Peter,

Thanks for your presentation on the transfer module at OSU. Most of the faculty I talked to here afterwards felt that it was a done deal, but I honestly hope that there is some room for adjustment. Personally, I think that some sort of transfer module is a good idea. However, I think that this particular proposal works at cross-purposes. The main incentive is to streamline the college education of Oregon students who transfer between institutions in these days when tuition is so expensive. This is a noble cause. However, to then decide that it has to be some pre-determined number of credits dictated by the community colleges makes no sense. If completion rates are a big issue, change the number of credits required for "completion" but do not make them part of this transfer module. To keep the credits at 45 seriously undermines the diversity of Oregon's universities. We have a 48 credit Gen ed. requirement plus a writing intensive class in the majorŅall of which we have worked very hard at developing and maintaining. At least 12 of these credits have no equivalent in the transfer module and will have to be required above the 45 C module. This means that students will actually have to take more credits, increasing their tuition paying time. My vote would be with OIT to create a leaner 36 C transfer module and allow the universities to retain their integrity without penalizing the students.

Sincerely,

Joan Gross, member of the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate
Professor of Anthropology
Oregon State University
Waldo Hall 222
jgross@orst.edu
(541) 737-3852