IMPAC PROJECT 2004-2005
APPLICATION TO SERVE: A CALL TO CCC, CSU and UC Articulation Officers

 The Intersegmental Major Preparation Articulated Curriculum (IMPAC) project is a unique intersegmental, faculty-designed and faculty-run project to ensure that students transferring from the community colleges to UC and CSU are prepared for work in their chosen major and can avoid having to repeat coursework. The project is funded by a five year, $2.75 million grant that enables faculty from the three higher education systems to meet regionally to discuss issues, concerns, and academic procedures that impinge upon the transfer of students in those majors. Specifically, the grant funds regional and state-wide faculty disciplinary and interdisciplinary discussions to address prerequisite and lower division courses students must complete prior to transfer to either CSU or UC.

Recently, the Steering Committee determined that the project would benefit immensely by including articulation officers in the IMPAC project. During many of the regional discussions, questions arise about the articulation process and agreements, establishment of local requirements, and the problems associated with prerequisites or case management approaches; moreover, representatives of some colleges and universities appear ready to form or revise articulation agreements but are uncertain as to how to formalize the new understandings they have reached. In addition, the Steering Committee feels it is vital to connect the discipline faculty on campuses to the articulation process. Consequently, the Steering Committee proposed to have one articulation officer appointed by CIAC to serve on each of the discipline clusters for 2004-2005. The following information will help articulation officers understand what this venture with IMPAC will entail.

Why do we need articulation officers on the IMPAC Project?

• Provide information and expertise on the articulation process.
• Provide the connection between discipline faculty and the articulation processes in the community colleges and their university colleagues.

What does IMPAC ask of these IMPAC articulation participants?

• Attend BOTH regional meetings (North: January 29, 2005 SFO Westin; South: Date to be TBD but will be held at LAX and one statewide meeting held April 29 - 30, 2005 LAX).
• Encourage, promote, articulation agreements.
• Inform the faculty about the articulation process.
• Provide expertise about the articulation process.
• Learn about the discussions within the disciplines.
• Provide the linkage between the faculty and the student services.
• Work with local articulation officers in those regions to communicate the discipline discussion and promote new or revised articulation agreements as needed.
• Contact colleges in the area to inform them of the regional meetings and communicate with articulation officers information about IMPAC meetings in their region.

Why do we want articulation officers in particular to become involved?

• Articulation officers are THE link between CCC and four-year universities.
• Articulation officers have a clear understanding of what is and is not possible within the articulation process.
• Articulation officers are directly familiar with concerns from faculty and staff.

What will the IMPAC project provide?

• Costs associated with travel (mileage, hotel costs, transportation).
• A $1,000 stipend for attending all four regional meetings and one statewide meeting, plus Steering Committee meetings as necessary.
• An opportunity for statewide service--and the gratitude of many.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Michelle La Centra (NCIAC) at mlacentr@csuhayward.eduor Vicky Sartwell (SCIAC) at vsartwell@riohondo.edu.

For more information about this exciting project, please visit the IMPAC website at www.cal-impac.org or email Julie Adams, Executive Director, at asccc@ix.netcom.com.