Brief Description: Improving transfer to four-year institutions of higher education.

Sponsors: Representatives Morrell, Priest, Kenney, O'Brien, Miloscia, Carrell, McCoy, Kirby, Lantz, Conway, Dickerson, Fromhold, Chase, Sullivan, Cody, Hudgins, Haigh, Schual-Berke, Clibborn, Jarrett, Ormsby, Cox, Upthegrove, Anderson, Condotta, Moeller, Rockefeller, Kagi and Tom.

Hearing Date: 1/20/04

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Background:

Each four-year, or baccalaureate, institution of higher education establishes requirements for the number of total credits and upper division credits required to complete a bachelor's degree, as well as the number of credits that must be earned at the institution granting the degree. Credit requirements can vary by major within an institution. Generally, however, Washington's public baccalaureate institutions require between 48 and 60 upper division credits for a 180 credit degree and require the final 45 credits to be taken at that institution.

Under the statewide transfer of credit policy and agreement adopted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) in 1992, students who transfer to a baccalaureate institution with 90 or more community college credits must complete at least 90 additional credits at a baccalaureate institution to earn a bachelor's degree. This requirement does not apply to students transferring credits earned at another baccalaureate institution. The result is that students can potentially transfer up to 135 credits from a baccalaureate institution that can be applied toward a bachelor's degree.

Some institutions permit community college students with more than 90 credits to apply their excess credits toward prerequisites for a major or distribution requirements, but still require students to have an additional 90 credits from a baccalaureate institution. One institution permits an exception to the 90 credit rule for students transferring to a branch campus.

Summary of Bill:

Under the statewide transfer of credit policy and agreement adopted by the HECB, four-year institutions of higher education may not treat credits earned at a community or technical college differently from credits earned at a baccalaureate institution in terms of the number of credits students may transfer or the application of credits toward a degree.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.