Policies
BC Transfer System
The following policies have been developed to support prospective institutions interested in applying for membership in the BC Transfer System. All policies are guided by the Principles and Guidelines for Transfer, which outline the operational principles that support the BC Transfer System.
Membership in the BC Transfer System
The BC Transfer System is made up of BC public institutions, some BC private degree-granting institutions and two out-of-province institutions. Membership is based first on approval through a recognized quality assurance process, and through an application process through BCCAT. The process for public, out-of-province, and private institutions is described below.
Public Post-Secondary Institutions in BC
All BC public institutions are ongoing members of the BC Transfer System. BC public institutions are under provincial oversight and adhere to rigorous quality assessment processes as described below. The mission, mandate, responsibilities and governance of public institutions are specified principally in the University Act, and the College and Institute Act of the BC Legislature, as well as in certain institution-specific Acts. The provincial government provides the majority of funding and exercises regulatory oversight for all public institutions.
Out-of-Province Public Post-Secondary Institutions.
Yukon College, a publicly funded institution, became a member of the BC Transfer System in 1993. Through a reciprocal protocol agreement between BCCAT and ACAT (Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer), Athabasca University, a publicly funded institution, became a member of the BC Transfer System in 2012. BCCAT’s Policy 3A: Membership in the BC Transfer System outlines procedures and processes for prospective membership in the BC Transfer System by other Canadian public post-secondary institutions not operating in BC.
Private Degree-Granting Institutions in BC
Private institutions that have undergone the rigorous quality assessment processes of the Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB), and that have been authorized by the Minister of Advanced Education (i.e. programs given “Ministerial Consent”) to offer degree programs in BC are eligible to apply for membership to the BC Transfer System.
Note:
- this approval extends only to the authorized degree program(s); it does not apply to non-degree or other programs at the private institution; and
- approval to articulate does not guarantee that transfer credit will be awarded by receiving institutions; and
- transfer agreements may not be reciprocal: reverse credit is not guaranteed.
Applications for membership are reviewed by BCCAT’s standing committee on Transfer and Articulation (TAC). Recommendations for approval are presented to Council who has final authority.
Members admitted based in part on DQAB approval to offer degree program(s) in BC sign a “Letter of Assurance” committing them to adherence to the above Principles and Guidelines for Transfer and to the norms and standards of the BC Transfer System. Membership can be suspended or revoked.
BCCAT Policy 3A: Membership in the BC Transfer System
Non-Member Private Institutions
The BC Council on Admissions and Transfer also has a policy outlining the processes for recording formal transfer agreements between BC public institutions and private, non-member institutions in the BC Transfer Guide. This policy is titled BCCAT Policy 3B: Listing of Transfer Agreements with Non-Member Institutions in the BC Transfer Guide. Outside the agreements covered by this policy, credit granted for courses taken at an institution that is not a member of the BC Transfer System is not normally recorded in the BC Transfer Guide.