Address: 58900 Cherry Grove Road | Dowagiac, MI 49047
College Website · Ferris Statewide
If you are considering transferring course work from Southwestern Michigan College, you can review our transfer guides to prepare for a smooth transfer. Guides include information on career path, admission requirements, application deadlines, and curriculum plan. For information on particular course transfer, use our transfer credit equivalency database.
Agreements and Transfer Guides
About Transfer Guides
Through collaborative partnerships with community colleges, Ferris State University has established program transfer guides to help students transfer smoothly from their community colleges to FSU. Students utilize a transfer guide when they plan on transferring from one institution to another. Students follow the transfer guide to take specific classes that will fulfill degree requirements at both of the postsecondary institutions.
Types of Agreements
Institutional Partnership Agreement: Builds upon and furthers the cooperation between our community college partners and Ferris State University. The agreement was developed as a collaborative effort between the two institutions and establishes guiding principles for the community college and Ferris partnership and emphasizes our willingness to work together to prepare students for successful careers, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning.
Transfer Articulation Agreement: A formal cooperative signed document between two postsecondary institutions. The articulation agreement outlines specific guidelines for a seamless transfer from one institution to the other. The agreement also states specific criteria that a student must complete in order to transfer courses from one institution to the other. Students use articulation agreements to assure that the courses they complete will not have to be repeated at the institution to which they are transferring. The original signed agreement is on file in the Office of Transfer and Secondary School Partnerships.
Reverse Transfer Agreement: Allows students to earn their associate degree from a two-year college while beginning their bachelor's degree at Ferris State University. Reverse transfer is a degree-completion opportunity for students who have started their education at a community college and transfer to Ferris State University prior to the completion of their associate degree. A reverse transfer agreement may allow a student to reduce his/her time to degree and student debt.
Fax/Electronic Transcript Agreement: Allows the community college to send official college transcripts to Ferris State University by e-mail, fax or possible other electronic means. Official transcripts may also be sent to Ferris via postal mail. The agreement allows Ferris State University to send official transcripts to the community college by fax or postal mail. This agreement creates a streamlined and more efficient process for sharing official transcripts between Ferris State University and community college partners. Additionally, when applicable, this partnership will help both institutions to identify and encourage applicable transfer students to earn an associate degree from their transfer community college through the Reverse Transfer Agreement.
