Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Transferring Credits for College Completion Act of 2014”.
Transferring Credits for College Completion Act of 2014
A BILL
To increase transparency and reduce students’ burdens related to transferring credits between institutions of higher education.
Sec. 2 Data reporting requirements
Transfer completion data— Section 132(i)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a(i)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(AA) The percentages of degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who have transferred from another institution and who obtain a degree or certificate within—
“(i) the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program (including the time spent as a degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate student at any other institution);
“(ii) 150 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program (including the time spent as a degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate student at any other institution); and
“(iii) 200 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the students program (including the time spent as a degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate student at any other institution).”
Effective date— This section shall take effect one year after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 3 Articulation agreements
Transfer of credit policies— Section 485(h) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(h)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
by striking “Each institution of higher education” and inserting the following:
“(A) Private institutions—Each institution of higher education that is not described in subparagraph (B) and that is”
by redesigning subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(B) Public institutions—Each public institution of higher education participating in any program under this title shall—
“(i) not later than July 1, 2017, publicly disclose on a central location, and in a readable and comprehensible manner, on the website of such institution—
“(I) a list of the public institutions of higher education that hold an articulation agreement in common with the institution;
“(II) a list of the courses in the common general education core curriculum of such public institutions of higher education; and
“(III) a description of each associate degree program at a public institution of higher education in the State that is acceptable in transfer and will provide credit toward the first 2 years of a related baccalaureate program at a public institution of higher education in such State, including each such associate degree program that is fully acceptable in transfer and will be credited as the first 2 years of a baccalaureate program; and
“(ii) to the extent practicable, in each electronic and printed publication of the institution’s course schedule published on or after July 1, 2017, in a manner of the institution’s choosing, for each course or program of study listed in the institution’s course schedule, whether such course or program of study is part of the common general education core curriculum at the institution and transferable for credit toward the completion of a degree at any public institution of higher education listed under clause (i)(I).
“(C) Definitions—For purposes of subparagraph (B), the terms articulation agreement and common general education core curriculum have the meanings given such terms in paragraph (2).”
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting following:
“(2) Articulation agreements—Except as provided in paragraph (3), each public institution of higher education participating in any program under this title shall, not later than July 1, 2017, enter into an articulation agreement (as defined in section 486A(a)) held in common with the other public institutions of higher education that are in the State in which the institution is located and that are participating in any such program. Such articulation agreement shall, at a minimum, include the following:
“(A) A common general education core curriculum consisting of not less than 30 credit hours or the equivalent coursework, which are fully acceptable in transfer at any such public institution of higher education in the State toward meeting specific degree or certificate requirements.
“(B) Common course numbering for substantially similar courses in such common general education core curriculum.
“(C) A guarantee that an associate degree in an academic major in the arts or sciences that is awarded by a public institution of higher education in the State on or after July 1, 2017, shall be fully acceptable in transfer and credited as the first 2 years of a related baccalaureate program at a public institution of higher education in such State.
“(3) Exception for Tribal Colleges and Universities—A Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316) shall not be required to enter into or otherwise participate in an articulation agreement required under paragraph (2).
“(4) Rule of construction—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to—
“(A) except as provided in paragraph (2), authorize the Secretary or the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity to require particular policies, procedures, or practices by institutions of higher education with respect to transfer of credit;
“(B) authorize an officer or employee of the Department to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any institution of higher education, or over any accrediting agency or association;
“(C) limit the application of the General Education Provisions Act;
“(D) require an institution of higher education to accept or enroll a student; or
“(E) create any legally enforceable right, including with respect to a guarantee under paragraph (2)(C), on the part of a student to require an institution of higher education to accept the student for enrollment or to accept a transfer of credit from another institution.”
Articulation agreements— Section 486A(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1093a(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
by inserting “that meet the requirements of section 485(h)(2)” after “comprehensive articulation agreements”;
by inserting “comprehensive articulation agreements” after “practicable)”;
by striking “2010” and inserting “2017”; and
by striking the third sentence, including subparagraphs (A) through (D); and
in paragraph (2), by inserting before the period at the end the following: “and section 485(h)(2)”.