Casper College joins the Interstate Passport Network Third institution in Wyoming to join national initiative

BOULDER, Colo. – Casper College, located in Casper, Wyoming, has joined the Interstate Passport Network, a national program of two- and four-year colleges and universities that streamlines the transfer process for students. Casper College is also the third institution in the state of Wyoming to join the Network. Established in 1945 as the first junior college in the state, Casper College enrolls nearly 3,000 students in more than 140 academic transfer and technical and career programs. In addition, 11 universities offer advanced degrees on the campus through college-university partnership programs. The college offers a robust scholarship and financial aid program, awarding nearly $17 million in 2018-19.

“We are very excited to be part of the Interstate Passport Network and the many opportunities it will offer our students that wish to continue their education beyond their associate degree,” said Dr. Darren Divine,  the college’s president.

Casper College is a public comprehensive two-year institution with a primary focus on student success. The college offers associate degrees in arts, applied science, business, science, fine arts and nursing, as well as certificates and post-certificates. Approximately 44% of Casper College students end up transferring to a 4-year institution after graduating from Casper College each year.

The Interstate Passport program was founded in 2011, and became fully operational in 2016. Students who earn a Passport, which encompasses lower-division general education and is based on learning outcomes instead of course-by-course articulation, can transfer to a Network institution in another state and have their learning recognized and general education credits accepted. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,800 Passports. All students from Casper College who earn a Passport can now more easily transfer to any Network member institution without having to repeat or take additional coursework to satisfy general education requirements.

Nearly four in 10 college students will transfer institutions at least once during their college careers, and almost a quarter of those will enroll in an institution in another state, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Until now, transferring between schools – especially across state lines – has been made more difficult and expensive by lengthy credit evaluation processes and loss of credit already earned.

“We are delighted to welcome Casper College to the Interstate Passport Network, joining founding member Laramie County Community College and the University of Wyoming as members in Wyoming,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE.  “Interstate Passport will now allow students from Casper College to easily transfer to other Passport institutions, particularly in other Western states, without losing credits or having to repeat lower-division general education coursework.”

Even for students who don’t transfer, earning a Passport can be beneficial. Because of its specifically defined learning outcomes, the Passport can become a widely recognizable documented completion benchmark from which employers can gauge a prospect’s skill level and readiness for a job.

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INTERSTATE PASSPORT

Interstate Passport is a program based at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) that enables block transfer of complete lower-division general education attainment based on a set of multistate faculty-developed learning outcomes instead of on specific courses and number of credits. After years of research and development, the Interstate Passport Network, whose members are two-year and four-year non-profit colleges and universities, was launched in July 2016. In its first three years of operation, members awarded 38,800 Passports to students. Current membership has grown to 60 institutions in 17 states. For more information please visit interstatepassport.wiche.edu.

MEMBERS OF INTERSTATE PASSPORT NETWORK

ALABAMA – Community College of the Air Force; ALASKA – University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast; ARKANSAS – University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville; CALIFORNIA – Cerritos College, College of the Siskiyous, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Trade-Tech College, Los Angeles Valley College, West Los Angeles College; COLORADO – Adams State University, Western Colorado Univesity; HAWAII – Chaminade University, Hawaiʻi Community College, Honolulu Community College, Kapiʻolani Community College, Kauaʻi Community College, Leeward Community College, Maui College, University of Hawaiʻi Hilo, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa, University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu, and Windward Community College; IDAHO – College of Eastern Idaho, North Idaho College; ILLINOIS – The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; MINNESOTA – Concordia University, St. Paul; NEVADA – Nevada State College, Truckee Meadows Community College, University of Nevada, Reno; NEW MEXICO – New Mexico State University; NORTH DAKOTA – Lake Region State College, North Dakota State College of Science, University of North Dakota; OREGON – Blue Mountain Community College, Western Oregon University; SOUTH DAKOTA – Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota; UTAH – Dixie State University, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University; WASHINGTON – Washington State University; and WYOMING – Casper College, Laramie County Community College, and University of Wyoming.

WESTERN INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (WICHE)

For more than 65 years, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has been strengthening higher education, workforce development, and behavioral health throughout the region. As an interstate compact, WICHE partners with states, territories, and postsecondary institutions to share knowledge, create resources, and develop innovative solutions that address some of our society’s most pressing needs. From promoting high-quality, affordable postsecondary education to helping states get the most from their technology investments and addressing behavioral health challenges, WICHE improves lives across the West through innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy.