Articulation agreements encourage partnerships between colleges. They are mainly developed and used with community colleges and four-year institutions. They encourage students in community colleges to continue their education by enrolling in a four-year college or university. They also help these students avoid taking duplicate classes.
An articulation agreement outlines exactly what courses will transfer and the credit value they are worth. Articulation agreements initiate either internally or externally. Typically the request is made by a community college and is done by creating a Notice of Intent to Develop an Articulation Agreement.
This notice includes the name of the program, the name of the institutions developing the agreement and the reasons why it is desired. The Academic Affairs Office reviews the notice of intent and decides whether the arrangement is beneficial. The two institutions negotiate all terms and conditions of the agreement, and the articulation agreement is created.