In an effort to assist Oregon community college students to successfully transition to a four-year college or university, Oregon’s community colleges and four-year universities collaborate each year on a state-wide tour to all seventeen Oregon community colleges. Community college students across the state are welcomed and encouraged to join in these fun, informative events, whether they are actively planning to transfer, or just starting to consider their four-year degree opportunities. First launched by a coalition of admissions professionals in 2007, the annual Oregon Transfer Days outreach tour brings admissions and recruitment professionals from Oregon’s seven public universities, private and out-of-state colleges to all 17 Oregon community colleges to help students understand and prepare for the next step in their college careers. Students will have the opportunity to meet with college and university representatives, and will learn more about each campus’s offerings, admissions requirements, choosing courses wisely, navigating college costs and financial aid, and tools to make their transition as seamless as possible. Oregon Transfer Days is a successful partnership effort among many diverse public and private colleges and universities, who share a common goal of helping students to succeed in the exciting transition to four year colleges and universities. Thousands of students each year make the transition from a community college to a 4-year college or university, and planning ahead helps students to find the right fit in a college program and to transfer credits effectively, saving money and time. At Oregon’s public universities alone, the numbers of community college students transferring increased significantly by 70% percent in the last ten years, from 4,159 in 2001-02 to 7,065 in 2011-12. The increase can be attributed to numerous factors and new partnerships, including co-enrollment and articulation agreements between community colleges and universities; new options such as the Oregon Transfer Module, which enable students to ensure that their credits will apply at a 4-year institution; and a greater recognition that having a 4-year degree provides additional opportunities in the job market. The Oregon Transfer Days tour is scheduled to begin January 13th and will conclude on February 20th, with most events held from 10:00 am -1:00 pm on community college campuses. The tour is administered by a task force of Oregon Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (ORACRO). More information can be found at http://oracrao.org/oregon-transfer-days/ or by contacting coordinator Seana Barry at sbarry@cocc.edu.
