Mass Transfer Policy

For full details about the MassTransfer policy, please see the Transfer Advisor or go to http://www.mass.edu/masstransfer.

Effective for incoming Community College Students in Fall 2009

The Board of Higher Education will be implementing a new statewide transfer policy: MassTransfer. MassTransfer seeks to provide a broad population of students with straightforward and understandable options toward the completion of associate and baccalaureate degrees, clearing the way for student access and student success in Massachusetts’ public higher education system.

1. To provide community college students who complete designated associate degrees under MassTransfer with the benefits of the full transfer and applicability of credit, guaranteed admission, and a tuition discount (each benefit based on the student’s final grade point average) to linked baccalaureate programs; and
2. To provide any student in the Massachusetts public higher education system the intermediate goal of completing a portable transfer block (“MassTransfer Block”) which satisfies general education/distribution/core requirements across institutions (with the
   receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits/two courses).

   MassTransfer Block

   English Composition/Writing	6 credit hours
   Behavioral and/or Social Sciences	9 credit hours
   Humanities and/or Fine Arts	9 credit hours
   Natural or Physical Science	7 credit hours
   Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning	3 credit hours
   Total________________________________	34 credit hours

3. MassTransfer integrates and replaces the Commonwealth Transfer Compact, Joint Admissions, and the Tuition Advantage Program.
4. The MassTransfer policy for community college students who complete designated associate degrees will apply to students who matriculate in or after fall 2009 at a Massachusetts community college.
5. Community college students who matriculated prior to fall 2009 and who participate in the Commonwealth Transfer Compact and/or Joint Admissions Program will be required to complete their associate degrees by August 2013 and must matriculate at a Massachusetts state college or University of Massachusetts campus by fall 2014.
6. The MassTransfer policy for any student in the Massachusetts public higher education system who completes the MassTransfer Block will apply beginning fall 2010, regardless of initial date of enrollment.

Benefits for Students enrolling effective Fall 2009

Students planning to transfer to one of the state-supported universities or colleges in Massachusetts are eligible for MassTransfer. MassTransfer provides community college graduates who complete designated associate degrees with the benefits of the full transfer and applicability of credit, guaranteed admission (2.5 GPA or higher), and a tuition discount (3.0 GPA or higher). MassTransfer also provides students in the Massachusetts public higher education system the intermediate goal of completing a portable general education transfer block which will satisfy the general education/distribution/core requirements
across institutions.

1. Students completing an associate degree program under MassTransfer will graduate with a minimum of 60 credit hours and
   complete the following 34-credit general education transfer block, exclusive of developmental coursework:

   General Education Transfer Block

   English Composition/Writing	6 credit hours
   Behavioral and/or Social Sciences	9 credit hours
   Humanities and/or Fine Arts	9 credit hours
   Natural or Physical Science	7 credit hours
   Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning	3 credit hours
   Total________________________________	34 credit hours

   Benefits for students who complete associate’s degrees under MassTransfer are:

   Minimum Final GPA	Benefits
   2.0 GPA	No admission fee or essay Guaranteed, full transfer of a minimum of 60 credits applied to the bachelor’s degree, if admitted Automatic satisfaction of the general education/distribution/core requirements at the receiving institution, with the receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits/two courses, if admitted
   2.5 GPA	Guaranteed admission, plus all of the above benefits
   3.0 GPA	A 33% tuition waiver based on the Mass Tuition, plus all of the above benefits

   Stipulations: If students change their major or if the linked baccalaureate program requires a higher grade point average or specific courses which are required of native students, MassTransfer students must meet these requirements. If, because of space or fiscal limitations, the receiving institution does not admit all qualified applicants to a given major or program, the receiving institution will use the same criteria for MassTransfer applicants as it does for its native students.

2. Students completing the general education transfer block (without earning a degree) at any Massachusetts higher education institution with a 2.0 or higher grade point average will earn the 34 credit hours outlined above, exclusive of developmental coursework.Benefits for students who complete the general education transfer block:
   

   Minimum Final GPA	Benefit
   2.0 GPA	Automatic satisfaction of the general education/distribution/core requirements at the receiving institution, with the receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits/two courses, if admitted

   Stipulation: Students enrolled in a specific major or degree program may be required to take additional courses if these courses are specifically required for the major or program and are required of native students.

   *MassTransfer integrates and replaces Joint Admissions, Transfer Compact and the Tuition Advantage Program. For full details about the MassTransfer policy, please see the Transfer Advisor or go to http://www.mass.edu/masstransfer.

Joint Admissions

FOR STUDENTS WHO ENROLLED BEFORE FALL 2009

The Joint Admissions Program may be for you if you answer “yes” to any of the below questions:

• Are you planning to continue your education after NECC?
• Do you intend to be a full-time day student at the college you transfer to?
• Do you want guaranteed admission to a State College/University?

How do I Sign-up?

Joint Admissions

There is no need to sign up once you have applied to the college and matriculated into a program that is Joint Admissions approved. You will automatically be a Joint Admissions student with the four-year public colleges and universities.

Note: Please check the list below to see which public college or university has approved your program for Joint Admissions.

You must be in a Joint Admissions’ Approved Program to be eligible. See: Joint Admissions: Approved Programs(PDF, 44kb).

Commonwealth Transfer Compact

The current Commonwealth Transfer Compact below will only be applicabe to Community College students who matriculated prior to fall 2009. In order to transfer under this version of the Compact these students must complete their associate degrees by August 2013 and must matriculate at a Massachusetts state college or University of Massachusetts campus by fall 2014.

Adopted in 1990, this policy concerns all students who are transferring from a Massachusetts state community college to a four year Massachusetts state college or university with an Associate of Arts transfer degree or an Associate of Science transfer degree.

The compact provides that the degree will be transferred as a unit (providing the student meets all admissions requirements and is accepted) and will be applied toward a bachelor’s degree if the following courses are included in the associate degree:

• 6 semester hours of English composition/writing
• semester hours of behavioral and social sciences
• semester hours of humanities and fine arts
• semester hours of natural or physical science (with a laboratory component)
• semester hours of mathematics

The 35 credits in general education specified above will be applied toward the fulfillment of the receiving institutions general education requirements. A minimum of 25 additional credits will be accepted by the receiving institution. These credits may be transferred as free electives, towards the receiving institution’s additional general education requirements, towards the students major, or any combination, as the receiving institution deems appropriate.

Other points of clarification regarding the Compact include:

• The student must complete the Associate Degree with a minimum of 60 semester hours exclusive of developmental coursework.
• The Transfer Compact requirements must be fulfilled while meeting the requirements for the Associates Degree.
• A student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.0 at the community college awarding the degree to receive Transfer Compact status.
• A Compact student may be required to take no more than the 68 additional credits at the four-year college unless: the student changes his/her major upon entrance; or additional general education requirements and/or requirements of the major total more than 68 credits.
• The grade of “D” or “D-” will be accepted toward the bachelor’s degree, but a receiving institution is required to apply “D” or “D-” credit toward a major only if it does so for “native” students, that is students who have been enrolled in the four year institution as freshman.
• Transfer Compact status does not assure admission to any state college or university. It only assures acceptance of college-level credit.

Tuition Advantage Program

A Program within Joint Admissions Program that rewards students by giving them a 33% discount on their Massachusetts tuition rates at any Massachusetts State College or University. Students must earn the appropriate GPA upon graduation.

Quick Facts:

Who is Eligible?

Any participant of the Joint Admissions Program at a Massachusetts Community College, such as Northern Essex Community college. The person who completes their Associate Degree with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher is eligible to receive the benefits of Tuition Advantage when they transfer to a Massachusetts State college or University of Massachusetts campus.

What do they Receive?

A waiver of 33% the in tuition rate at the Massachusetts State College or University of Massachusetts Campus for the first year. That is an incredible savings! If you are able to maintain that same 3.0 grade point average at the Massachusetts State College or University your first year, the reward for your hard work is a 33% waiver for your second year as well.

Does a Student have to be in the Joint Admissions Program to Receive Tuition Advantage?

Yes, you must sign up for the Joint Admissions Program at the Community College that you have chosen. You must also be enrolled in a Joint Admissions Approved Program to qualify.

Will a Student have to Complete a Complicated Application or Financial Aid Form to Receive Tuition Advantage?

NO, all Joint Admissions Students file a simple intent to enroll form. They choose the State College or University they wish to transfer to. The College will determine if a student has met the requirements for the Tuition Advantage program, and award the 33% tuition waiver to the student automatically. It is that easy!

For any additional information:

• If you are not yet a student at NECC, contact:
  Enrollment Services
  (978) 556-3600
• If you are currently enrolled at NECC, contact:
  Academic Advising
  Haverhill – (978) 556-3440
  Lawrence – (978) 738-7423