Effectiveness of Articulated Programs

A Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC)report released today, Oct. 18, found bachelor programs offered jointly by Maritime universities and community colleges are effective if proper steps are in place to ensure program integration and a smooth transition between institutions.

Assessment of the Effectiveness and Benefits of Articulated Programs in the Maritimes, reports the result of a survey of 20 programs offered by four universities - St. Thomas University, Université de Moncton, University of New Brunswick, and University of Prince Edward Island - in partnership with community colleges and hospitals.

Articulated programs present unique challenges for students as they move between different institutions. Factors associated with high student persistence and satisfaction were the field of study, program structure, location between institutions and inter-institutional co-ordination.

The findings of the study reinforce the importance of the MPHEC guidelines currently in place for developing and offering new articulated programs:

• Institutions should have an inter-institutional co-ordinating mechanism.
• A program evaluation procedure should be integrated and comprehensive.
• A graduate follow-up process should be in place to assess the relationship to the labour market and suitability of program content.

The report is available on the commission's website at www.mphec.ca.

The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission was established in 1974 to assist institutions and governments in enhancing the post-secondary learning environment. The commission's 20 members are drawn from the Maritime provinces, and represent higher education institutions, provincial governments and the general public.