The November 2025 Edition
Perhaps the only thing that’s consistent about higher education is that it’s always changing. New laws are introduced, new policies are put in place, and new inspiration leads to new initiatives as institutions work tirelessly to improve things for their students. Sometimes those shifts need time to build momentum or for us to see the impact. This month, we’re taking a closer look at one such strategy - and the part syllabi play in it.
In this edition:
- What we’re currently reading
- Concourse’s archive and search features
- Coming up at Concourse Syllabus
Perhaps the only thing that’s consistent about higher education is that it’s always changing. New laws are introduced, new policies are put in place, and new inspiration leads to new initiatives as institutions work tirelessly to improve things for their students. Sometimes those shifts need time to build momentum or for us to see the impact. This month, we’re taking a closer look at one such strategy - and the part syllabi play in it.
In this edition:
What we’re currently reading
Concourse’s archive and search features
Coming up at Concourse Syllabus
What we're reading
The Reverse-transfer Incentive
Students transferring between institutions may actually be the closest thing to a constant in higher ed, especially if they choose to start at a community or technical college. Unfortunately, for one reason or another those students sometimes stop out before completing their degree at their transfer institution. The goal of reverse-transfer programs is to look for opportunities to grant those students an associate’s degree by combining credits earned between both institutions. In some programs, a university or college that doesn’t grant associate’s degrees may even work with partner institutions that do to ensure students get a degree.
In a recent Inside Higher Education article, Lexi Anderson presents the case of a student who received an AGS degree through the Colorado Re-Engaged Initiative (CORE) for credits earned over the space of 12 years at MSU Denver. This program, and others like it, were created to eliminate situations where “people could have gone three years, three and a half years to college and the highest credential that they have is a high school diploma,” according to Angie Paccione, executive director of Colorado’s Department of Higher Education. You can read more about the impact and challenges of reverse transfer programs in the original article.
Concourse’s Archive and Search Features
A key part of creating a solid reverse-transfer agreement or any other articulation agreement is the ability to share syllabi for discussion and evaluation. Syllabi can be even more important in the absence of an articulation agreement, as one institution must evaluate a student’s previous coursework on a case-by-case basis. One of Concourse’s key benefits is the combination of a perpetual archive and a robust, granular search feature. Concourse’s automatic archiving reduces stress and saves time by keeping all syllabi in a single, searchable repository. And with our Advanced Search feature, you can filter your syllabus search using over a dozen different criteria to quickly find what you’re looking for.
You’ll save yourself (and your registrar) time and frustration by having the syllabi you need right at your fingertips. And when accreditors come calling, you’ll be able to give them exactly what they need, too. To view these features (and much more), be sure to check out our self-paced demo below.
Coming up at Concourse Syllabus
Webinars
Best Practices for Creating Engaging Syllabi
Thursday, November 6th, 2025 at 2:00 pm Eastern
NOTE: This webinar has concluded, but you can watch the recording here.
Events
Tennessee Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers Annual Meeting *
November 19th - 21st, 2025 in Chattanooga, TN
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Annual Meeting *
December 6th - 9th, 2025 in Nashville, TN
* indicates a Concourse-themed presentation
