Hello Peter: Here are my comments on the pros/cons of the proposed transfer module:

PROS:

• The module will buy time in terms of preventing a rushed statewide common core (but all institutions still need to rethink their liberal arts cores)
• First year students will have a good, transferable core that will alleviate many of the problems attributed to swirl (but other students will be subject to the same, familiar problems; see below).

CONS:

• There is the entire unresolved issue of credits vs. courses.
• The module does not account for the many transfer students we get from out-of-state; those students' needs are not considered.
• The module seems to work only for students who are new admits; ie. just beginning their college education. If students already have a pile of courses under their belts, the module doesn't really provide them an advantage.
• Once students come to WOU (particularly new freshman), they must decide between two common cores -- the transfer module and our own Liberal Arts Core. If they select the transfer module, they've taken too many courses, if they select our WOU's Lib Arts Core and then decide to transfer, they've taken too few courses.
• Prerequistes are an issue, as you know from your experience. We would accept Math 111 (college algebra) but not math 095 or 099.
• It penalizes undecided students, whom I believe are probably the largest group of students who swirl.

I appreciate your efforts to find a solution to this complex problem. Thanks for taking charge.

Kristina
Dr. Kristina D. Frankenberger
Western Oregon University
Division of Business & Economics
345 N. Monmouth Avenue
Monmouth, OR 97361