The Chicago School of Professional Psychology joins groundbreaking college transfer network

BOULDER, Colo. – The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) becomes the first institution in Illinois to join the Interstate Passport Network (IPN), a nationwide network of two- and four-year colleges and universities that allows students to transfer lower-division general education credits as a block to any IPN member institution. With TCSPP’s membership, the network consists of 32 institutions across 14 states.

For decades, the complexities for students transferring colleges have been daunting and persistent: each course being transferred must be linked, one at a time, with an equivalent course at the new school. This painstaking process costs colleges and students time and money. Students frequently lose credit for courses that do not transfer as expected or have to retake similar courses to fulfill slightly different requirements at the new college. When dealing with the extra time and expense, too many students—especially low-income and first-generation students—get discouraged and give up on college.

Interstate Passport’s block transfer program is based on a set of learning outcomes, rather than individual courses. Students who complete their institution’s designated set of lower-division general education coursework earn a “Passport”: assuring that this coursework will be accepted as completion of general education at all IPN member institutions and minimizing the uncertainty that often accompanies a student’s transfer to a new institution, especially one in a different state.

Interstate Passport is administered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) a regional higher education compact serving Colorado and 15 other state and territorial members in the American West.

“The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is thrilled to partner with the Interstate Passport Network in support of student success,” said Dr. Michele Nealon, president of TCSPP. “Through this partnership, students are able to experience a seamless transfer credit process and maximize the number of credits earned previously, resulting in a shorter degree pathway to achieve their academic goals.”

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) is a private, not-for-profit institution with more than 4,300 students at locations in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine, Calif., and Washington, D.C., and online. TCSPP has been an innovator in the field of psychology and related behavioral sciences for 40 years and offers bachelor’s degrees in psychology and nursing. Each year, students are linked with enriching practicum, internship, and community service opportunities at approximately 500 diverse organizations across the country and have opportunities to participate in a range of multicultural learning and international study opportunities. TCSPP has been named a Top School for two consecutive years in the Military Advanced Education &Transition Guide to Colleges & Universities research study. Additionally, TCSPP received the Military Friendly School award for three consecutive years by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs Magazine, among others.

“We are pleased to welcome our first institution, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, from the state of Illinois to the Interstate Passport Network,” said Anna Galas, director of academic leadership initiatives at WICHE. “The mission of Interstate Passport is to make the transfer process more efficient and effective for both students and institutions by ensuring quality and eliminating the unnecessary repetition of learning already achieved. Since Interstate Passport launched in 2016, member institutions have awarded over 38,490 Passports through May of 2019. Students who earn a Passport and transfer to another member institution know in advance that their lower-division general education requirements will be met, thus allowing students to focus on their educational goals (degree completion) instead of repeating courses.”

In today’s increasingly mobile society, more and more students transfer multiple times during their academic careers. According to the National Student Clearinghouse’s Signature Report 15 published in 2018, nearly fourin 10 students transfer during their college career, and more than one in four of those move to schools in different states. That means that nationwide, hundreds of thousands of students stand to benefit from the Interstate Passport Network once it is fully implemented.

For more on the Interstate Passport, visit interstatepassport.wiche.edu.