News

Wisconsin Launches e-Transcript Initiative

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 08/17/09

Wisconsin is launching an electronic transcript initiative that will allow high school and college students in the state to use Docufide, a secure transcript service, for a discount. The project is being sponsored by a group of higher education organizations, including the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the Department of Public Instruction, and Midwestern Higher Education Compact. So far, 13 schools have asked to be pilot schools to try the service.

"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," said Ruth Joyce, director of student services for the University of Wisconsin Extension.

Students and alumni will be able to go online to have their transcripts electronically delivered to any participating Wisconsin college. They'll also be able to send transcripts to 4,000 other colleges and universities and to third-party destinations either electronically or on paper through Docufide.

According to a statement from Docufide, high schools spend about $6.70 per paper-based transcript processed. With an average of six transcripts per student being requested, that adds up to $40 per college-bound student. On the higher ed side, colleges spend about $9 per incoming transcript. The Midwestern Higher Education Compact, comprising professionals from 12 states, recommended implementing an electronic high school transcript system region-wide to reduce those expenses.