Dual Degrees with U.S. Universities:Why Not, Why, and How

Why so few historically?

Organic collaboration is generally based on individual faculty interest.

Dual degree requires a whole department, and often several university-wide committees.

Curriculum is the domain of individual units.

Getting two universities to agree?

2

Historic lack (continued…)

Confusion between “joint” and “dual” degrees and their requirements.

Joint degrees may involve significant governance or accreditation issues.

Concern about achieving two degrees in same time.

Sometimes earning double majors is difficult.

3

Historic lack (continued…)

Individual projects are usually interest-based and resource-based, with no

“accreditation” issue.

Degree or programs frequently bear or create accreditation issues.

Fear of “losing control” of degree quality.

Defending changes to another.

4

Why the emerging U.S. interest?

Traditional exchange models severely challenged

•U.S. tuition differentials

•Balance requirements

•U.S. undergraduate mobility issues

5

Evolving US position re Thesis/Dissertation

Natural evolution as research has become more interdisciplinary and collaborative.

Single-author study is no longer the only accepted model.

Students working together in labs can submit shared dissertations/papers with unique contributions identified.

6

Evolving US position (continued…)

Special members from other universities already serve on student committees

One thesis/dissertation for two degrees justified IF student clearly identifies the unique contribution to each degree, and IF the work has sufficient breadth for both degrees

7

Why Dual Degrees Specifically?

“Joint” are much more complex

•Additional accreditation issues

•“Dual” is simply a reciprocal transfer agreement

8

Rise of Community College system made “Transfer” Common

9

AND Dual can help address:

Integrated international experience

International credential (both ways)

Shared or complementary access to equipment, courses, faculty

Develop long-term collaborations

Take advantage of grant programs (e.g., FIPSE/Atlantis, PIRE)

10

BUT there ARE Challenges:

General education (especially baccalaureate)

Supervision of thesis (post-grad)

Expense – tuition, fees, cost-of-living

Possible accreditation issues

Satisfactory progress timelines

Converting class time, courses, credits

11

Definitions from Hardest to Easiest

1. Joint DEGREES

2. Joint PROGRAMS

3. Dual Degrees

Formal programs

Individual students

4. Certificates

12

What are Joint Versus Dual Degrees?

Joint

Unified curriculumTwo universitiesSingle diplomaLikely dual accreditation neededPode ser aposentado?

Dual

Two degrees Variations on

advising arrangements

Two or more universities

Generally more flexible

13

Dual Degrees

Similar to other degrees (e.g., international consortia, domestic multi-university collaborations, dual programs within a single university, standard single-program degrees)

Generally don’t need a separate model – conceptually and structurally similar to transfer agreements

Implemented using existing policies and practices

14

Why existing policies for new model?

Each university is only offering their own degree

If degree already exists, may not need as much regulatory approval: may not need HLC approval (in U.S.)

Note: USUALLY MUST allow more transfer credit

Note: ADVISABLE to avoid doing year 1 here, year 2 there, year 3 here, etc., as may require new documents each time (Choice of J versus F very important)

15

Issues to Consider: Internal Governance

Who needs to be at the table?

Are all the processes in place and clear?

Who is the best person/entity to move the program?

Should grants drive programs or should programs drive grants?

Visas

Tuition, fees, expenses

16

Issues to Consider: PartnersFamiliarityFaculty (curriculum strengths and research interests)Facilities, location and complementarityTuition and feesValue addedExchange or other agreement in place?If exchange, is it active? Balanced?Administrative infrastructureEXPECTATIONS

17

Issues to Consider: University/College Policies

Transfer credit limits

Admission timelines and flexibility

Special admissional review

Thesis/dissertation supervision

Quality assurance issuesGraduate faculty appointmentsProgram approval, review processes, sunset provisions

•Financial support•Transcript and diploma issues

18

Issues to Consider: Financial

Is direct exchange the best vehicle?

Will the exchange stay balanced?

•Are assistantships available?

•Are scholarships necessary to seed or sustain the

program?

•Are any new courses required?

•STUDENT COST BURDENS

19

Issues to Consider:

Graduate students

Are three-year OR incomplete degrees accepted?

Are different timelines acceptable?Are students prepared for a different approach to graduate education?

Undergraduate students

How much progress is acceptable?

Conversion of ECTS or other to credit hours.

20

Pitfalls and opportunities

COURSE GAPS? Consider availability of faculty to visit to teach or do research and interact with the students throughout the program. Project work. Distance may be a partial solution.

LANGUAGE? Both universities likely have accelerated language programs. May be an additional venue for collaboration?

21

Challenges to Delivering Content Abroad: New US Regulations Affecting Accreditation

IF:

Five or more courses per year will be offered at an international site

THEN:Requires Higher Learning Commission approval!

This can add MONTHS to the approval process, and a site visit

22

Core Principles

Seek broad and flexible solutions

Leave no student uncounted (or miscounted)

Keep things in the open on BOTH sidesBeware of hidden costs

Maintain quality control for degrees

Communicate regarding curriculum and processes

Don’t be a slave to process

23

Rice University’s Graduate Double and Joint Degree Proposals Screening Process*

*From the Institute of International Education Report: A Process for Screening and Authorizing Joint and Double Degree Programs by Arnaud Chevallier, Rice University, May 2013.

Flowchart for Creating a Undergraduate Dual Degree

Flowchart for Creating a Graduate Dual Degree

Outline Proposed Program and Complete Proposal Form

Qualify Partner Institution

International Student Programs and Services

Review Immigration Requirements

Review Proposal for Admissions Criteria

Department and Graduate College

Prepare Agreement

Review and Negotiate Terms of Agreement

Once Approved Route for Signature

Department and Graduate College

Department and Partner Institution

Graduate College, Department and Global Initiatives

Graduate College, Department,

Global Initiatives, and Partner Institution

Graduate College, Department and Global Initiatives

Note: Responsible Unit in Red

27

Convene “Drivers” Skype? Live?

Exchange Curricula

Appropriate Faculty Review

3 Months…

Or 3 Years?

1 month

1 month

1 year

1 year

28

Example 1: Individual Dual Degree Students with

the University of Rennes, France

29

Motivation: Academic28 Co-Authored Peer Reviewed Publications

30

Motivation: Educational

• International Dual Ph.D. Exposition to foreign culture and environment Acquire greater breadth of skills and techniques Two diplomas

• Balance Gender and Nationality

• NSF-Materials World Network: $360,000; 08/01/15-07/31/08; Synthesis, characterization and physical properties of IR glass-ceramics with new functionalities

• NSF-Materials World Network: $378,000; 07/01/08-06/30/11; Infrared Glass and Glass-ceramics with New Optical and Mechanical Functionalities

• Partner University Fund: $232,800; 07/01/11-06/30/14; Advanced Materials for Energy and Optics

31

Motivation: International Research Grants

• French Ph.D. no classes, 3-year limit. UA requires 90 credits (virtually impossible in 3 years).

Solution: Transfer credits from European Master (LMD), with class equivalency approved by department. European students can thus acquire enough credits in 3 semesters.

32

Challenges: Requirements and Timelines

• Registration and tuitions problematic if U.S. high. Register in both institutions simultaneously? Solution: For many countries public tuitions are

negligible, therefore agree tuition must be paid in only one institute. UA “requires” tuition payments but allows “leave of absence” while students are abroad (no payment needed).

Examine ALL funding sources (sponsorships, aid, assistantships, research, philanthropy, industry)

33

Challenges: Registration and Tuition

• Quite different but many countries allow single Ph.D. defense for a dual degree. Solution: Place of defense must be

predefined. Technology and teleconferencing if

committee composition can be reduced. Students are usually favorable about

having two defenses if arrangement can be reached.

34

Challenge: Ph.D. Defense Requirements

35

Example 2: Dual Degree MS Program with City

University of Hong Kong

• CityU, a major research university with one of the best-known Information Systems programs in Asia

• UA MIS, a nationally-ranked (5th by U.S. News & World

Report) program, housing a world-class faculty and high-impact funded research

projects

36

Motivation: Brand

37

Overall Dual-Program Design

CityU

•CityU M.Sc in Business Information Systems •CityU M.Sc in Electronic Business and Knowledge Mgmt

UA•UA MS in MIS•Face-to-face class meetings in Tucson, Arizona: late May – late

August•Financial IT and MS Projects in either Hong Kong or mainland

China, coordinated remotely

• All academic requirements exactly the same as those of the existing UA MIS MS program 32 credits needed for graduation

• Twelve credits will be transferred from the CityU program and the remaining 20 credits will be earned through courses offered in or from Tucson, Arizona, U.S., from late May – late August (two project courses will continue on until mid November)

38

Challenge: Credits

Students return to Hong Kong/mainland China to pursue internship/employment opportunities

Finish two last project courses part-time Respective instructors advise and monitor progress

remotely Class project opportunities available from several

Hong Kong-based investment houses through UA MIS coordination

39

Challenge: Program Alignment withHong Kong Project Requirements

• The estimated total tuition and fees per student will be US $800 * 20 = US $17,600

• Travel and living costs (estimate) Travel between Hong Kong and Tucson US $1,300 Apartment in Tucson (2 students sharing one room)

US $2,500 (UA MIS will make the arrangements) Meals US $1,700 Miscellaneous US $800 Total US $6,300 +$17600 = $23,900

40

Challenge: Cost

41

Example 3: College of Law

Also: Graduate Certificates

Credit-bearing graduate courses that constitute a coherent body of knowledge

To qualify for F-1 visa, students must be able to take at least 9 credits (full-time status) in their first semester Certificates are usually 12-15 credits, rarely all available in one semester, so must be flexibleProject work or “deliver at home and transfer” may be an optionAll courses should apply to masters or PhDOnline may be part of solution

42

Opportunities:

“Reciprocal transfer”

Accelerated degrees

Graduate degrees and certificates

ABET-like accreditation

“Collaboration built from scratch”

Long-term engagement

Faculty connecting more broadly than research

alone43

Future Trends

Learning outcomes assessment

Project-based curriculum

Faculty collaboration

Consortia

44

Conclusion – Essentials!

FLEXIBILITY

Willingness to do things differently

Look to partner for ideas

ASK. There’s usually a way to accomplish your goal

DESIRE a clear outcome

MANAGE the TIMELINES

45