Oregon Transfer Council News
Established in 2021, Transfer Council (TC) is completing its third year of developing recommendations to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) on transfer and credit policies and agreements. This builds on decades of work dedicated to streamlining transfer pathways in Oregon.
In June 2024, TC received a memo from OSU announcing their new general education program—Core Education, which will launch officially Summer 2025. This updates the Baccalaureate Core, a 30-year-old curriculum. Core Education will support transfer students in that lower division requirements can be completed through the State’s Core Transfer Map (CTM). For more on Core Education, see the OSU webpage and information on the curriculum. TC also received a memo from the Gen Ed Subcommittee relaying information on how institutions annotate the CTM and Oregon Transfer Module (OTM) on student transcripts. Additionally, two common course numbering (CCN) faculty subcommittees (Economics and Sociology) submitted Recommendation Reports, which were approved and will be sent to the HECC Commission for final approval when the remaining subcommittees have completed alignment work (Biology and Chemistry). Finally, updates on the annual Transfer Council Survey, the 2024 Oregon Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Conference (OrACRAO), and the HECC presentation to the Senate Education Legislative Committee on transfer initiatives were shared with the Council. Transfer Council did not meet in July.
In August 2024, TC approved a CCN course list for 2025 and a list of Major Transfer Maps for development in 2025. Letters seeking nominations to subcommittees for 2025 will be sent to CAOs in late October/early November, with subcommittees meeting after the start of winter term. Finally, a draft of the CCN Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) was shared with TC .
In September 2024, TC approved the annual Report to the HECC 2024, which highlighted the progress institutions made with adopting CCN, CTMs, and MTMs. TC also approved a request from the CCN Business Subcommittee, asking for the deferral of BA 131 Microsoft Survey Course until fall 2027. This will allow time for institutions to adopt the new Excel-only Business course (BA 169Z Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel), which could impact the former course. Finally, discussions about the possibility of a fall retreat for TC were discussed.
At the October 2024 meeting, TC approved the CCN Business Recommendation Report, aligning two courses for implementation in the 2025-2026 academic catalogs (BA 169Z and BA 226Z). These courses will be forwarded to the HECC Commission for final approval as soon as Biology and Chemistry have completed their alignment work, this fall. The Council also received a memo from OSU requesting a modification to the MTM Curriculum Articulation Policy (CAP) due to factual errors and typos in the Bacc Core column of the MTM-CAP Crosswalk and the absence of their new general education curriculum, Core Education. If the modification request is granted, Core Education will be added to the MTM-CAP crosswalk and errors to the Bacc Core articulations will be corrected. The request has no impact on students, pre-transfer. As a result of this conversation, Transfer Council approved the formation of an ad hoc faculty subcommittee to review and approve technical errors of this nature, and a subcommittee charge will be approved in November. Finally, TC approved an amended CCN Math Minority Report from 2023 aligning MTH/MATH 251Z, 252Z, and 253Z. For the past year, TC has sought information on the alignment of credits for two of the three courses. Several issues regarding credits were resolved in the CCN OARs, which were approved by the HECC Commission in early October. These OARs outline requirements for the alignment of credits and other course information related to alignment and the adoption of CCN.
Transfer student success stories.
 |
|
Hunter Hall attends Western Oregon University (WOU) and is pursuing a Master’s of Arts in Teaching (MAT). He also holds a Professional Writing Certificate, a BS in Mathematics, an AAOT, AGS, and an AST from Portland Community College (PCC). |
Hunter’s story: I am a reluctant leader, which sounds unusual because recently I was elected Student Body President at WOU (ASWOU). My experience with higher education started in 2017 at PCC. It took most of that first year to understand how college works. At that time, I thought I wanted to design video games, but I quickly turned to teaching. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to teach, until I took a couple of math classes at PCC. By my third year, I was actively involved with everything that had to do with campus life, including student leadership. At PCC I was able to reflect on my goals, which is really what led me to pursue teaching.
In 2020, I graduated from PCC with three associate degrees (all with honors). As a transfer student, I learned the ins and outs of things like financial aid, mostly due to tripping and falling through the process. At PCC I had been very involved with student leadership, so I used that to help get connected at WOU and that has made all the difference. My advice for new transfer students is to get to know campus services, like where the food pantry is (if your campus has one), the counseling center, residential service centers–these resources are invaluable. Find resources and plug into them. Finally, I want to encourage students who didn’t have a great K-12 experience. I don’t want them to feel alone, like I did as a kid. I’m on the autism spectrum and know what it’s like to be bullied. Those experiences are part of the reason I want to go into teaching–so I can help and inspire people who have had experiences like mine. I want to tell students, “If I can do this, so can you!”
To nominate a student for a future Student Spotlight, contact Jane Denison-Furness at jane.denison-furness@hecc.oregon.gov
Announcing Common Course Numbering (CCN) & Major Transfer Maps (MTMs), for 2025
CCN: OAR 715-025-0065 through 115 (approved in October) requires the Transfer Council, in consultation with the Commission, to approve a plan for Common Course Numbering (CCN) course development no later than August 31 each year. Additionally, the following criteria will be used to identify courses appropriate for CCN alignment:
- Consider existing common courses and opportunities to develop courses where CCN will benefit students.
- Develop no fewer than 10 Common Course Numbering Articulation Policies (CCNAPs) per year, or the number specified by the Commission. One CCNAP is developed for each commonly numbered course. Transfer Council may recommend to the Commission that this requirement be eliminated when it is determined that the CCN system has been substantially established and further development of CCNAPs is unlikely to produce additional benefit to students.
- Use the process identified by Transfer Council for selecting courses for CCN. For more on this process, see the 2024 Common Course Numbering Handbook.
Selection of courses for CCN includes information on the most transferred courses in Oregon, the highest enrolled courses, advice from subject experts and past and existing CCN Cochairs, and a review of academic course catalogs at all community colleges and Oregon public universities. Courses for CCN alignment in 2025 were approved by Transfer Council in August and were drawn from the following disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Communication, History, and Spanish. For a list of the courses identified for CCN development in 2025, see the Educator Resources—Common Course Numbering webpage. Informational emails on recruiting for faculty subcommittees in 2025 will go out November 1, 2024. For more on the nomination process, see this document.
MTMs: OAR 715-025-0010 requires the Commission, in consultation with the Transfer Council, to determine the major courses of study for development as a Major Transfer Map Curriculum Articulation Policy no later than August 31 each year. To do so, the Commission is charged with using specific criteria to guide their determination, including, but not limited to:
- The majors with the most workforce demand, and
- The most common majors among students who transfer from a community college to a public university.
Within the top majors identified by HECC’s Office of Research and Data (R&D), based on community college transfer students enrolled, marketing is ranked within the top 10; however, the business MTM already provides one pathway to these careers. Communication is another discipline that leads to careers in marketing and provides a pathway to a variety of high demand occupations that offer above-average wages and typically require a bachelor’s degree at the entry level.
At the August 15th TC meeting, Transfer Council approved Communication as the next MTM to be developed. This faculty subcommittee will launch January 2025 with an anticipated completion date of December 2025. Informational emails on recruiting for faculty for this subcommittee went out October 21, 2024, with a due date of November 4, 2024. Please consult your Provost/Chief Academic Officer, if interested. For more on the nomination process, see this document.
One significant change in SB 233 is that MTM participation is mandatory. Administrative rule 715-025- 0015 requires the Commission to determine the community colleges and universities that may be required to participate in MTM-CAPs once they are approved. This process involves reviewing academic catalogs and CTE offerings to identify if institutions offer a program, certificate, two- or four-year degree in the CAP subject area. Chief Academic Officers and Provosts are invited to review the findings of the HECC’s initial screening and schedule a consultation to discuss areas of disagreement. In September 2025, HECC completed its screening and consultation process for all currently named MTMs, including the newly named MTM in Communication. Because faculty subcommittees can only be comprised of faculty from participating institutions, fall term began with some changes to subcommittee membership to bring subcommittees into compliance with administrative rule.
As part of completing the MTM agreements, all participating community colleges will be required to provide a draft student facing document, and universities will be required to complete a crosswalk; these documents show how the MTM agreement would work at that institution. Once the MTM-CAP is drafted, institutions may appeal to the Transfer Council in writing for an exemption from participating in the agreement. See OAR 715-025-0060 for details about the exemption criteria and process.
Even after an MTM-CAP is approved, we will still see changes in institutional participation, under certain conditions. An institution might be removed from an MTM-CAP agreement if they terminate a program, or a community college might decide to add a program because they want to participate in a particular MTM. Although the process of verifying required participants is new, there is a process for institutions to be added or removed from MTM-CAP agreements.
The following information provides a snapshot of ongoing work in Transfer Council subcommittees:
Common Course Numbering (CCN) Subcommittees
CCN Biology Subcommittee: The Biology Subcommittee has voted and approved course numbers, subject codes, and course titles. Additionally, they have draft course descriptions and course learning outcomes for the introductory Biology sequence (3 quarters/courses) and expect to vote on these items during the next few meetings. Final alignment work will focus on labs for these courses and credits.
CCN Business Subcommittee: The Business Subcommittee submitted a Recommendation Report to the Transfer Council at the October 17th TC meeting. All recommendations for BA 169Z Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel and BA 226Z Introduction to Business Law were approved to be recommended by the Transfer Council and will be sent to the HECC Commission for final approval once all course alignment is completed for 2025.
CCN Chemistry Subcommittee: The Chemistry Subcommittee has voted on course subject codes, course numbers, course titles, and credits. Additionally, they have a draft of course learning outcomes, course descriptions, and labs and will vote on these items during the next few meetings.
CCN Economics Subcommittee: The Economics Subcommittee completed their work and submitted a Recommendation Report to Transfer Council, who approved sending these courses to the Commission for final approval once all course alignment is completed for 2025. The subcommittee aligned EC/ECON 201Z Principles of Microeconomics and EC/ECON 202Z Principles of Macroeconomics.
General Education: The General Education Subcommittee is working to address their 5th goal: Review overlap of AAOT/ASOT categories and learning objectives with Oregon Public Universities’ (OPUs) general education categories and learning objectives. Currently, they are working on a list of questions for Transfer Council, to help further define the parameters of this goal.
Outcomes Assessment: The Outcomes and Assessment Subcommittee continues to advise subject matter faculty groups on the writing of learning outcomes. In addition, the group has developed some short informational videos that can be used to train faculty groups on writing learning outcomes. Several members of the subcommittee will be stepping down at the end of the year, so this group is actively recruiting replacements. For more on the nomination process, see this document.
CCN Sociology: The Sociology Subcommittee completed their work and submitted a Recommendation Report to Transfer Council, who approved sending these courses to the Commission for final approval, once all course alignment is completed for 2025. The subcommittee aligned SOC/SOAN 204Z Introduction to Sociology, SOC/SOAN 205Z Social Change and Institutions, and SOC/SOAN 206Z Social Problems.
Systems & Operations Subcommittee: Most recently, the Systems and Operations Subcommittee has worked on a request from Transfer Council to determine whether there is a mechanism for noting on a student transcript the completion of Core Transfer Maps (CTMs) and Major Transfer Maps (MTMs). The group has also discussed how faculty subcommittees are addressing the alignment of courses with labs.
Major Transfer Map (MTM) Updates
All MTM Subcommittees have resumed actively meeting. Fall term began with two MTM Faculty Orientation sessions for new and returning members to review changes in the legislative requirements surrounding this work, the transition from MOUs to CAPs, and faculty responsibilities in this process. All committees are expected to have completed MTM-CAPs ready for Transfer Council review this academic year.
MTM-MOUs Under Review & Converting to CAP
MTM Biology: The subcommittee is in the process of finalizing a student-driven change to their math and science requirements in the course development template. They are expected to conclude this work at their November meeting and will make parallel revisions to the university crosswalk.
MTM English: The subcommittee is in the process of reviewing their course development template and refining their general education and major course offerings. They have decided to rename the MTM to English rather than English Literature to reflect the broader course offerings in English departments at universities, which often include literature, creative writing, composition and rhetoric, professional writing, and linguistics courses.
MTM Business: The subcommittee has almost completed their review of the course development template. All major coursework in the MTM agreement has now been commonly aligned. The subcommittee is working to clarify their math requirement and will then move on to review their program learning outcomes and AP/IB worksheet.
MTM Elementary Education: The subcommittee is in the process of reviewing their course development template. Many parts of the course development template are still well aligned to educator preparation standards. Discussion will continue about the WR 122Z requirement and the major coursework.
New MTMs Using CAP Policy
MTM Sociology: The subcommittee has finalized most of their work on their MTM pathways: AAT/AST Sociology and AAT/AST Sociology/Anthropology. The subcommittee is finalizing their student facing document templates and the university crosswalks. A final vote on their four pathways is anticipated winter term.
MTM HDFS: The subcommittee will vote on the AST pathway at their next meeting. A request for draft student facing documents was sent to all participating community colleges with a due date of November 8. Once those are received, the AAT and AST MTM-CAPs will be scheduled for Transfer Council.
MTM Psychology: The subcommittee is exploring options to address guidance they were given by the Transfer Council to identify additional lower-division major coursework to be included in the MTM. Currently, the MTM draft contains only 8-credits in the major.
Fall 2024 Transfer Council Public Meeting Schedule
Transfer Council welcomes public comment on meetings relating to transfer. Sign up for public meeting notices here to receive final meeting dates and links to agendas, supporting documents, etc. Upcoming meeting dates are listed below:
-
Transfer Council: November 21 and December 19 (10 am to 12:30 pm, for all meetings)
-
CCN Subcommittee Meetings: Systems and Operations, 11/7, and 12/6, 8-10 am; Biology, 11/1 and 11/15, 8-9:30 am; Chemistry, 11/1 and 11/8, 8-9:30 am; Gen Ed, 11/4, 11/18, and 12/2 12-1 pm; Outcomes Assessment, 11/18 and 12/2, 9-10 am.
-
MTM Subcommittee Meetings: Business, 11/4 and 12/1, 11-12 pm; Biology, 11/6 and 11/20, 9-10 am; Elementary Education, 11/4 and 11/25, 12-1 pm; English, 11/8 and 12/6, 11-12 pm; HDFS, 11/4 and 11/25, 10-11 am; Psychology, 11/1 and 11/22, 11-12 pm; Sociology, 11/4 and 12/2, 4-5 pm.
See the Transfer Council meeting webpage for all other meeting dates/times. Systems and Operations will meet over the summer. See the linked page for information on their meetings.
|
