Prospective students will soon be able to transfer with greater ease between Southwestern Oregon Community College and the University thanks to the Dual Admission and Enrollment Program, a recently signed pact between the two institutions.
Beginning fall 2005, the pact will allow students to simultaneously enroll in Southwestern and the University. Administrators hope this will help students gain a more “seamless” higher education from Oregon schools.
The initiative joins the Oregon Transfer Module as another step the University has taken this year to bridge the gap between community and four-year colleges. The module, which was approved Feb. 3, is a 45-credit package designed to transfer easily between community colleges and the University.
Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director Martha Pitts said the University is trying to respond to Oregon students’ changing behaviors. More students are transferring between community and four-year institutions than in the past.
“We want to be responsive in a way that doesn’t put any unnecessary administrative roadblocks in the way of students seamlessly completing their college education,” Pitts said.
Pitts added that the University hopes to
duplicate the pact in agreements with other community colleges.
Chris Johnson, Oregon Coast Culinary Institute recruitment and retention specialist for Southwestern Community College, said he
approves of the program.
“I think it makes a nice smooth transition from the community college to the university level,” he said. “It offers students the opportunity to know where they’re headed. It’s easier to work through trouble and problems if you know where you’re going in the end.”
“Students are going to have the advantage of being sure of their admission to Oregon and have access to advisors,” said Mike Gaudette, dean of marketing, recruitment and college advancement for Southwestern Community College.
Sources who were familiar with the program said the pact will save students money by allowing them to take advantage of lower community college tuition rates. In addition, access to advisers on both campuses should increase the number of community college credits that students can use to satisfy requirements for a bachelor’s degree and give a students a better idea of which courses will transfer, potentially enabling students to avoid spending more time and money on higher education than is necessary.
“Students can begin to work with advisors (early on) to plan the transfer process,” Pitts said.
Johnson said a similar agreement between Oregon State University and Southwestern has been successful and allows students to focus more on studies and career aspirations.
Pitts added that the partnership with Southwestern makes sense because it increases the options available to students who want to study at the University-operated Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski commented on the pact in a press release.
“This program represents the future of Oregon’s community colleges and four-year universities,” he said in the release. “If we truly want Oregon to be a leader in innovation and technology, we must establish the kind of collaboration and partnerships exemplified through this new program across the state so that we can expand access and strengthen educational opportunities for all Oregonians.”
According to the press release, new freshmen and transfer students are eligible to apply for the Dual
Admission and Enrollment Program. Students must meet all
applicable University admission or transfer requirements. Co-enrolled students may use credits from both institutions to meet financial
aid qualifications.
“It’s a good deal all around,” Johnson said. “We’re looking forward to working with the University.”

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