LRB-0759/P2
MDK:vne&jld
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Krall, BB0089 - 3-year bachelor degree program statements
For 2017-2019 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Education
Higher education
This bill requires each university in the UW System to submit statements to the Board of Regents of the UW System regarding how students may complete majors for baccalaureate degrees within three academic years. The chronology of the statements must begin with the fall semester of a student's first academic year. By January 1, 2018, the bill requires a university to submit statements for at least 10 percent of the baccalaureate degree programs offered by the university. By June 30, 2020, the bill requires a university to submit statements for at least 60 percent of such programs.
The bill allows the statements to include the following methods for contributing to earning a baccalaureate degree in three academic years: advanced placement credit; international baccalaureate program credit; completing course work during summer sessions; and earning postsecondary credit under the course or youth options programs under current law. The statements may also include satisfying degree and credit-hour requirements by completing courses that are widely available at technical colleges or through online programs offered by the UW System or private nonprofit institutions of higher education. In addition, the statements may include waiving foreign language degree requirements based on a proficiency examination specified by the university. The statements may also include any other method specified by the university.
Upon submitting a statement to the Board of Regents, the bill requires a university to post the statement on the university's Internet site. When the Board of Regents receives a statement, the Board of Regents must provide copies to the state superintendent of public instruction, who in turn must distribute copies to the following entities: school boards that operate high school grades; operators of charter schools that operate high school grades; and governing bodies of private high schools that participate in the parental choice or special needs scholarship programs under current law. The bill requires those entities to make the copies available to high school principals, guidance counselors, or equivalent positions.
Finally, the bill requires the Board of Regents and UW-Madison chancellor to include information about baccalaureate degrees awarded within three academic years in annual accountability reports that must be submitted to the governor and legislature under current law. The information required is the following: 1) the number of baccalaureate degrees awarded that were completed within three academic years; and 2) the percentage of baccalaureate degree programs for which statements were submitted to the Board of Regents under the bill.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section
1. 36.25 (1) of the statutes is created to read:
36.25 (1) Three-year baccalaureate degrees. (a) Subject to par. (b), each university shall submit to the board and post on the university's Internet site a statement describing how each major for which the university offers a baccalaureate degree may be completed within 3 academic years. The chronology of the statement shall begin with the fall semester of a student's first year of the baccalaureate program. The statement may include any of the following methods for contributing to earning a baccalaureate degree in 3 academic years:
1. Advanced placement credit.
2. International baccalaureate program credit.
3. Satisfaction of degree and credit-hour requirements by completing courses that are widely available at technical colleges or through online programs offered by institutions or private nonprofit institutions of higher education.
4. Postsecondary credit under s. 118.52 or 118.55.
5. Completion of course work during summer sessions.
6. Waiver of foreign language degree requirements based on a proficiency examination specified by the university.
7. Any other method specified by the university.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2018, each university shall submit statements under par. (a) for at least 10 percent of all baccalaureate degree programs offered by the university. Not later than June 30, 2020, each university shall submit statements under par. (a) for at least 60 percent of all baccalaureate degree programs offered by the university.
(c) Upon receipt of statements submitted under par. (a), the board shall provide copies to the state superintendent of public instruction, who shall distribute copies to school boards that operate high school grades, operators of charter schools under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) that operate high school grades, and governing bodies of private schools that operate high school grades and that participate in a program under s. 115.7915, 118.60, or 119.23, who shall make the copies available to high school principals, guidance counselors, or equivalent positions.
(d) Nothing in this subsection requires a university to take any action that would violate the requirements of any independent association accrediting baccalaureate degree programs.
Section
2. 36.65 (2) (de) of the statutes is created to read:
36.65 (2) (de) Three-year baccalaureate degrees. The number of baccalaureate degrees awarded that were completed within 3 academic years and the percentage of baccalaureate degree programs for which statements were submitted under s. 36.25 (1) (a).
****Note: This is reconciled s. 36.65 (2) (de). This Section has been affected by drafts with the following LRB numbers: -0759/P1 and -1218/P2.
(End)
