“We need to have enough members in order to be able to establish those broad agreements,� he says. “It won’t happen in the first three months, but in the first year or two that’s exactly what we hope to do once we build the membership base.�

Another goal is to develop a database where students can go and see which institutions are more likely to accept their credits. For cost reasons, an increasing number of college students may begin at two-year institutions although the goal is to earn a four-year degree. Eventually, NATN could potentially help such students strategize what courses to take with that goal in mind.

NATN has an agreement with Peterson’s Guide, an online resource for students with information about every college and university in the U.S. NATN members may access that information and edit or provide additional information about their institution.

Merisotis says NATN is not exclusively focused on minority students or minority-serving institutions.

“However, given the importance of transferring for minority populations, the three organizations in the Alliance are trying to provide leadership,� he notes. “We’re hoping to draw a very wide membership base and establish a wide network of institutions that will agree to an ongoing dialogue and exchange of information about transfer and articulation policies. One of the goals we have for NATN is that the members would actually start developing membership-wide articulation agreements.�

--Lois Elfman

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