Transcript Slide 1

Arkansas Act 747 of 2011

AN ACT TO ENHANCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESSFUL DEGREE COMPLETION BY

• STRENGTHENING THE TRANSFER OF COURSES BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Rep. Johnnie Roebuck

[email protected]

Access to Success Recommendations

Recommendation Access to Success Page 26

1.6. Require each college and university to develop a transfer plan to increase the number of students who transfer between institutions to earn bachelor’s degrees. The plan should include a mechanism for coordinating financial aid between institutions and innovative approaches for a seamless transfer. Colleges and universities will work with ADHE to continue developing the Arkansas Course Transfer System, which should have a common course numbering system as a component.

1.7. Encourage students who have transferred to a four-year university without earning a degree to transfer back (reverse transfer) credit hours that are needed to award an associate’s degree or certificate.

Time Horizon

2011 2012 2010 2011

Bill# Bills and Other Actions

HB1357 of 2009 HB1772 of 2011 An act to create a system for fully transferable credit hours from degrees in associate of arts, associate of science, and associate of arts in teaching among public institutions of higher education An act to enhance the opportunity for successful degree completion by strengthening the transfer of courses between institutions of higher education; to expand the Roger Phillips transfer policy; to clarify which courses are prerequisite courses; to establish a statewide common course numbering system for postsecondary courses

Sponsor

M. Burris Roebuck

Bill Status

Signed as Act 182 of 2009 Signed as Act 747 of 2011

KEYS TO COLLEGE COMPLETION 1. Affordability 2. Accessibility

3. Acceptability

4. Accountability

Act 747 of 2011

AN ACT TO ENHANCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESSFUL DEGREE COMPLETION BY

• STRENGTHENING THE TRANSFER OF COURSES BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; • TO EXPAND THE ROGER PHILLIPS TRANSFER POLICY; • TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE COMMON COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM FOR POSTSECONDARY COURSES; • AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Outline - Expansion of the 2009 Law

1. Consolidates

Various Transfer Policy Statutes

2. Changes

Statewide Transfer Agreement

3. Limits

Maximum Semester Hours Required For A Degree Program

4. Requires

Common Course Numbering System

I. Consolidates into one various transfer policy statutes

a. Repeals A.C.A. § 6-61-225. Creation of a statewide comprehensive transfer policy.

b. Expands A.C.A. § 6-61-231. Statewide transfer agreement.

II. Statewide transfer agreement

a. Establishes the state minimum core curriculum, which includes 60 semester hours of lower division coursework, including: 1. 35 semester hour general education core; 2. Major program prerequisites; 3. Select elective requirements.

Continued…

Il. Statewide Transfer Agreement

b. Major baccalaureate degree programs of study included in the state minimum core curriculum.

1 . Selected by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in collaboration with state supported institutions of higher education.

2. Based on the demand for the program of study and the economic development need for students to participate in the program of study.

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Il. Statewide Transfer Agreement

c. Benefits transfer students 1. No loss of earned credits.

2. Comprehensive academic advising.

3. Automatic 'junior' status at a 4-yr institution of higher education.

d. Encourages articulation agreements for programs of study not included in the state minimum core curriculum.

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Il. Statewide Transfer Agreement

e. By July 1, 2012, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in collaboration with state supported institutions of higher education, must identify: 1. Degree programs offered at institutions of higher education, including postsecondary career education programs offered at two-year institutions of higher education; 2. Courses that satisfy the 35 hour general education core; 3. Lower-division courses that are either general education courses or required as a prerequisite for a degree; and 4. Common prerequisite courses and course substitutions for degree programs.

III. Maximum Semester Hours Required For A Degree Program

Most associate degree programs shall be no more than 60 semester hours and most baccalaureate degree programs shall be no more than 120 semester hours.

IV. Common Course Numbering System

a. Courses included in the common course numbering system 1. Developed and approved by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board in collaboration with state-supported institutions of higher education.

2. 35 hours general education core curriculum and major program prerequisites included in the state minimum core curriculum.

3. Upper-division courses are not required to be included.

b. Participation - all state-supported institutions of higher education and private institutions who opt to participate.

c. Course review on regular basis d. Full participation no later than July 1, 2013.