Introduction
The Massachusetts Articulated System of Transfer (MAST) course equivalency database was launched in 2012 to serve as a comprehensive resource for community college course equivalencies By 2013, the database expanded to include state universities, and by 2014, it continued to grow in scope and functionality.
University of Massachusetts four undergraduate campuses, in addition to the community colleges.
Design
MAST was developed to create an administrative catalog of courses that allows institutions to link their course equivalents while maintaining their unique course-coding systems This system facilitates the articulation of course equivalencies among all public higher education institutions in Massachusetts Although the catalog is not publicly accessible, it is available to administrative and advising staff on campuses Primarily aimed at identifying course equivalencies from community colleges to state universities and University of Massachusetts campuses, MAST also serves to establish equivalencies between community colleges.
Courses
MAST courses primarily focus on general education and foundational classes typically completed in the first two years of an academic program Advanced courses usually taken during the junior and senior years of a bachelor's degree are generally not part of the MAST curriculum.
While MAST was designed as a course-equivalency database, it has evolved to serve as the database for the development of associate degree to bachelor’s degree pathways
Annually campus staff provide to the Department of Higher
Education updates to MAST, identifying discontinued courses, changed courses and new courses
Each June, the Department of Higher Education (DHE) requests Annual Updates from designated representatives across all campuses, including community colleges, state universities, and University of Massachusetts campuses These updates, which must adhere to a standard format, enable institutions to report any discontinued, modified, or newly added courses The completed Annual Updates are due to DHE by a specified deadline in late summer.
2 Ad hoc Updates: Periodically throughout the year, institutions may want to revise course equivalencies that are in the MAST database
Ad hoc updates are institution-to-institution equivalencies that can change throughout the academic year When changes occur, a designated representative from the MAST campus will notify a specific DHE staff member to update the database accordingly It's important to note that these ad hoc updates are not included in the Annual Update process.
Massachusetts public higher education institutions commit to sharing information about participating students in accordance with relevant laws and confidentiality policies This collaboration enhances the academic options and support services available to students, fostering an environment that promotes academic success.
Massachusetts community colleges will, as allowed by law, share directory information—including names, addresses, and majors—of participating students with state universities and University of Massachusetts campuses upon request.
State universities and University of Massachusetts campuses will provide non-identifying information about MassTransfer students, including graduation rates, retention rates, GPAs, and academic majors, to community colleges upon request This information release will ensure that no personally identifying details of students who have not consented to share their data will be disclosed.
State universities and University of Massachusetts campuses will inform freshman applicants who are not admitted about the MassTransfer program if they are deemed suitable Additionally, these institutions will share the names and addresses of eligible applicants with the relevant community colleges, provided the applicants consent to this information release.
To support students facing academic suspension or those leaving the state university or University of Massachusetts campuses without good standing, the universities will make reasonable efforts to share the names, addresses, and relevant academic records of these students with community colleges, provided the students consent to this information release.
The Department of Higher Education will convene the MassTransfer Steering Committee once each semester, ensuring that at least one representative from each participating institution is present This committee will consist of individuals whose main responsibilities focus on transfer affairs, fostering effective collaboration among institutions involved in the MassTransfer program.
B The MassTransfer Steering Committee may create Subcommittees including, but not limited to, Appeals, Statewide Transfer Alignment, and to address other issues that pertain to MassTransfer Policy issues and benefits.
C A subcommittee to update the MassTransfer Policy Guidelines will be formed every three years and will be charged with reviewing the guidelines.
Notwithstanding any provision of this policy, MassTransfer does not:
1 Preclude community colleges or the state universities or University of Massachusetts campuses from entering into similar agreements with