Report on the Acceptance of Vocational Education Courses for Admission Purposes at Michigan's Community Colleges and Universities. A Special Report for the Michigan Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees Authorized under Act 171 of 1989.

In response to state legislation calling for a comprehensive report on the transferability of vocational courses from high school to community colleges and four-year institutions, questionnaires were sent to all of Michigan's 29 community colleges and 15 universities. The survey sent to universities focused on the extent to which a college applicant's high school vocational courses were considered when calculating high grade point average (GPA), while the two-year college questionnaire examined the transferability of such courses for college credit. Usable surveys were returned by all 29 community colleges and 14 of the universities. Study findings included the following: (1) eight universities omit all vocational coursework when computing an applicant's high school GPA, six universities consider vocational coursework grades when evaluating a student's credentials, and two universities include such grades when calculating GPA; (2) no universities allowed high school vocational courses to substitute for college preparatory courses; (3) of the 22 community colleges awarding college credit and advanced placement, 21 do so in response to articulation agreements with high schools; and (4) of the seven community colleges that do not award credit for high school vocational courses, five schools permit students to use the courses to bypass an introductory or prerequisite course. Appendixes include a brochure with advice for college-bound students; admissions requirements for 14 state universities; and the survey instruments. (PAA)