is needed.

Graduation Information (College Credit)

Honors Graduation

Honors graduation is determined by students’ all college cumulative grade point average at the end of the term they graduate, as follows.

with honors	3.5 — 3.74
with high honors	3.75 or higher

Note: Since the annual commencement program is printed prior to the recording of grades for the spring term, it is necessary to identify honors candidates for the spring term, for commencement program purposes only, based upon their all–college cumulative grade point average at the beginning of the spring term.

Graduation and Commencement

Graduation dates will be the date of the end of the term in which students complete all graduation requirements for the degree or certificate. Each term all students meeting program graduation or completion requirements will be automatically graduated. A graduation notation will be made on the student’s transcript after final grades and degree audit are verified. Diplomas will be mailed to students who have graduated six to eight weeks after the degree is awarded and reflected on the student’s transcript.

Upon graduating, you will be placed in a non–degree seeking status and may not be eligible to receive further financial aid.

The graduation date for an Associate of Arts degree student will be either the date of completion of coursework required for degree, or successful completion of the CLAST requirement, whichever is completed later. If the student does not meet the CLAST requirement through course exemption, then the graduation date will be based upon the date of successful completion of the CLAST exit test.

Florida Community College holds one commencement exercise each year at the end of the second academic term, generally in May. However, students may be graduated at the end of any term in which they complete the graduation requirements.

Students graduating at the end of the spring term are strongly encouraged to attend the ceremony. Students graduating at the end of the summer or fall terms may participate in the next formal commencement exercise. Students requesting special permission to walk in the commencement exercise should request in writing to their campus dean of student success.

Refer to the College’s graduation Web page for more information about commencement and graduation.