The Importance of TAGs by Paul Barans
Going somewhere? If you are transferring from Stark State to another college or university, you need to be sure that the institution you are going to gives you full credit for all the hard work you put in at Stark State. You need to be sure that your TAGs are in order. TAG stands for Transfer Assurance Guideline, and the phrase “TAG Compliant” labels courses that transfer easily from one state college or university in Ohio to another. The TAG system guarantees the transfer of applicable credits among Ohio’s 14 public universities and 23 community colleges for the purpose of meeting degree requirements. According to the Ohio Higher Ed web site (www.ohiohighered.org/transfer), the TAG system allows students the flexibility to choose lower-cost and more convenient ways
to take the courses they need. Students can accumulate course credits from an inexpensive community college or branch campus before transferring to a four-year university to complete their bachelor’s degree. If this is your plan, you and your academic adviser should select TAG compliant courses as often as possible. Many of Stark State’s basic courses in English, social sciences, computers and accounting are TAG compliant, along with several modules (course groups) for some major areas such as nursing, engineering technology, medical assisting, information technology and automotive technology. If you are transferring to another academic institution in the near future, there are a few things you should do to smooth the transfer of course credits.
First, work with both your academic adviser and Stark State’s Admissions Office to match your Stark State courses with as many courses of the other institution as possible. Second, obtain a transient letter from the other institution. The transient letter provides a written statement of which courses the other institution will credit. It sounds like a lot to do, but if you are going somewhere, it is worth it, right? Just remember to pack your TAGs. (The TAG system is not binding on private colleges and universities, such as Walsh and Malone in Canton, or on non-Ohio colleges and universities. Those institutions may give you credit for one or more Stark State courses, but they are not required to do so by Ohio law.)
As Winter Days Appear by Eric Frank
Now that the fall semester is coming to a close and winter is approaching, what better way to get involved with outside activities than joining the Ski and Snowboarding Club? This is a student-directed club that has a lot of potential. Since resorts are not open until midDecember, the club’s first few trips are in Ohio. In the past, the club has traveled to Seven Springs in Pennsylvania, Holiday Valley in New York and Snow Shoe in West Virginia. Adviser Fred Jarka tries to accommodate and
listen to the students ideas. “Last year we had 15 or so students interested,” Jarka says. “But as you may recall, we had no snow, which kind of killed it.” This year they hope for more snow and to double the number of students participating to keep the club flowing in a positive direction. Joining the Ski and Snowboarding Club will get you off Facebook and into the fresh air. It is a good time to get rid of those calories from the winter holidays, and it beats sitting behind an electronic device all winter long
waiting for the next Call of Duty to be released or watching reruns of Jersey Shore. Jarka says, “The purpose of the club is to promote understanding and appreciation of the relationship of nature and fitness” at Stark State College. Club meetings usually take place every other week during the school year. For more information, contact Fred Jarka by email at fjarka@starkstate.edu or visit him in Room E235, or see the club’s advertisements around campus.
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