Streamlining Student Transfer
Welcome to the March Transfer Hub newsletter. This month’s newsletter focuses on Transfer Council’s work with Common Course Numbering (CCN) and Major Transfer Maps (MTMs) approved in 2024 and assigned for 2025.
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Established in 2021, Transfer Council (TC) recently began its fourth year of developing recommendations to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) on new transfer and credit-related policies and agreements. This builds on decades of work dedicated to streamlining transfer pathways in Oregon. For more on this, see the About Oregon’s Statewide Work to Streamline Student Transfer webpage.
In November 2024, TC received the last two Recommendation Reports from the Common Course Numbering (CCN) Biology and Chemistry Subcommittees. A total of nine courses were approved to be shared with institutions for adoption in 2025-2026 course catalogs. This brought the total of courses approved in 2024 to 19 (37 courses have been aligned since 2022). In October 2024, the process of approving courses changed slightly with the adoption of the CCN Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs). Course approval no longer needs to go to the HECC Commission for approval, after confirmation from the TC. This helps streamline the course approval process. At the same November meeting, approval was granted for the creation of a Technical Changes Subcommittee, which will oversee modifications to approved Major Transfer Map (MTM)-Curriculum Articulation Policies (CAPs). The Council also discussed two memos from the Systems and Operations Subcommittee. One addressed a request from the Council for information on how institutions record Core Transfer Maps and Major Transfer Maps on student transcripts. The second memo requested Transfer Council seek the Committees’ advice on lecture and lab courses, prior to approval.
TC held its first in-person retreat in December 2025. A number of items were on the agenda including a discussion about the relationship between the Commission and the Council, facilitating meetings, tracking outcomes and compliance, improving communication, and looking ahead.
In January 2025, the Council approved several nominations for existing MTM subcommittees as well as nominations for new CCN subcommittees, for 2025 (Biology, Chemistry, Communication, History, and Spanish), and the new Technical Changes Subcommittee. The AAT and AST Curriculum Articulation Policy (CAP) in Human Development and Family Services (HDFS) was approved to be offered at 14 community colleges in Oregon. Also, the Pre-transfer Crosswalk was approved and will replace existing “Student Facing Documents” in MTM-CAP packages, addressing institutional concerns about advertising student-facing materials before a program has been implemented; this document identifies that a program is not available until a specific date (as defined in OARs). Additionally, HECC’s Director of Data and Research Amy Cox shared a presentation on how the agency currently tracks progress on transfer using a combination of data on graduation rates, total number of credits at graduation, and student debt. Finally, the charge for the Measures of Success Subcommittee was approved. This group will recommend "specific, quantifiable, or observable metrics" for evaluating "how well Oregon's transfer initiatives--CCN, CTMs, and MTMs--achieve their goals of improving student outcomes, streamlining transfer pathways, and promoting equity across the state."
At the February 2025 meeting, the Council elected a new Co-chair, Christopher Long from the U of O. Cochair Long replaces Jose Coll (WOU), who stepped down late last year. Nominations were confirmed for the CCN Spanish and Measures of Success Subcommittees, along with additional nominations for the CCN Biology, History, and Communication Subcommittees. The Council also approved a number of modification requests to several documents for PSU and OSU (for more on this, see the agenda). Also, a request from the Gen Ed Subcommittee to add a tally of credit changes to CCN Recommendation Reports (starting fall 2025) was approved along with the updated MTM-CAP in English.
In December 2024, public institutions in Oregon were notified via email of the final list of courses aligned and approved during 2024. These courses include:
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Business: BA 169Z Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel and BA 226Z Business Law
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Biology: BI/BIO/BIOL 221Z Principles of Biology: Cells, BI/BIO/BIOL 222Z Principles of Biology: Organisms, and BI/BIO/BIOL 223Z Principles of Biology: Ecology and Evolution (these courses include lecture and lab)
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Chemistry: CH/CHE/CHEM 221Z General Chemistry I, CH/CHE/CHEM 222Z General Chemistry II, CH/CHE/CHEM 223Z General Chemistry III (all lecture); and CH/CHE/CHEM 227Z General Chemistry I Laboratory, CH/CHE/CHEM 228Z General Chemistry II Laboratory, CH/CHE/CHEM 229Z General Chemistry III Laboratory (all labs)
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Economics: EC/ECON 201Z Principles of Microeconomics and EC/ECON 2o2Z Principles of Macroeconomics
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Math: MTH/MATH 251Z Differential Calculus, MTH/MATH 252Z Integral Calculus, and MTH/MATH 253Z Calculus: Sequences and Series
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Sociology: SOC/SOAN 204Z Introduction to Sociology, SOC/SOAN 205Z Social Change and Institutions, and SOC/SOAN 206Z Social Problems
Administrative Rule 715-025-0055 governs modification of an MTM once it is approved. This rule requires any institution considering a course or curriculum change that impacts or may impact an approved MTM to notify the Transfer Council before implementing the changes. Until the Transfer Council approves these changes, no curriculum changes can be implemented by the institution. It is important that institutions consider the time it takes to get on a Transfer Council agenda and for their request to be reviewed by a faculty subcommittee.
In February, the Transfer Council approved the modification request made by OSU for the Computer Science MTM-CAP. These modifications correct factual errors in their Bacc Core general education requirements and add in their new Core Education (beginning summer 2025). None of the proposed modifications impact students pre-transfer or change how the MTM coursework is honored.
Transfer Council Subcommittee Updates
Five new CCN subcommittees began meeting in late January/early February 2025, to align 15 courses during 2025. The following information provides an update on the work of these subcommittees, so far.
Common Course Numbering Subcommittees
CCN Biology Subcommittee, from Cochairs Lindsay Biga (OSU) and Jonathan Christie (Chemeketa): : The Biology Subcommittee has voted and approved course numbers and subject codes for the 3 term Human Anatomy & Physiology course sequence. The committee is working on aligning topics into the three terms and finalizing course titles. During spring term, they will draft course descriptions and course learning outcomes for the A&P sequence.
CCN Chemistry Subcommittee, from Cochairs Kenneth Friedrich (PCC) and Christopher Walsh (EOU): The Chemistry Subcommittee has proposed aligning CH/CHE/CHEM 101/104, CH/CHE/CHEM 110/112 and CH/CHE/CHEM 150/151 rather than CH 104, 105 and 106. A memo has been sent to the Transfer Council for approval of this plan. The subcommittee believes aligning these courses will better support the chemistry needs of Allied Health students (CH 101/104, CH 110/112) and better prepare students to be successful in the CH221-3Z series (CH 150/151).
CCN Communication Subcommittee, from Cochairs Jessica Fabbricatore (EOU) and Hailey Adkisson (LBCC): The Communication Subcommittee is currently working to align Intercultural Communication (COM 216), Small Group Communication (COM 219), and Gender Communication (COM 220). The group has voted and approved course subject codes and course numbers and plans to vote on course titles at the next meeting. The group is beginning work on course descriptions and learning outcomes.
CCN History Subcommittee, Cochairs Niki Theis-Coulter (RCC) and Mason Tattersall (OSU): This year, the subcommittee voted to align US History I, II, and III, leaving the History of Western Civ for 2026. They will be voting on subject code, names of courses, and discuss teaching the sequence in two vs. three terms during the next meeting.
CCN Spanish Subcommittee, Cochairs Rachel Knighten (LCC) and Patricia Giménez-Eguibar (WOU): During the last meeting, this subcommittee voted on SPA/SPAN/SPN for course subject codes and are now considering course titles and course descriptions.
CCN meetings are not public meetings. All participating colleges are encouraged to appoint faculty to attend these meetings. Although they may not be voting members, their participation and input is welcome!
Special Subcommittees
General Education, Cochairs Amanda Haight (MHCC) and John Edwards (OSU): The subcommittee continues to work on addressing goals outlined in their charge from Transfer Council, specifically evaluating the effect of past CCN decisions on CTMs, the OTM, and AAOTs and the ASOT.
CCN Outcomes Assessment, from Cochairs Kristin Nagy Catz (OSU) and Ann Cary (PCC): The Outcomes and Assessment Subcommittee has been working to support all of the subject matter CCN committees and provide professional development materials for the faculty involved.
Systems & Operations Subcommittee, from Cochairs Julia Pomerenk (U of O) and Chris Sweet (Clackamas): New cochairs were elected and will begin serving at the end of April (Amy Clark, WOU and Elizabeth Bay, Chemeketa). Thank you to Cochairs Pomerenk and Sweet for leading this group for the past three years!
MTM Subcommittees
Computer Science, English, and Human Development and Family Services are no longer meeting since their MTM-CAPs are complete. They will resume meeting at their next scheduled maintenance meeting. All remaining subcommittees are actively meeting:
MTM Biology Subcommittee: The biology subcommittee is finishing their work on the pre- and post-crosswalks, and anticipates voting on their AST package at their March meeting. Their MTM-CAP will be on the March Transfer Council agenda. Major updates include a unified, streamlined set of coursework with no variance.
MTM Business Subcommittee: The business subcommittee is finishing their work on the pre- and post-crosswalks, and anticipates voting on their AST package at their March meeting. Their MTM-CAP will be on the March Transfer Council agenda. Major updates include a unified, streamlined set of major coursework fully CCN aligned and removal of the confusing variance around math.
MTM Elementary Education Subcommittee: The elementary education subcommittee has finished their work on their program learning outcomes and AP/IB worksheet. They are preparing to vote on their course development template and MTM narrative at their next meeting. Major updates include the acceptance of all 5 major courses into the major at the participating universities. This subcommittee anticipates voting on their MTM-CAP in early spring.
MTM Sociology Subcommittee: The sociology subcommittee voted on their AAT/AST MTM-CAPs. Their MTM-CAP will be on the March Transfer Council agenda. Previous discussions to create four pathways (two in sociology and two in sociology/anthropology) were reconsidered by the subcommittee. They collapsed these together to create two tracks within one sociology MTM. Each track contains no variance, and the tracks are as parallel as possible.
MTM Psychology Subcommittee: The psychology subcommittee has identified a third lower-division course to add to the MTM prescribed curriculum. They will finalize the course development template in April and move on to the remaining materials in the MTM-CAP.
MTM Communication Subcommittee: The communication subcommittee began meeting in January. So far, the subcommittee has surveyed the landscape to understand the bachelor’s degrees offered at the participating institutions and the programs offered by the participating community colleges. They have also cataloged lower-division major coursework and major electives as a starting point to identifying the major coursework for inclusion in the course development template.
MTM meetings are public meetings, and all participating colleges are encouraged to appoint faculty to attend these meetings. Although they may not be voting members, their participation and input is welcome!
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Transfer student success stories.
Jonathan Yackley is pursuing a BS in Psychology from the University of Oregon. He holds a BA in Business Management and an AA in Restaurant Management.
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Jonathan’s story: I began my journey in Iowa at Kirkwood Community College where I earned an AA in Restaurant Management. Like a lot of young people, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after high school, but I felt pressured to go to college. Truthfully, I was tired of being in school and struggled with reading, which has always been challenging for me. School was just tiring and tedious. Eventually it was my struggle with reading that led me to consider psychology. I took a few classes at Lane Community College before transferring to the University of Oregon (UO).
Before this, I got a BA in Business Management from Columbia Southern University (an online school based in Alabama) but because it is not a regionally accredited institution, none of my credits transferred. Even so, U of O encouraged me and at present, I only need a few courses to finish my BS in Psychology.
Jonathan’s advice for students: My advice for students is to keep your eye on the prize. Getting your degree is tough, but you must go through it to get to where you want to be. I’d also like to encourage neurodivergent learners, like me. Our educational system focuses on the median point, educating students who are in the middle but if we focused more on the students on the edge of the bell curve, we’d take care of the middle and be more inclusive, reaching more students.
To nominate a student for a future Student Spotlight, contact Jane Denison-Furness at jane.denison-furness@hecc.oregon.gov
HECC’s Transfer Home webpage shares information on statewide efforts to Streamline Student Transfer, Transfer Council, Common Course Numbering, and Major Transfer Maps.
The Tools for Transfer – The Oregon Transfer Compass webpage has information for students planning to transfer, including info on for student who know their major or are looking at a transfer degree
Transfer Council’s List of CCN Courses. The approved CCN course list for 2025 has been added to the Transfer Council’s List of CCN Courses. For information on submitting a nomination for a 2025 CCN Subcommittee, see the Nomination Process document, which includes a link to the nominating form, for anyone interested in serving on a Transfer Council subcommittee.
The Transfer Council – Members and Subcommittees page contains a list of Transfer Council members, the CCN Handbook, and charges for all CCN subcommittees. Reports and Memos related to common course numbering can be found on the Educator Resources – Common Course Numbering page.
Spring 2025 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:
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Transfer Council: 3/20, 4/17, 5/15, and 6/13 (9 am to 11:30 pm, for all meetings)
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Transfer Council Subcommittee Meetings (CCN and MTMs): Please see this webpage for information on Transfer Council Subcommittee meetings.
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.
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