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LRB-1199/P2
MDK:wlj:jf
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Boggs, BB0372 - Credit transfer policies
For 2013-2015 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Education
Higher education
Current law requires the Board of Regents of the UW System to establish policies for transferring credits between institutions within the system. The policies must designate the courses that are transferable without loss of credit toward graduation or toward completion of a specific course of study. In addition, current law allows the Board of Regents to establish policies for transferring credits with educational institutions outside the system. Current law also allows the Technical College System Board, in agreement with the Board of Regents, to designate courses that are transferable for collegiate credit between the Technical College System and the UW System.
This bill requires the Board of Regents and the Technical College System Board to enter into an agreement regarding transfer of credit for "core general education courses," which the bill defines as courses generally required for an undergraduate degree that are prerequisite or otherwise in addition to the courses required for an undergraduate degree in a specific course of study. The agreement must ensure that, beginning in the 2014-15 academic year, not fewer than 30 credits of such courses are transferable within and between each UW school and technical college. The agreement must also ensure that the courses are transferrable without loss of credit toward graduation or toward completion of a specific course of study.
In addition, the Board of Regents and the Technical College System Board must ensure that in-state tribally controlled colleges (tribal colleges) and certain private schools have an opportunity to participate in the agreement. The private schools that must be ensured the opportunity are the nonprofit institutions of higher education who are members of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (association). The bill allows, but does not does require, participation by tribal colleges and private schools. If a tribal college or private school participates, the agreement must ensure that credits for core general educational courses are transferable within and between each participating tribal college and private school, as well as UW schools and technical colleges.
The bill also requires the Board of Regents to include information about the agreement in an annual report current law requires the Board of Regents to submit to the governor and the legislature. The Technical College System Board must also submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature. Also, the bill requires the Board of Regents to include the courses in a computer-based credit transfer system that is required under current law.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 36.11 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.11 (3) (b) The Subject to s. 36.31 (2m), the board shall establish policies for the appropriate transfer of credits between institutions within the system, including the designation of those courses which shall be transferable between and within institutions without loss of credit toward graduation or toward completion of a specific course of study.
Section 2. 36.11 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.11 (3) (c) The Subject to s. 36.31 (2m), the board may establish policies for the appropriate transfer of credits with other educational institutions outside the system.
Section 3. 36.11 (3) (cm) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
36.11 (3) (cm) 5. Core general education courses that are subject to the agreement required under s. 36.31 (2m).
Section 4. 36.31 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
36.31 (2m) (a) In this subsection:
1. "Association" means the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
2. "Core general education courses" means courses generally required for an undergraduate degree that are prerequisite or otherwise in addition to the courses required for an undergraduate degree in a specific course of study.
3. "Private school" means a private, nonprofit institution of higher education that is a member of the association.
(b) Notwithstanding s. 36.09 (4), the Board of Regents and the technical college system board shall, and the governing boards of tribally controlled colleges in this state and the association, on behalf of private schools, may, enter into and implement an agreement that identifies core general education courses totaling not fewer than 30 credits and establishes policies for ensuring that, beginning in the 2014-15 academic year, credits for completing the courses are transferable, without loss of credit toward graduation or toward completion of a specific course of study, between and within each institution, college campus, and technical college, and each tribally controlled college and private school that elects to participate in the agreement.
(c) The Board of Regents and the technical college system board shall ensure that the governing bodies of tribally controlled colleges and the association, on behalf of private schools, have an opportunity to elect to participate in the agreement specified in par. (b).
Section 5. 36.65 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
36.65 (3) Core general education credit transfers. The board shall include in the report required under sub. (2) a description of the agreement entered into under s. 36.31 (2m) and a summary of the board's implementation of the agreement. This subsection first applies to the report required under sub. (2) that applies to the 2014-15 academic year.
Section 6. 38.04 (4) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
38.04 (4) (cm) The board shall enter into the agreement required under s. 36.31 (2m). The board shall submit an annual report to the governor and to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that describes the agreement entered into under s. 36.31 (2m) and a summary of the board's implementation of the agreement.
(End)