Legislation signed into law in 2012 called for the development of a reverse transfer policy to increase the number of associate degrees for eligible students in Missouri. Several one-to-one agreements between two- and four- year colleges and universities in Missouri existed; however, common guidelines, policies and technology pathways can significantly streamline the process for higher education institutions and students.
Missouri Revised Statutes (House Bill 1042)
173.005.1 (8) The coordinating board shall develop a policy to foster reverse transfer for any student who has accumulated enough hours in combination with at least one public higher education institution in Missouri that offers an associate degree and one public four-year higher education institution in the prescribed courses sufficient to meet the public higher education institution's requirements to be awarded an associate degree. The department of elementary and secondary education shall maintain the alignment of the assessments found in section 160.518 and successor assessments with the competencies previously established under this subdivision for entry-level collegiate courses in English, mathematics, foreign language, sciences, and social sciences associated with an institution's general education core
Building on existing one-to-one agreements, the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development and two- and four-year public and independent institutions have launched the Missouri Reverse Transfer Initiative. To assist in this effort, the department received funding from the Lumina Foundation to develop a statewide communication and technology infrastructure to foster reverse transfer.
Key institutional stakeholders provided representatives to serve on the Missouri Reverse Transfer Initiative Steering Committee, which guided the implementation of the reverse transfer policy.
MRT Steering Committee Members
| Member Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Brenda Selman, Chair | University of Missouri System |
| Terrence Andrews | Maryville University |
| Kristy Bishop | Metropolitan Community College |
| Susan Bracciano | Missouri Western State University |
| Kelli Burns | Institutional Research and Planning |
| Kim Harvey | Jefferson College |
| Tery Donelson | Columbia College |
| Melissa Hattman | University of Missouri - St. Louis |
| Cynthia Heider | Missouri Western State University |
| Rusty Monhollon | Missouri Department of Higher Education |
| Beverly Schenkel | Northwest Missouri State University |
| Vicki Schwinke | State Technical College of Missouri |
| Tyson Schank | Metropolitan Community College |
| Larry Westermeyer | University of Missouri - St. Louis |
| Lori Day | Missouri State University |
| Karla Gable | St. Louis Community College |
Part of the Steering Committee's charge includes the oversight of work groups assigned to five main components of the scale-up effort.
- Policy
- IT / operations
- Implementation
- Data / evaluation
- Communications