Arkansas Act 747 of 2011AN ACT TO ENHANCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESSFUL DEGREE COMPLETION BY •STRENGTHENING THE TRANSFER OF COURSES BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Rep. Johnnie Roebuckjohnnie.roebuck@arkansashouse.org

Access to Success RecommendationsRecommendation

Access to Success Page 26Time

Horizon Bill# Bills and Other Actions Sponsor Bill Status

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.

2011-2012

HB1357 of 2009

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

M. Burris Signed as Act 182 of 2009

HB1772 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 clarify which courses are prerequisite courses; to establish a statewide common course numbering system for postsecondary courses

Roebuck Signed as Act 747 of 2011

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.

2010-2011

KEYS TO COLLEGE COMPLETION

1. Affordability

2. Accessibility

3. Acceptability4. Accountability

Act 747 of 2011AN 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 various transfer policy statutes into one

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.

Changes!

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.

Continued…

Il. Statewide Transfer AgreementChanges!

c. Benefits transfer students1. 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.

Continued…

Il. Statewide Transfer AgreementChanges!

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; and4. Common prerequisite courses and course

substitutions for degree programs.

Continued…

Il. Statewide Transfer Agreement Changes!

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.

New Statute!

IV. Common Course Numbering System

a. Courses included in the common course numbering system1. 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.

New Statute!