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�ԹϹ��� becomes the first institution in Colorado to join the Interstate Passport Network (IPN), a nationwide network of two- and four-year colleges and universities that allows students to transfer lower division general education credits as a block to any IPN member institution. With �ԹϹ��� State’s membership, the network consists of 31 institutions across 13 states.

For decades, the complexities for students transferring colleges have been daunting and persistent: each course being transferred must be linked, one at a time, with an equivalent course at the newschool. This painstaking process costs colleges and students time and money. �ԹϹ��� frequently lose credit for courses that do not transfer as expected or have to retake similar courses to fulfill slightly different requirements at the new college. When dealing with the extra time and expense, too many students—especially low-income and first-generation students—get discouraged and give up on college.

Interstate Passport’s block transfer program is based on a set of learning outcomes, rather than individual courses. �ԹϹ��� who complete their institution’s designated set of lower-division general education coursework earn a “Passport”: assuring that this coursework will be accepted as completion of general education at all IPN member institutions and minimizing the uncertainty that often accompanies a student’s transfer to a new institution, especially one in a different state.

Interstate Passport is administered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) a regional higher education compact serving Colorado and 15 other state and territorial members in the American West.

“�ԹϹ��� sees tremendous benefits and advantages to the Interstate Passport, and we are excited to be the first institution in Colorado to become a member,” said Cheryl D. Lovell, president of �ԹϹ��� State. “We are also very excited to provide additional ways to serve students, especially historically under-served populations, by providing a seamless transfer option into one of our high-quality undergraduate programs.”

�ԹϹ��� is a public four-year institution located in Alamosa, Colorado, that serves over 1,700 undergraduate students. �ԹϹ��� State is dedicated to fostering inclusive excellence, recognizing that the university’s success depends on valuing, engaging and celebrating the rich diversity of its students, staff, faculty and administrators. Since its cornerstone was laid in 1921, �ԹϹ��� grew from a teachers’ college into a fine liberal arts university. �ԹϹ��� State is the first federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in Colorado and is the Regional Education Provider for southern Colorado. About 45 percent of undergraduate students represent minority groups, and 35 percent identify as Hispanic. Today, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in 30 different areas, with 56 emphases, five teacher licensure programs, and 10 pre-professional programs, in addition to seven master’s degrees and one doctoral degree offered in counselor education.

“We are delighted to welcome Adam State University to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “As the first institution from the state of Colorado, the Interstate Passport Network will now be serving students in 13 different states across the nation. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 25,500 Passports. �ԹϹ��� who earn a Passport and transfer to another member institution know in advance that their lower-division general education requirements will be met. As the Interstate Passport Network continues to grow, we expect to see more transfer students motivated to complete their degrees.”

In today’s increasingly mobile society, more and more students transfer multiple times during their academic careers. According to the National Student Clearinghouse’s Signature Report 15 published in 2018, nearly four in 10 students transfer during their college career, and more than one in four of those move to schools in different states. That means that nationwide, hundreds of thousands of students stand to benefit from the Interstate Passport Network once it is fully implemented.

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Interstate Passport is a program that facilitates block transfer of lower-division general education attainment based on multistate faculty-developed learning outcomes. The program is based at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. After years of research and development the Interstate Passport Network, whose members are two-year and four-year non-profit colleges and universities, was launched in July 2016. Member institutions began awarding Passports in the 2016-17 academic year.

Members of Interstate Passport Network

Currently 31 institutions are members of the Interstate Passport Network.

Alabama – Community College of the Air Force

Alaska – University of Alaska Anchorage

Arkansas – University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville

California – Cerritos College, College of the Siskiyous

Colorado – �ԹϹ���

Hawaii – Leeward Community College, University of Hawaii West Oahu

Idaho – North Idaho College

Minnesota – Concordia University, St. Paul

North Dakota – Lake Region State College, North Dakota State College of Science, University of North Dakota

Oregon – Blue Mountain Community College, Western Oregon University

South Dakota – Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota

Utah – Dixie State University, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University

Wyoming – Laramie County Community College, and University of Wyoming

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

Established by Congress in 1953, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (one of four U.S. regional interstate compacts) houses a broad and ever-evolving array of initiatives to support states, students, and institutions throughout and beyond the American West. These include the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which saves 42,000-plus students more than $400 million annually in tuition; a report, Knocking at the College Door, that’s a preeminent resource for projections of high school graduate populations; a Behavioral Health Program tackling systemic challenges to mental health in varied settings and with varied cohorts; and WCET, a leading U.S. convener for innovation in technology-enhanced learning. Visit wiche.edu to learn more.