Center for Innovative Technology Helps Department of Education Speed College Transcripts

This time of year, after months of preparing transcripts and filling out applications, many high school seniors are graduating and looking forward to beginning college in the fall. The Virginia Department of Education -- with the assistance of technical experts at the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) -- is piloting a new program that may give next year's graduating seniors a faster and more secure way to get academic transcripts to colleges and universities.

"Having personally experienced the application process with two college-bound children, anything we can do to simplify this process is beneficial," said Pete Jobse, CIT president and CEO. "I am honored that CIT could use its expertise and resources to help the Department of Education fulfill its mission to provide quality education to the children and adults of the commonwealth."

The pilot program at nine school systems will use an electronic method to provide almost instant confirmation that a college has received a transcript. The data will be matched to online college applications based on a student's name, date of birth, address and high school.

James Madison University and George Mason University will help test the pilot program. If the pilot program succeeds, up to 30 school systems could begin using the electronic data program next year.

"Electronic student record exchange has the potential to reduce workloads in schools and universities and improve the quality and timeliness of data that are used to make important decisions about our students and schools," said Bethann Canada, director of DOE's Educational Information Management. "Collaborating with CIT allowed us to explore industry best practices outside of education and provides a roadmap as we move forward and successfully implement electronic student record exchange across Virginia."

Jobse said that CIT, a state-chartered non-profit, is helping state agencies and commercial partners match their technology requirements and challenges with solutions identified and analyzed by CIT consultants, who work in the CIT Connect service line.

"Our unique position as a non-profit technology advocate enables agencies to procure more advanced and innovative products, and explore improvements that produce long-term benefits and cost savings," Jobse said.

CIT will next help the Department of Education with another program that will allow the electronic transfer of student files between all K-12 schools in the state, which could significantly speed the process when a student transfers between school divisions.