In 2000, the Oregon University System (OUS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) began to collaborate on a system to transfer student information electronically from K-12 schools to Oregon’s 17 community colleges and seven public universities.

The notion of an Integrated Data Transfer System (IDTS) gained momentum in December 2002, when the State Board of Education mandated that all Oregon high school students develop an education plan and profile as part of their graduation requirements. Electronic transcripts are able to include “plan and profile” elements and other proficiency information that paper transcripts cannot, so colleges receive a more-complete record of students’ preparation for college. Sending transcripts electronically instead of through the mail makes the transfer faster, more secure, and more reliable.

In 2005, the legislature funded IDTS to create a pipeline that would connect the state’s three education sectors: K-12, community colleges, and OUS. IDTS is not a new statewide data system, but rather a “translator” mechanism that allows schools and colleges to communicate with each other’s existing systems.

Staff from the three sectors began by testing a proof-of-concept transfer prototype built on existing Student Information Systems and the Oregon Student Record. Additional stakeholders in the data-transfer process include university admissions offices and IT managers for Education Services Districts and school districts around the state.

IDTS offers benefits to four groups across the state:

Students benefit from having a detailed record of their high school accomplishments and college preparation, providing a standardized transcript to post-secondary institutions.

Admissions offices and registrars benefit from the Secure Student Identifier, or SSID, which provides a unique identifier for each student and ensures greater efficiency and accuracy when processing applications.

High school teachers, counselors, and administrators benefit from more efficient processes for sending and tracking transcripts.  They also benefit from receiving the detailed annual performance reports about how their graduates are faring in Oregon’s public post-secondary institutions.

OUS and community colleges will, as the system becomes more widely used, benefit from a more comprehensive set of student preparation information, which should allow for more accurate placement and advising.