HB 2382-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Finds that community and technical colleges play a vital role for students obtaining baccalaureate degrees. In 2002, more than forty percent of students graduating with a baccalaureate degree had transferred from a community or technical college.

Finds that demand continues to grow for baccalaureate degrees. Increased demand comes from larger numbers of students seeking access to higher education and greater expectations from employers for the knowledge and skills needed to expand the state's economy. Community and technical colleges are an essential partner in meeting this demand.

Finds that current policies and procedures do not provide for efficient transfer of courses, credits, or prerequisites for academic majors. Furthermore, the state's public higher education system must expand its capacity to enroll transfer students in baccalaureate education.

Directs the higher education coordinating board to take a leadership role in working with the community and technical colleges and four-year institutions to ensure efficient and seamless transfer across the state.

Declares an intent to build clearer pathways to baccalaureate degrees, improve statewide coordination of transfer and articulation, and ensure long-term capacity in the state's higher education system for transfer students.

Provides that, beginning January 10, 2005, the higher education coordinating board must submit a progress report on the development of transfer associate degrees to the higher education committees of the house of representatives and the senate. The first progress report must include measurable benchmark indicators to monitor the effectiveness of the initiatives in improving transfer and baseline data for those indicators before the implementation of the initiatives.

Requires the higher education coordinating board to create a statewide system of course equivalency for public institutions of higher education, so that courses from one institution can be transferred and applied toward academic majors and degrees in the same manner as equivalent courses at the receiving institution.

Directs the higher education coordinating board to make a progress report on the development of the course equivalency system to the higher education committees of the senate and house of representatives by January 10, 2005. The report must include options and cost estimates for ongoing maintenance of the system.

Requires the higher education coordinating board to conduct a gap analysis of upper division capacity in the public higher education system to accommodate transfer students. The analysis must address the total number of enrollment slots, specific academic majors, and geographic location of demand and supply of upper division capacity.

Directs the board to examine the full range of options, including costs, to close the gap between demand and supply of upper division capacity. Options include expansion of main campuses, branch campuses, off-campus education centers, distance learning, and other strategies.

Requires the board to make a progress report by January 10, 2005, and a final report by December 10, 2006, with recommendations to the higher education committees of the senate and house of representatives for how the state should expand upper division capacity in various locations across the state.