Chapter 636 Oregon Laws 2005

AN ACT

SB 342

Relating to higher education courses; and declaring an emergency.

Whereas enhancing the transition experience for students who transfer between Oregon’s community colleges and universities is a public policy matter; and

Whereas high school students who take college-level courses and advanced placement courses for college credit and who participate in early college programs comprise a significant portion of students who accumulate transferable college credits; and

Whereas students can save on the cost of tuition by taking courses at different post-secondary institutions; and

Whereas students have the right to expect the smooth transfer of appropriate college credit courses taken at eligible post-secondary institutions; and

Whereas frequent and skillful advising facilitates the transfer of students between institutions; and

Whereas Oregon community colleges and universities are committed to meeting the needs of all students, including transfer students; now, therefore,

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) Community colleges and state institutions of higher education within the Oregon University System shall cooperate in operating a statewide articulation and transfer system. The system must include the means for articulating lower-division general education credits, general elective credits and curriculum requirements for approved majors in order to allow students to transfer between community colleges and state institutions of higher education without losing credits that otherwise would be applicable toward a baccalaureate degree. The system must ensure that the post-secondary education needs of students statewide are met without unnecessary duplication of courses.

(2) In continuing to provide and improve upon an effective articulation and transfer framework for students in Oregon’s post-secondary sectors, community colleges and state institutions of higher education shall:

(a) Revise the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degree offered by community colleges;

(b) Develop specific degree pathways as deemed appropriate by state institutions of higher education and community colleges;

(c) Develop an outcome-based framework for articulation and transfer that is derived from a common understanding of the criteria for general education curricula;

(d) Develop a seamless transfer of credits for all level 100 and 200 general education courses;

(e) Implement a statewide course applicability system that permits students and advisers to query and view online credit transfer options and conduct online degree auditing;

(f) Develop uniform standards for awarding college credit for advanced placement test scores; and

(g) Expand early college programs for 11th and 12th graders who earn college credit and intend to pursue a certificate or associate or baccalaureate degree.

(3) In addition to the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, community colleges and state institutions of higher education may also implement other measures to create an effective articulation and transfer framework for students.

SECTION 2. (1) The Oregon University System and the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development shall submit a report of their progress on operating a statewide articulation and transfer system that meets statewide post-secondary education needs as required by section 1 of this 2005 Act to the Emergency Board and to the legislative interim committee on education prior to January 1, 2007, and a second progress report to the legislative interim committee on education prior to January 1, 2009. The reports shall include:

(a) A report on the progress of the Oregon Transfer Module as approved by the State Board of Higher Education and the State Board of Education; and

(b) Recommendations for statutory changes necessary to facilitate the transfer of students between post-secondary institutions.

(2) The Oregon University System and the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development shall report annually to the Joint Boards of Education on their progress on operating a statewide articulation and transfer system that meets statewide post-secondary education needs as required by section 1 of this 2005 Act.

SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this 2005 Act are repealed on January 2, 2010.

SECTION 4. This 2005 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2005 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor July 22, 2005

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 25, 2005

Effective date July 22, 2005

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