Articulation in Florida

Articulation is the means by which schools, colleges, and universities coordinate their programs and services to facilitate the movement of students through the educational system. Articulation is especially critical to the success of Florida's postsecondary education system, which is based on the two-plus-two concept, of the first two years of undergraduate work in a community college and the final two in a university. Florida is considered a leader in the nation in developing highly effective articulation at the state and local levels between and among institutions and sectors.

In 1957, a report entitled "The Community Junior College in Florida's Future" was approved by the State Board of Education. The report outlined the orderly development of a statewide system of community colleges, clearly designating these institutions as the entry point for students beginning their postsecondary education. Before 1957, Florida had three universities and four community colleges. The General Education Agreement guaranteed the transfer of all general education credits from a public community college to a state university. This agreement also prohibited the universities from requiring any additional general education courses if a student had completed a general education program at a community college.

During the rapid growth that followed, four universities were opened without a lower division and the other five had severe limitations placed on lower-level enrollments (hence, the two-plus-two system). Between 1957 and 1972, twenty-four new community colleges were opened, bringing the total to twenty-eight. This expansion of the postsecondary systems spurred the development of a new articulation agreement.

From this foundation, a number of other programs, systems, and activities have emerged, which serve to enhance the two-plus-two articulation system. This includes programs such as: common college and high school transcripts, dual enrollment programs, the designation of articulation officers at both the public community college and state university levels, the College Level Academic Skills Program, computerized academic advisement systems, program reviews, common course numbering, common prerequisites, and a host of other activities. These enhancements reflect Florida's public educational institutions commitment toward the equitable treatment of transfer students and to the success of the two-plus-two system.

Individual contact information is available at the institution's website.