On Friday, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) hosted the annual Committee on Transfer and Articulation (COTA) Conference in Columbia, bringing together higher education professionals from across the state for a full day of discussion, collaboration, and innovation.
This year’s conference theme, “Pathways Powered by Possibility: Innovation for Student Mobility,” set the tone for a program focused on rethinking how Missouri institutions support learners at every stage of their transfer journey. Attendees included academic advisors, administrators, faculty, and institutional leaders who shared strategies for improving student mobility and strengthening pathways from education to employment.
MDHEWD Commissioner, Dr. Bennett Boggs, opened the event by highlighting the importance of collective action in supporting student success.
“The annual COTA conference is a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration as we consider innovative ways to better serve Missouri’s students,” said Dr. Boggs. “Improved processes would significantly help Missourians who may benefit from returning to school to finish a degree or credential, as well as learners who are working or raising a family while attending school. Clear, seamless transfer, reduces the time required for a student to earn a degree, lowers student debt, and strengthens Missouri’s workforce and talent pipeline.”
Keynote speaker Paul Farnsworth, Executive Director of Communication and Content at B&B Theatres, invited attendees to “reframe the pathway” by examining lessons from the cinema industry. Drawing on his experience as a transfer student, Farnsworth explored the shared challenges facing both cinema and higher education, emphasizing the need to reengage audiences and rethink how institutions define and communicate their value.
The day’s sessions expanded on this discussion, covering topics central to Missouri’s work on transfer and articulation. Highlights included:
- A session on mapping the adult-learner journey, with strategies for building streamlined, supportive pathways from recruitment through graduation
- A core transfer curriculum (CORE-42) roundtable featuring representatives from the Core Curriculum Advisory Committee, providing updates on statewide general education transfer and new tools for advisors
- Presentations on transfer orientation redesign, dual credit pathways, policy and equity research, and Missouri institutions’ use of AI tools to accelerate transcript evaluation and guide transfer decision-making
- Discussions centered on practical solutions for removing transfer barriers, strengthening advising models, and integration academic, career, and transfer support
The conference concluded with updates on Missouri Transfer Pathways from MDHEWD Assistant Commissioner, Samantha Dickey, highlighting the steps to implement the Transfer Pathways passed during the 2025 Legislative Session.
More information about COTA is available on the MDHEWD website, and photographs from the 2026 COTA Conference can be found on MDHEWD’s Flickr page.
About the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development: The department works to empower Missourians with the skills and education needed for success. More information about MDHEWD can be found at https://dhewd.mo.gov or by following MDHEWD’s social media accounts.