September 30, 2004
To: University Senate
Academic Requirements Committee
Committee on Courses
Curriculum Committees
Faculty Advisory Council
Undergraduate Council
From: Peter Gilkey, President, Interinstitutional Faculty Senate
W. Andrew Marcus, President, University Senate
Lorraine Davis, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Re: October 6, 2004 University Meeting about OUS Board Activities and the Proposed General Education Transfer Module
We are writing to urge you to attend the university Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, October 6, from 3 to 5 p.m. in room 177, Lawrence. The overall goal of the meeting is to inform the UO community about the ongoing efforts of the Oregon University System (OUS) board to revitalize higher education in Oregon. Special attention will be given to the Joint Boards Articulation Commission (JBAC) system-wide proposal for facilitating transfer of students between community colleges and OUS universities (JBAC is a commission comprised of community college and OUS institution representatives).
The JBAC proposal derives from Governor Kulongowski’s mission to strengthen higher education for all Oregonians. In his State of the State address last March, the governor remarked that, “In the past we have looked at pre-K, K through12, community colleges, four-year institutions, and workforce training as separate elements of Oregon’s educational system.” He went on to say, however, that they are not separate entities, and that we must work to create seamless transition for students between levels of education. As part of this movement to create a continuous educational experience for students, and to help students transfer smoothly from community colleges to OUS universities, the State Board of Higher Education has approved a related legislative concept to increase the successful transfer of community college students to OUS campuses through:
(1) creation of an Oregon Duel Enrollment Framework,
(2) creation of a fully transferable lower division common module of lower division courses, and
(3) creation of a fully transferable lower division set of common student educational outcomes leading into an educational major.
The Joint Boards Articulation Commission has developed a proposal to facilitate the students transferring from community colleges to OUS universities. The Commission wishes to receive comments and input from the community colleges and OUS faculties regarding this proposal, which is the primary reason for the Town Hall meeting.
Information regarding the JBAC proposal can be viewed at:
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~ifs/dir04/CvrLtrforGenEdTransfer.html
and
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~ifs/dir04/SampleTransferModuleDe.htm.
The University Senate in cooperation with the Interinstitutional Faculty Senate (IFS) and the Office of Academic Affairs is sponsoring the October 6th meeting. Similar IFS/Senate meetings are being held on all OUS campuses in anticipation of developing a plan that can be taken to the governor and legislature this coming winter. We strongly encourage you to attend this meeting because of the important role you play in overseeing course planning and university-wide curricular policy. We anticipate a University Senate vote on the finalized JBAC proposal in early winter. Members of the State Board and community college representatives are being invited to attend these campus meetings and are eager to hear your input on this topic prior to acting on the proposal.
If you would like more information about the meeting or the transfer module proposal prior to the October 6th meeting, please contact Peter Gilkey, president of the IFS, at gilkey@darkwing.uoregon.edu.