Alliance History

        Since 1988, Oklahoma students participating in specific CTE programs at technology centers have had opportunity to earn college credit for the coursework that they pursued.  Traditionally, adult students had the opportunity to earn this college credit dually as they were enrolled in the CTE program.  High school-age students, however, were required to “bank” these college credits until after high school graduation.  Their credits were earned only after taking 12 college credit hours at the institution that held the cooperative agreement with the technology center and often a “transcription fee” was required.

While there were a large number of cooperative agreements in place across Oklahoma, the number of students taking advantage of these agreements was disproportionate.  These cooperative agreements were institution-centered and were based on individual agreements between one higher education institution & one technology center.  These credits were so localized that it was often difficult to transfer student credit from one college or university to another within the state.

            In the spring of 2004, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education proposed and launched the first three partnerships, considered Cooperative Alliance Projects, a more student-centered collaboration between higher education institutions and technology centers.  By 2005-2006, these Cooperative Alliance Projects have expanded to include nearly all regions of the state.  It is expected that all technology centers will be part of an Alliance Project by 2007.

            The goals of the Cooperative Alliance Projects are to:  

1.      Increase the number of high school students pursuing college

2.      Increase the number of adults continuing or beginning college

3.      Expand access to postsecondary educational opportunities,

4.      Use federal, state, and local resources more efficiently. 

In Cooperative Alliances, colleges and technology centers voluntarily seek approval of all existing cooperative agreements from their respective state agencies.  While each technology center establishes a primary partnership with one college, other existing agreements from “secondary” college partners are also honored in the alliance process.  Through these alliances, all students (high school and adult) in cooperative CTE programs who meet technical admission requirements are eligible to receive dual college credit as they complete their program’s courses.

            Alliance partners must establish joint student services such as financial aid and academic advisement, and must develop a business plan that includes guidelines for resource allocations, personnel needs, a joint marketing plan for their alliance project, etc.  Partners must identify and report performance measures that result from their alliance, and establish shared goals for expansion of offerings.  Partners must also align agreements to support a statewide transfer matrix being developed for technical studies courses to ensure better transferability from state institution to state institution.. 

            We are extremely proud of the Alliance Project work being done in Oklahoma.  It is quite remarkable to see technology centers and colleges & universities join forces to provide this innovative opportunity.  The ultimate winner in these partnerships, without doubt, is the Oklahoma student. 

 

Last Updated: 07/09/2008