Hello:

I understand that circumstances will force some students to change higher education institutions during their education, and that this can occur in all directions between two and four year institutions. For students in such circumstances, the transition between institutions should be as easy as possible. In addition, students moving from two to four year colleges should be fully informed as to how the courses they will take will satisfy the various requirements at the different institutions within the state. To the extent that the GE Transfer Module helps in this regard, I am in favor of it.

However, in favoring such a proposal, I want to be clear that this does not implicitly imply that such transfers are in the student's best educational interest. It is in the student's best interest to take as many courses as possible at one institution, particularly courses within their major, but there is also value in taking general education (GE) courses at a single school. Each institution chooses a set of GE courses to accomplish an educational mission. In the case of the UO, the courses are chosen in large part to deliver a traditional liberal arts education. Exposure to the entire set of courses has synergistic effects not necessarily present with a more piecemeal approach with GE courses taken at a variety of higher education institutions.

Thus, while we should certainly facilitate transfers for students who have no other choice, we should be clear that students are best served by taking as many courses as possible at a single institution.

Thank you,

Mark Thoma
Department of Economics
Member of the Undergraduate Council
University of Oregon