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Welcome to the April Transfer Hub newsletter. This issue focuses on updates to the Core Transfer Map (CTM), which will soon guarantee completion of all lower-division general education (GE) requirements at public institutions.
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Established in 2021, the Transfer Council advises 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. For more on this, see the About Oregon’s Statewide Work to Streamline Student Transfer webpage.
At the February Transfer Council meeting, Director of Transfer Initiatives Leigh Graziano reported on the HECC Commission’s declaration of a lack of timely progress on the three Communication CCN Articulation Policies (CCNAPs) for COM/COMM courses aligned in 2025. As a result, OAR 715-025-0085 requires the Executive Director or their designee to initiate a 90-day period for reviewing course materials and consulting with CAOs and Provosts. The Council will consider the CCNAPs at their May meeting. Next, Klamath Community College submitted a modification request for an exception for military courses that are part of the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) program for military students. The Council approved the exception which will allow the college to continue to offer 5-credit courses that are similar, but distinct from CCN courses.
In March, the Council approved Oregon Institute of Technology’s request to update the crosswalk for the Business Major Transfer Map (MTM) Curriculum Articulation Policy (CAP); the changes were classified non-substantive. The Council also approved the University of Oregon’s request to update the crosswalk for the Psychology MTM-CAP, similarly determining the revisions to be non-substantive. Council Cochair Plotkin led discussion about the Commission’s January General Education charge. The Council agreed to recommend a revised General Education block of 30-36 lower-division credits and, for institutions requiring upper-division coursework, no more than 15 upper-division credits. The Council approved a memo to the Commission reflecting these recommendations.
At the April meeting, the Council received the Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s response to its March memo. The Council approved the Transfer General Education Faculty Subcommittee Charge to oversee updates to the CTM, starting in June. Nominations for this subcommittee can be submitted using this form. They also approved a workplan for Non-curricular Subcommittees (Gen Ed, Outcomes Assessment, Systems and Operations). Finally, the Council received and discussed information regarding a proposed Audit OAR Subcommittee. More information on this work can be found in the Draft Audit Subcommittee Project Request form. Nominations for this subcommittee can be submitted using this form.
General education (GE) requirements, categories, and required credits for GE completion are misaligned across community colleges and public universities in Oregon. As a result, transfer students can be required to complete multiple GE programs and requirements to obtain a BA/BS degree. Additionally, most students are unable to complete their GE requirements before transferring to a public university in Oregon, even with an associate degree. Current GE curricula at Oregon Public Universities (OPUs) range from 39 to 70 credits. A typical BA/BS degree is 180 credits. Importantly, research demonstrates that the nationwide average for GE credits is trending downward, at ~42 credits (Henschel et al., 2018; Balch & Zürcher, 1999).
Current transfer tools (e.g., CTM, OTM) only provide partial GE completion and to date, most community colleges do not transcript them, which makes it impossible for OPUs to recognize their completion. In 2009, the Joint Boards' Articulation Committee (JBAC) created general education outcomes and criteria for community colleges in Oregon. This guidance is rarely used and dated. In response, the HECC charged the Transfer Council with updating the CTM and JBAC Outcomes. The new yet-to-be-named transfer block will consist of 30-36 lower-division credits and will guarantee that community college students who complete the block will not be required to take any additional lower-division GE coursework after transfer. Future policy will also reflect that transfer students may be required to complete no more than 15 upper-division GE credits after transfer to complete existing upper-division GE requirements (this will only apply to public universities with distinct upper-division GE requirements).
Nominations are now open for faculty interested in serving on the Transfer General Education Faculty Subcommittee charged with updating the CTM. Nominees must be full-time faculty (FTE) with expertise in general education and curricular reform, familiarity with statewide transfer initiatives, and strong collaborative leadership and problem-solving skills.
The work will be conducted in two phases:
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June through September 11, 2026: develop the framework for the updated CTM (12 weeks; meeting 2 hours/week).
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October 5 through November 20, 2026: public feedback period on the framework, to be collected and reviewed by the subcommittee.
The HECC has approved stipends for faculty on the subcommittee at the rate of $6,000/faculty member.* More information on the stipends will be available soon. Please contact your CAO or Provost if you are interested, and submit nominations using this form by May 1, 2026.
Questions about the subcommittee can be directed to the HECC facilitator for this work, Jane Denison-Furness at jane.denison-furness@hecc.oregon.gov
*Stipends are eligible for tax withholdings
Common Course Numbering Subcommittees
CCN Anthropology Subcommittee, from Chair Amy Harper (COCC): The subcommittee is currently working on identifying course numbers for all three introductory courses in anthropology. They are also reviewing a draft of the course description for Introduction to Cultural Anthropology and have agreed on subject codes, course title, and course credits for Cultural Anthropology.
CCN Art Subcommittee, from Chair Venus Nguyen (COCC): The subcommittee is currently working on alignment for the 2D Design course. So far, they have aligned the following: subject code, course number, course description, and are working on course learning outcomes. Next up: the alignment of 3D design, which will be patterned after information aligned for 2D Design.
CCN History Subcommittee, from Co-Chairs Niki Theis-Coulter (RCC) and Mason Tattersall (OSU): The subcommittee is working to align the Western Civ. sequence. They have voted on the course subject code and course titles and drafted course descriptions for each course, which will be voted on before moving to discuss course numbers, learning outcomes, and credits.
CCN Political Science, from Chair Dustin Ellis (EOU): The subcommittee has aligned the course elements for International Relations and US Government and are now working on Modern World Government/Comparative Politics.
CCN Spanish, from Cochairs Rachel Knighten (LCC) and Patricia Gimenez (WOU): The subcommittee is working to align three courses in the "second year" (intermediate) Spanish sequence. So far the subcommittee has aligned course numbers, subject code, course titles, and course credits for all three courses.
Non-curricular Subcommittees
General Education, Cochairs Amanda Haight (MHCC) and Erin Bird (OSU). This subcommittee has not been regularly meeting this year and is waiting for an assignment from the Transfer Council.
Outcomes and Assessment, from Cochairs Kristin Nagy Catz (OSU) and Ann Cary (PCC): The subcommittee is supporting all of the CCN subcommittees as they write their learning outcomes and has created program learning outcome assessment materials to assist Major Transfer Map (MTM) subcommittees.
Systems and Operations, Cochairs Amy Clark (WOU) and Elizabeth Bay (Chemeketa). This subcommittee has not met this year and is waiting for an assignment from the Transfer Council.
MTM Subcommittees
The Commission is assessing the timeline for launching the next round of MTM development, which is expected to begin later than usual or on a slightly adjusted schedule.
MTMs and CCN have consolidated their timeline by providing approximate dates for their work, based on milestones. For more information, see the timeline on the Transfer Council Subcommittee Calendar webpage.
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 for those who know their major or are looking at a transfer degree.
The Transfer Council – Members and Subcommittees webpage contains a list of Transfer Council members, a list of CCN Subcommittee Members for 2026, the CCN Handbook, the MTM Faculty Handbook, and charges for all Transfer Council subcommittees.
Additional educator resources for creating MTM advising guides for students can be found on the Major Transfer Maps webpage under Communication Tools.
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