College application process gets easier with Wisconsin e-Transcript Initiative

Students, high schools and colleges will benefit statewide

 

Wisconsin is launching a statewide e-Transcript Initiative in partnership with Docufide Inc.; sponsored by University of Wisconsin System (UWS), the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU), the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Midwestern Higher Education Compact. The initiative will allow students at high schools and colleges throughout Wisconsin to utilize Docufide’s Secure Transcript services at a significant discount.

 

“Wisconsin has been a leader in education for decades and continues in this role by supporting the e-transcript initiative which builds access to higher education by providing an economical alternative for high school students and their counselors to send transcripts to their prospective colleges.” Ruth Joyce, Director of Student Services, University of Wisconsin – Extension.

 

Students and alumni among public and private schools will be able to order online and have their official transcripts electronically delivered to any participating Wisconsin college. They will also be able to send transcripts to over 4,000 other colleges and universities nationwide, as well as to 3^rd party destinations, electronically or on security paper mailed by Docufide. Any college or university can register with Docufide to receive transcripts in the format they desire for free. Docufide has been successfully processing transcripts electronically for high schools across 38 states for the past six years.

 

The Wisconsin state participation agreement follows the award of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) Regional Electronic Transcript Initiative (ETI). In addition to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan and Indiana, several other MHEC states are currently considering joining the initiative. Twelve states make up the MHEC region and include: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

 

High schools spend an estimated $6.70 per paper-based transcript processed. With an average of six transcripts per student being requested, that adds up to over $40 per college bound student. Colleges will also save money calculated at over $9 per incoming transcript.

 

Implementing an electronic high school transcript system region-wide to reduce such costs and improve student’s access to college was recommended by MHEC’s Student Access Advisory Committee, comprised of professionals from the twelve MHEC member states.

 

Technology solutions can help relieve the strain and provide the data for better informed decision making. According to John Reese, Docufide’s CEO, "Everyone sees the benefits in electronic transcripts. The hard task, which we uniquely address, is being able to connect all high schools to all colleges, independent of the student information systems they use, without requiring changes to the existing systems. We are looking forward to working with high schools, colleges and universities in Wisconsin to provide their students with these and other derivative services."

 

 Thirteen schools have requested to participate as pilot schools. These schools will be the first to implement the service and will provide valuable feedback on the service benefits to all other Wisconsin high schools interested in participating.

 

The initiative will be guided by a project advisory committee with members from University of Wisconsin System (UWS), the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU), the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and K-12 districts. The MHEC office and Docufide are working collaboratively with these representatives to implement and utilize the service among all interested schools statewide.  Already, the committee has 100% of Wisconsin’s public and independent colleges registered and ready to receive the schools e-transcripts.

 

Docufide is the leading provider of Educational Records Management services. Its flagship service, Secure Transcript, manages the ordering, processing, and secure delivery of student transcripts for secondary and postsecondary institutions nationwide. Secure Transcript saves schools money, frees up staff time, and improves student satisfaction. Docufide, Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with representatives throughout the United States. For more information please visit www.Docufide.com or call 310.309.3722.

 

Contact
WI e-Transcript Project Manager
Heather House
(763) 767-4716
heather@docufide.com