The Diederich College of Communication in fall 2017 recognized a dilemma: while Waukesha County Technical College’s communication programs served as a great foundation for a Marquette communication degree, transferring course credit was a complicated and inconvenient process for students.
Prior to fall 2018, Marquette had no formal protocol for students who transferred to the university from technical colleges. Nontransferable credits required many students to spend four additional years completing their Marquette degree — even after already spending two years at a technical or community college.
To take down these barriers, the college set off to formalize the transfer process, starting with WCTC.
Leaders in the Diederich College advocated for a policy that would allow certain coursework from identified programs to be eligible for Marquette credit, thereby creating what’s known as a “2+2” articulation agreement.
Signed by Acting Provost Dr. Kimo Ah Yun in November 2018, the agreement outlined a clear path for transfer students who were pursuing an associate’s degree in WCTC’s web and digital media design and/or graphic design programs. As long as students complete their last two years at Marquette, they would be eligible for any major within the Diederich College of Communication.
The process involved many Marquette and WCTC faculty and staff who spent time reviewing syllabi, mapping courses and removing roadblocks for prospective transfer students.
“We are very proud that the Diederich College was able to form a partnership with Waukesha County Technical College,” said Dr. Joyce Wolburg, associate dean for academic affairs. “It not only gives students the best of both worlds, but it also opens the door for other colleges within Marquette to follow — with WCTC or other technical colleges.”
Shortly after Marquette formalized its partnership with WCTC, the university established a similar agreement with Oakton Community College in Illinois. Marquette continues to identify strategic transfer partnerships with community colleges around the country to better serve students and facilitate smoother transfer processes.
Author contribution:
This story includes contributions from Margo Leone, articulation and transfer admission specialist in the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
Related content:
- College of Communication partners with Waukesha County Technical College to smooth transfer process
- Marquette partners with Oakton Community College to smooth transfer process
