Transfer Orientation
Transfer Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (TSOAR)
TSOAR 2020 UPDATE
All registration and orientation has gone remote. Below you will find many helpful videos and information about certain departments. In addition, please follow these steps in order to get started at Western Oregon University.
- Join the WOU Network: We have partnered with a company that is helping us with our online orientation. You should have received an email with information on how to join, but if you have not received this, please contact David Compton (comptond@wou.edu).
- Once you are in the WOU Network, explore and be sure to join the “All Things Transfer” community. You will find it to be very helpful in your transition to WOU.
- If you haven’t registered for classes for this fall just yet, you can still do so. Please follow these instructions to get started:
-Set up your WOU Portal at www.wou.edu/portal.
-After logging into your Portal, click on the following link to go through the Transfer Orientation Modules. They will be your guide in how to register for classes: https://moodle.wou.edu/user/view.php?id=3928&course=10105 - Connect with your advisor and register for classes. Within your modules you will find contact information for advisors depending on your major. Connect with them to find the classes you will need fall term. As part of the modules you will also find instructions on how to physically register for classes.
- Advising and course registration support events for new students are scheduled on July 29 and August 26. Advisors will be available via Zoom to answer your questions and assist you with registering for fall term courses. If you wish to participate in one of the events, please register at https://wouug.
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Please contact us if you have questions. 503-838-8211 or wolfgram@wou.edu.
Information on demand
IMPORTANT: TSOAR Orientation Modules
Step 1
Step 2
Contact for questions: Niki Weight
President’s Welcome
Contact for questions: President’s Office | president@wou.edu
One Student’s Journey to WOU
PLUS Team: Out of State Student Panel
Contact for questions: Megan Habermann-Guthrie | habermam@wou.edu | 503-838-8659
PLUS Team: Students of Color Panel
Contact for questions: Megan Habermann-Guthrie | habermam@wou.edu | 503-838-8659
PLUS Team: Transfer Student Panel
Contact for questions: Megan Habermann-Guthrie | habermam@wou.edu | 503-838-8659
Hamersly Library Informational Video
Contact for questions: Hamersly Library | libweb@wou.edu | 503-838-8418
Child Development Center
Contact for questions: Tammy Gardner | gardnert@wou.edu | 503-838-8238
Student Success and Advising Presentation
Contact for questions: Student Success and Advising | advising@wou.edu | 503-838-8428
Business Office and How to Pay
Contact for questions: Business Office | businessoffice@wou.edu
Criminal Justice Overview
Contact for questions: Criminal Justice Office | criminaljustice@wou.edu | (503)838-8733
Financial Aid Presentation
Contact for questions: Financial Aid Office | finaid@wou.edu | 503-838-8475
Office of Disability Services Presentation
Contact for questions: Office of Disability Services | ods@wou.edu | 503-838-8250
(Google Hangout Available, please email ODS)
AAOT vs Non-AAOT Presentation
Contact for questions: Dr. Kristin Mauro | maurok@wou.edu | 503-838-8732
Housing Presentation
Contact for questions: Housing Office | housing@wou.edu | 503-838-8311
Student Enrichment Program (SEP/TRIO)
Contact for questions: Marshall Guthrie-Habermann | gurthriem@wou.edu | 503-838-8168
Housing Tour
Contact for questions: Housing Office | housing@wou.edu | 503-838-8311
Multicultural Student Services and Programs
Contact for questions: MSSP | mssp@wou.edu | 503-838-8737
Service Learning and Career Development
Contact for questions: Service Learning and Career Development | slcd@wou.edu | 503-838-8432
Non-Traditional Student Panel
Contact for questions: Chelsee Blatner | blatnerc@wou.edu | 503-838-8647
Campus Recreation
Contact for questions: Campus Recreation | hwc@wou.edu | 503-838-9530
Live Events
Student ID Cards
By appointment between May 5 and May 22
Contact for questions: Werner University Center Information Desk | seoofc@wou.edu | 503-838-8261
* You will have the option to have your ID card mailed to you, or you can wait to pick it up from the Werner University Center in the fall.
** Photo must be similar to a passport photo.
Three ways to access*:
- Schedule a Zoom appointment through Calendly.
- Email seoofc@wou.edu for instructions on how to send in your own photo.**
- Wait until you are on campus in the fall.
Curious about placement into math, biology, writing or language courses? Please visit our FAQs and scroll down to the placement tests section.
Transfer students admitted for terms other than fall should contact their academic adviser and register for classes according to the academic calendar rather than attending TSOAR.
For more information, contact Admissions at 503-838-8211 or 877-877-1593, option 1.
Placement tests during TSOAR
Placement for Math courses
All WOU students are required to complete a foundational skills level mathematics course (MTH 105, MTH 110, MTH 111, MTH 112, both MTH 211 and MTH 212, or above). Please consult your major program requirements, an advisor or Dr. Matthew Ciancetta, Mathematics Department Head, at ciancetm@wou.edu for assistance selecting a course. Students who wish to register for a math course can use their AP/IB math score, CLEP credit, or prior college credit for initial placement purposes.
Students without these forms of credit must complete the ALEKS Math Assessment online through the WOU Portal prior to SOAR. We recommend visiting wou.edu/math/aleks to prepare for the ALEKS Math Assessment. If the link for ALEKS is not available under the “My Programs” menu in your Portal, please contact Sharon Price in the Mathematics Office at pricesl@wou.edu or phone (503) 838-8465. Alternatively, students may show competency by scoring 61 or higher on the ALEKS Math Assessment, earned in a proctored and timed testing environment (see www.wou.edu/math/aleks/ for more information).
Placement for French, German or Spanish courses
Studying a language is required for certain majors as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees. One key to success in a language is to enroll in the class that matches your skill level. If you are new to the language, enroll in the first-year, 101 level. If you averaged a grade of “B” or better in two years of high school language, you may be able to enroll in the second-year series beginning with 201. If you averaged a “B” or better in four years of a high school language, you may already have met the language requirement for the major and the Bachelor of Arts Degree.
Students who wish to register for a language course can use their AP/IB language score, CLEP credit or previous college credit for initial placement purposes. Students without these must complete a language placement test before SOAR if they would like to enroll in a 102-level course or above. Placement tests are available at the links below.
French: wou.edu/french/placement-test
German: wou.edu/german/proficiencies/german-placement
Spanish: wou.edu/spanish/placement
Placement for American Sign Language courses
Transfer students with prior college credit for ASL will conduct an online evaluation with our faculty before registering for courses.
Faculty will conduct evaluations for course placement at the June 27, July 17, and August 27 SOAR programs. If you have not completed high school or college level ASL courses, an evaluation is not necessary. In the event our SOAR programs are delivered online than in-person due to COVID-19, evaluations will be conducted online.
Placement for Writing courses
All WOU students are required to complete WR 121 and WR 122. Most students begin with and will be placed into WR 121. Students can use their ACT/SAT scores, AP/IB English Language score, Smarter Balanced score, Essential Skills score, CLEP credit, or prior college credit for placement purposes. Placement information can be found: wou.edu/english/first-year-
Placement for Biology courses
Placement into Biology 211 is required for students majoring in these fields:
- Biology
- Certain pre-professional health science areas (Dental Hygiene, Dentistry, Medicine, Clinical Lab Science, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physician Assistant or Veterinary Medicine)
- Certain chemistry concentrations (environmental, forensic or medicinal/pharmacology)
- Certain Teacher Education programs with a middle level/high school authorization (biology, chemistry or integrated science)
Students in these majors can use their ALEKS math placement score, SAT/ACT math section score, AP/IB Biology score, previous Biology 102 college credit (B grade or higher), or previous Math 111 college credit (C grade or higher) for placement purposes.
Students in all other majors, including Pre-Nursing and Exercise Science, do not require placement into Biology 211.