The Direct Transfer Agreement degree is one of the most popular options for obtaining an Associate's degree at EvCC.

The DTA degree allows students who complete specified courses to receive their diploma and guarantees that their credits will be transferable to many colleges throughout the state.

Two changes to the requirements for the DTA degree have recently been proposed. The changes would narrow the choices available to students for completing both the quantitative and communication skills requirements, and would most likely take effect during 2011.

First, the requirement for intermediate algebra proficiency, which is the only pre-college level requirement in the current direct transfer agreement, would be removed. Instead, students would be required to complete five credits of college-level math.

This means that all non-math courses which currently satisfy the quantitative skills requirement, including logic, engineering and computer science classes, would be removed from the DTA's list of acceptable quantitative skills courses.

Logic is currently the only non-technical, non-math option in the category, and its potential removal deeply concerns instructor Mike VanQuickenborne. Logic "has provided many students with math anxiety, a way to get their degree" explains VanQuickenborne, who opposes the proposal. VanQuickenborne also anticipates that fewer students will take the course if it ceases to meet the DTA degree requirement.

VanQuickenborne has taught logic for 11 years and notes that the course has fulfilled the quantitative skills requirement for at least that long. The proposed change puzzles VanQuickenborne, who states that the curriculum does require quantitative thinking skills and offers college level material.

The Joint Access Oversight Group (JAOG) recommended these changes. The JAOG is a statewide organization comprised of public baccalaureate institutions, independent colleges and universities, community colleges, and technical colleges.

Statewide, fewer than 11 percent of students pursuing the DTA take math alternatives, the JAOG has stated. This figure is still significant, according to Sandra Fowler-Hill, vice president of instruction at EvCC and JAOG co-chair.

The second recommendation would change the basic communication skills requirement from a total of 10 units, including six units of composition, to 10 units of composition.

Fortunately for EvCC students, the college primarily offers five-credit courses on the DTA requirements list, which means most students already take ten credits of English composition.

Technical writing would also continue to meet the communication skills requirement. However, that course currently only constitutes three credits. "I think we would have to expand it to be 5 credits if it were to meet the requirement. It's a question that we would have to address," said Fowler-Hill.

Other communication classes that currently meet the requirement, such as public speaking, would no longer qualify.

Even if the changes are approved, students who take any of the courses before they are removed from the DTA will still be able to count them towards graduation requirements.

These potential changes are still under review and Fowler-Hill encourages all students to participate in the process and send comments and concerns to her directly. Sandra Fowler-Hill may be reached at sfowler-hill@everettcc.edu or 425-388-9216.