WV Community & Technical College System (CTCS) Notice of Intent...

Location:	West Virginia
Posted:	Apr 13, 2026
Due:	Apr 24, 2026
Agency:	West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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INTENT TO DIRECT AWARD

Common Course Numbering Services

The WV Community & Technical College System (CTCS) recently completed Phase One of a

common course numbering initiative (CCN). This initiative created a common set of student

learning outcomes and a unique numbering system for 25 high-enrollment courses that are

frequently transferred from community and technical colleges (CTCs) to universities. This

follows work in 20 other states to create some form of common course numbering system for

general education courses, either statewide or within a given system.

Student-Ready Strategies, the vendor for this work, successfully delivered on all aspects of the

original proposal and completed the full scope of work. We have decided based on this success

to take on another set of courses, up to 25 in total, inclusive of all courses that are offered by

four or more of our nine system CTCs.

Given the relationship established with Student-Ready Strategies and the momentum

established through our nine-month engagement with fulfillment of all promised deliverables,

and because of our past history of vendor bid responses and due to the very restricted

timeframes, the Commission intends to contract with STUDENT READY STRATEGIES LLC

unless another service provider objects.

A potential bidding document has been created. Any vendor who would desire to bid for these

services would need to meet the criteria as described. The sample bidding document follows.

If after reviewing the required criteria, a vendor wishes to be given the opportunity to bid for

these services, they must notify the Commission by April 24. Please contact:

Kelley Smith

Director of Procurement

2001 Union Carbide Drive, Bldg. 2000

South Charleston, WV 25303

Phone: 304-352-6388

E-mail: Kelley.Smith@wvhepc.edu

WV HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY COMMISSION

SAMPLE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

COMMON COURSE NUMBERING SERVICES

I. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction: The West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education

(Council) seeks proposals from qualified consultants to continue development of a common course

numbering system for its nine member institutions. This work will build on recent efforts that

created a common set of student learning outcomes and a unique numbering system for 25-high

enrollment courses that are frequently transferred from community and technical colleges into

universities. This initiative aims to simplify and streamline the transfer of credits within the

community and technical college system and to public four-year institutions, enhancing academic

alignment and improving student success. The project will involve close collaboration with campus

stakeholders, including faculty, academic leadership, advisors, registrars, and central office

personnel, under the guidance of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Commission seeks to contract with a vendor experienced in developing common course

numbering systems across institutions and statewide, including integration of the common

courses into institutional and statewide transfer and articulation frameworks. The scope of work

is to include the following:

Development of a Second Round of Common Courses

Build on previous efforts and expand the common course inventory by identifying and developing a

second round of common courses. Building on the approach used during the initial phase of the

work, facilitate a streamlined process that includes:

• Identifying up to 25 potential courses for inclusion in the next round of CCN development.

• Collecting relevant course information from institutions.

• Developing draft common learning outcomes for selected courses.

• Facilitating faculty review and feedback on the proposed outcomes.

• Finalizing outcomes and course materials (including course descriptions) for inclusion in the

expanded CCN inventory.

Continue work from the first phase of the effort by:

• Facilitating a faculty task force to finalize the learning outcomes for one or more courses in

Quantitative Literacy (e.g., Math for the Liberal Arts).

• Developing standardized course descriptions for all 26 courses included in the initial CCN

inventory.

• Developing a communications and launch plan for the new common courses, including

shared language and branding to support consistent messaging across institutions, to help

facilitate course articulation, smooth transfer from 2-year to 4-year institutions, and facilitate

construction of 60+60 pathways.

• Developing recommendations related to science course sequences (Biology, Chemistry,

Physics, and Anatomy & Physiology), including considerations for whether the CCN

inventory should include separate courses designed for STEM majors and non-STEM majors.

Specific deliverables are to include the following:

Facilitate Faculty Task Force to Finalize Quantitative Literacy Outcomes

Within two months of project execution

Virtually facilitate the final stage of faculty collaboration to complete the common learning

outcomes for the Quantitative Literacy course. CTCS will be responsible for recruiting the task force

members. Building on prior discussions and draft materials from the initial CCN process, vendor

will support these faculty in reviewing, refining, and reaching consensus on the final set of

outcomes. The process will ensure alignment with existing general education expectations while

maintaining clarity and transferability across institutions.

Deliverables

Facilitation plan and meeting materials for up to 2 virtual faculty task force sessions

Finalized set of Quantitative Literacy common course learning outcomes

Summary memo documenting final decisions and any implementation considerations

Develop Standardized Course Descriptions for the 26 Common Courses

Within two months of project execution

Develop standardized catalog descriptions for each of the 26 courses included in the first round of

the Common Course Numbering (CCN) inventory. These descriptions will align with the agreed-

upon learning outcomes, reflect common expectations across institutions, and remain adaptable to

institutional catalogs. Vendor will vet these common course descriptions with the CTCS and faculty

in the aligned discipline, then make intentional edits to produce a final version for use.

Deliverables

Draft course descriptions for all 26 CCN courses

One round of revisions based on CTCS and faculty feedback

Final set of standardized course descriptions for system use

Develop Recommendations for Science Sequences

Within two months of project execution

Analyze current science course structures and, in collaboration with CTCS stakeholders and selected

science faculty members, develop recommendations on the inclusion of science courses in the CCN

inventory. As part of this process, vendor will research science course sequences and learning

outcomes in other states that have common course numbering. This work will focus on the Biology,

Chemistry, Physics, and Anatomy & Physiology sequences and will consider whether separate

courses should be offered for STEM and non-STEM majors.

Deliverables

Brief recommendation memo outlining:

Summary of current science course structures across institutions and examples from other states

Recommendations regarding the inclusion of science courses in the CCN inventory

Considerations for majors vs. non-STEM course pathways

Proposed next steps

Develop a Communications Plan for the Launch of the Common Courses

Within four months of project execution

Vendor will work with CTCS leadership to develop a communications strategy to support the rollout

of the new CCN courses. The goal of this work is to ensure clear, consistent messaging across

institutions regarding the purpose, benefits, and structure of the common courses. Vendor will vet

the draft communications plan with the CTCS before finalizing the material.

Deliverables

Digital toolkits for both 2-year and 4-year institutions:

Unified messaging and standard communication strategy

Slide deck for vetting with campus constituents

Social media copy and images

Website copy

FAQs customized by institution-type

Contact information for questions

Written CCN communications plan, including:

Website copy for HEPC/CTCS

CCN Infographic for various uses

CCN one-page information sheet for HEPC/CTCS to provide to key constituents, like the Board and

the legislature

Development and Vetting of a Second Round of Common Courses

Facilitate Process to Develop a Second Round of Common Courses

Within four months of the conclusion of Round 1 Finalization and Launch

Vendor will support the CTCS in expanding the CCN inventory by guiding a structured process to

identify and develop additional common courses. Vendor will replicate the work conducted to

develop the first set of common courses.

This includes:

Collecting course information from institutions

Developing a course database, to include student learning outcomes, based on institutional

submissions

Applying the vendor’s Transfer Pathways Design Framework to analyze the database and group

similar courses

Identifying courses with the greatest alignment to inform the selection of an additional 25-30

common courses

Then, vendor will:

Recommend those courses for CTCS review and approval

Develop a draft common course number package that includes the following for each approved

course:

Recommended course name

Recommended course description (new addition to the package, based on learning from Phase 1 of

the CCN work)

Common course number

Standardized learning outcomes

Local course equivalents across institutions

Deliverables

Approved list of courses for Round 2 development

Compiled institutional course information for selected courses

Draft common learning outcomes for each course

Draft CCN package that includes the name, number, description, learning outcomes, and local

equivalents for each course

Solicit feedback on the second draft of the CCN package

Within two months of completing draft CCN package

Vendor will customize a survey for faculty in each discipline associated with the common courses to

solicit relevant feedback. Vendor will analyze this feedback and edit the CCN package as

appropriate to finalize each CCN course. The package will be vetted and approved by the CTCS

team.

Deliverables

Survey design

Email language for survey distribution

Survey analysis

Updated, final CCN package

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Bid Number	Description	Bid Opening
Notice of Intent to Direct Award for Common Course Numbering Services	WV Community & Technical College System (CTCS) Notice of Intent to Direct Award Contract for Common Course Numbering Services	Comments due: 04/24/2026 by 3:00PM EDST

WV Community & Technical College System (CTCS) Notice of Intent to Direct Award Contract for Common Course Numbering Services

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