Academic Affairs > Transfer of Academic Credits

General Information

The ability of an Illinoisan to transfer academic credits helps to provide access to high-quality educational opportunities that prepare them for the jobs of the present and the future. Improving access while respecting and supporting the integrity of institutional and sector missions is part of the vision for Illinois as explained in The Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success, the master plan adopted by the Board of Higher Education.

Illinois needs to increase the number of high-quality postsecondary credentials to meet the demands of the economy and an increasingly global society. We can do this by improving transitions all along the education pipeline. For postsecondary education this means strengthening articulation through stable funding and expansion of transfer tools such as u.select and the Illinois Articulation Initiative and through development of an objective measure of transfer and acceptance of credits.

For more information about the State’s vision and plan for higher education, see The Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success (www.ibhe.org/masterPlanning)

Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board, and the transfer coordinators of Illinois colleges and universities jointly launched the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) to help ease the transfer of students among Illinois public and independent, associate and bachelor’s degree-granting institutions. The IAI fosters seamless transfer among more than 100 participating institutions through the development of a general education core curriculum and establishment of faculty panels to articulate courses that prepare students for work in specific majors. The IBHE has endorsed the recommendations of the IAI and requested implementation of the articulation plans (see Endorsements below).

Related Links

	IAI provides information about a guaranteed package of general education courses which is transferable among more than 100 participating college or universities in Illinois (www.iTransfer.org/iai or click on the icon).
	iTransfer serves as a portal for transfer assistance in the State of Illinois between Illinois institutions of higher education ( www.iTransfer.org or click on the icon).
	u.select (formerly CAS. - the Course Applicability System) is a nation-wide, web-based transfer information system that provides you with fast and accurate course and transfer information (www.transfer.org or click on the icon)

Annual IAI Reports to the Board of Higher Education: Presentation of the projects, activities, and challenges (board agenda items, pdf files).  

• 2008-2009 (10/2009)
• 2007-2008 (10/2008)
• 2006-2007 (10/2007)
• 2005-2006 (10/2006)
• 2004-2005 (10/2005)
• 2003-2004 (10/2004)
• 2002-2003 (10/2003)
• 2001-2002 (8/2002)
• First Annual Report (8/2001)

Evaluation of IAI: This 2006 report provides recommendations to improve the elements of the IAI that best serve students and to streamline the process (pdf files).

• Evaluation of the Illinois Articulation Initiative, 2006 (04/2006) The Board accepts and endorses the report and directs Illinois Board of Higher Education staff to collaborate with staff of the Illinois Community College Board to implement the recommendations contained in this report as they deem appropriate.
• Preliminary Report (11/2005)
  
  

Board of Higher Education Endorsements (pdf files):

• Physics Articulation (2/2004) The Board endorses the recommendation of the physics panel and requests staff and institutions begin the steps necessary to implement the articulation plan.
  
  
• Sociology Articulation (2/2001) The Board endorses the recommendation of the sociology panel and requests staff and institutions begin the steps necessary to implement the articulation plan.
  
  
• Revised General Education Core Curriculum (GEEC) and Social Work Articulation (6/2000)
  • The Board endorses the Revised General Education Core Curriculum to become effective for freshmen entering participating institutions on or after May 1, 2001.
  • The Board endorses the recommendation of the social work panel and requests staff and institutions to begin the steps necessary to implement the articulation plan.