What is ASSIST?
ASSIST’s mission is to support undergraduate student transfer in California by providing official articulation information for students and those who serve them. The ASSIST website (assist.org) is the official statewide database and online resource that shows prospective California transfer students, via articulation agreements and transferability lists, how courses they complete at a community college may be used to satisfy elective, general education and major requirements after transfer at a California State University, University of California campus, or a participating institution affiliated with the Association of Independent California Colleges (AICCU).
Additional information about ASSIST services and stakeholders is included in our ASSIST Program Flyer.
History
In 1985, the University of California began to explore using computers to store, maintain, and display transfer-related data. With funding from the California State Legislature, ASSIST was created under the guidance and counsel of the three California postsecondary educational segments: the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California. The goal was to leverage technology to provide students and counselors with an easy way to access accurate and complete information about transferring from one California community college or public university to another. Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, a subset of AICCU institutions began publishing articulation agreements on assist.org. AICCU Participating Member Institutions (PMIs) opt in to joining ASSIST, and participation is optional. A second cohort of institutions will begin publishing articulation agreements starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.
Today, ASSIST is jointly funded by the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California systems. The Budget Act of 2022 allocated funding to integrate AICCU member institutions onto the ASSIST platform that choose to participate. ASSIST is the official repository of articulation information for California's public colleges and universities and participating AICCU member institutions.
Vision
The ASSIST program will leverage innovative technology to be the central provider of comprehensive articulation and intersegmental General Education certification information to enhance student transfer among California’s colleges and universities.
Values
The ASSIST program embraces the following core values in pursuit of our goals:
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Service: We are committed to providing all ASSIST users, both those accessing assist.org and campus and system office data managers with comprehensive support, training, and access to transfer articulation information to streamline transfer processes in California.
Agility: We balance the needs of our diverse users while responding to the expanding landscape of California’s higher education priorities through building relationships, system enhancements, and data sharing.
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Integrity: We are ethical and transparent with communication, service delivery, and the stewardship of ASSIST data.
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Accountability: We prioritize widely gathered, evidence-based input and seek guidance from the ASSIST Executive Sponsors, the ASSIST Executive Management and Oversight Committee (EMOC), and the ASSIST Advisory Committee for intersegmental insights to accomplish the shared and varied objectives of California’s higher education system.
Governance
The ASSIST Governance Bylaws define ASSIST governance structure, associated roles and responsibilities, and fiscal agent duties.
The ASSIST Governance Roster provides a current list of those serving in the roles identified in the Governance Bylaws.
ASSIST Workgroup
The Articulation Officer Workgroup helps guide the development of ASSIST system functionality, features, and attributes while serving as ASSIST liaisons to the articulation community. Members additionally ensure ASSIST technology meets the needs of users by testing new features and system improvements. This workgroup currently meets on an ad hoc basis.