Bill Text: NJ S3178 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish academic credit and reverse credit transfer standards; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within Office of Secretary of Higher Education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee [S3178 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S3178-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish academic credit and reverse credit transfer standards; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within Office of Secretary of Higher Education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning academic credit transfer at public institutions of higher education, amending P.L.2007, c.175, P.L.2017, c.130, and P.L.2005, c.359, and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46) is amended to read as follows:
1. [Each public institution of higher education] The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the [New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and the] New Jersey Presidents' Council, shall establish [and enter into a collective] standards for the Statewide transfer [agreement that provides for the seamless transfer] of academic credits [to a baccalaureate degree program from a completed associate of arts degree program, a completed associate of science degree program, or a completed associate in applied science in technical studies degree program which has credits transferred by the NJ PLACE program from apprenticeship programs] between all public institutions of higher education in the State. The transfer [agreement] standards shall be applicable to all public institutions of higher education and shall include:
a. a listing of the general education [core] courses [as stipulated by] compiled by the secretary in consultation with the Presidents' Council;
b. policies and procedures for the [seamless]
(1) transfer and application of academic credits for general education courses between public institutions of higher education that ensure that credits for general education courses are fully transferable and applicable across all public institutions of higher education; and
(2) transfer and application of academic credits to a baccalaureate degree program from a completed associate degree program[, including a guarantee] that ensure that an associate [of arts] degree[, associate of science degree, or associate in applied science in technical studies degree which has credits transferred by the NJ PLACE program from apprenticeship programs,] awarded by a county college established pursuant to chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes shall be fully transferable and credited as the first two years of a baccalaureate degree program at the four-year public institution of higher education in the State to which a student is admitted;
c. policies and procedures for the [implementation of an appeals process for students and institutions to resolve disputes regarding the transfer of academic credits] New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman established pursuant to section 8 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to utilize in facilitating the resolution of credit transfer disputes between students and public institutions of higher education;
d. [policies and procedures for the annual review and update of the agreement; and] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
e. policies and procedures for the collection of data by the [commission] secretary to be utilized by the ombudsman to ensure that all [participating] public institutions of higher education are in compliance with the provisions of [this act] P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46 et seq.), as amended and supplemented and to ensure that the [agreement is] standards are fostering [both a seamless]the transfer process and the academic success of transfer students at the [senior] receiving institutions. The [commission] secretary shall annually determine the data to be collected and shall notify each [participating] public institution in a timely manner; and
f. policies and procedures for the transfer and application of academic credits earned through participation in dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment.
[The policies and procedures set forth in the transfer agreement shall be fully operational by September 1, 2008, except that, with respect to associate in applied science in technical studies degree programs which have credits transferred by the NJ PLACE program from apprenticeship programs, the transfer agreement shall be fully operational by September 1, 2011.]
As used in this section, "general education" means instruction that presents forms of expression, fields of knowledge, and methods of inquiry fundamental to intellectual growth and to a mature understanding of the world and the human condition, as distinguished from "specialized education," which prepares individuals for particular occupations or specific professional responsibilities.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.200, s.2)
2. Section 1 of P.L.2017, c.130 (C. 18A:62-46.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. [Each institution of higher education, in consultation with the] The Secretary of Higher Education [and] , in consultation with the New Jersey Presidents' Council, shall establish [and enter into a collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement] standards for reverse transfer. Under the [agreement] standards, a student enrolled in a four-year institution of higher education who has a cumulative total of 66 credits earned between a county college established pursuant to chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and the four-year institution may be awarded an associate degree by the county college. The reverse transfer [agreement] standards shall address the following:
(1) the effective communication between the county college and the four-year institution on student transcripts and course equivalencies;
(2) the process by which a student is notified of potential eligibility, and by which the four-year institution obtains the consent of the student for release of his transcript to the county college;
(3) procedures for advising students on the courses that a student needs to complete to attain an associate degree;
(4) [policies and procedures for the annual review and update of the agreement; and] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
(5) policies and procedures for the collection of data by the secretary to ensure that all institutions are in compliance with this section. The secretary shall annually determine the data to be collected and shall notify each institution in a timely manner.
b. [The policies and procedures set forth in the collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement shall be fully operational by September 1, 2018.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
c. (1) The annual report prepared by the Secretary of Higher Education pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-49) shall include an analysis of each institution's compliance with the provisions of this section.
(2) [In the first annual report issued after the effective date of this act, the secretary shall identify the institutions that have entered into a reverse transfer agreement prior to that effective date, and the institutions that enter into an agreement on or after that effective date.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
(cf: P.L.2017, c.130, s.1)
3. Section 2 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-47) is amended to read as follows:
2. [On or before January 1, 2008, each] Each public institution of higher education shall, in consultation with the [Commission on] Secretary of Higher Education and the Presidents' Council, develop and adopt [as part of the collective Statewide transfer agreement], in accordance with the standards established pursuant to section 1 of [this act] P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46), as amended and supplemented, policies and procedures for the transfer of credits earned by a student who has not completed [his] an associate degree program prior to transferring into a baccalaureate degree program[, except that, with respect to associate in applied science in technical studies degree programs which have credits transferred by the NJ PLACE program from apprenticeship programs, those policies and procedures shall be developed and adopted on or before January 1, 2011].
(cf: P.L.2009, c.200, s.3)
4. Section 3 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-48) is amended to read as follows:
3. An independent institution of higher education in the State may elect to [enter into the agreement] adopt policies and procedures in accordance with the standards established by the Secretary of Higher Education pursuant to P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46 et seq.), as amended and supplemented.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.175, s.3)
5. Section 4 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-49) is amended to read as follows:
4. The [Commission on Higher Education] New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman shall prepare an annual report for the Secretary of Higher Education containing a compilation of the data collected pursuant to subsection e. of section 1 of [this act] P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46), as amended and supplemented, an analysis of the effect of the [agreement] standards on the transfer process and on the academic success of transfer students at the senior institutions, and an analysis of each [participating] public institution's compliance with the provisions of [this act] P.L.2007, c.175, as amended and supplemented. The [commission] secretary shall annually submit the report to the [Legislature and the] Governor [by November 15th of each year] , and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).
(cf: P.L.2007, c.175, s.4)
6. Section 5 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-50) is amended to read as follows:
5. The cooperation of each public institution of higher education in abiding by the [terms of the agreement] standards shall be reviewed and considered by the Governor and the Legislature when making the annual appropriation for the institution.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.175, s.5)
7. Section 5 of P.L.2005, c.359 (C.18A:71B-86.5) is amended to read as follows:
5. The policies and procedures set forth in the [Statewide transfer agreement] credit transfer standards established pursuant to P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, shall govern the transfer of academic credits awarded by a county college to an NJ STARS student who subsequently enrolls in a four-year public institution of higher education and is participating in the NJ STARS II Program at the institution.
(cf: P.L.2008, c.124, s.7)
8. (New section) a. The position of New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman shall be established within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The purpose of the ombudsman shall be to facilitate the resolution of disputes between students and public institutions of higher education regarding the institution's compliance with the credit transfer standards established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46), as amended and supplemented, in order to foster the transfer process and the academic success of transfer students.
b. The ombudsman shall be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office.
c. The ombudsman shall organize and direct the work of the office, including the work of such professional and clerical staff as may be necessary to carry out the ombudsman's duties.
d. The ombudsman shall be responsible for:
(1) final administrative decisions over disputes between students and public institutions of higher education regarding the transfer of academic credits;
(2) the periodic review, occurring not less than once every three years, of the policies adopted by public institutions of higher education for the transfer of academic credit to ensure compliance with the credit transfer standards; and
(3) preparation of the annual credit transfer report required pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-49), which shall be posted publicly on the website of the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The report shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) the number of student transfers between public institutions of higher education;
(b) the number of associate and baccalaureate degree completions for transfer students;
(c) any public institutions of higher education determined by the ombudsman to be noncompliant with the credit transfer standards established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46), as amended and supplemented; and
(d)
recommendations, as appropriate, to the Secretary of Higher Education and the
Legislature regarding the credit transfer standards and any other initiatives
or proposals towards improving the experiences and academic outcomes of
transfer students.
9. (New section) Each public institution of higher education shall provide
transfer students with data on program outcomes of students who have
transferred from other public institutions of higher education in the State,
including completion rates. The data shall include general and specific
programmatic outcomes, as those measures are determined by the secretary.
10. (New section) The Secretary of Higher Education shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
11. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to establish academic credit transfer standards and reverse credit transfer standards and establishes the position of New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
Under current law, each public institution of higher education is required to establish and enter into a collective Statewide transfer agreement that provides for the seamless transfer of academic credits across public institutions of higher education. Similarly, current law also requires institutions of higher education, both public and independent, to establish and enter into a collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement for the awarding of associate degrees by the county colleges. This bill eliminates both the collective Statewide transfer agreement and the collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement and replaces them with standards for credit transfer and reverse transfer. Under the bill, the standards are to be developed by the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Presidents' Council.
The bill establishes the position of the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The purpose of the ombudsman is to facilitate the resolution of disputes between students and public institutions of higher education regarding the institution's compliance with the credit transfer standards established pursuant to the bill's provisions. Under the bill, the ombudsman is to be responsible for:
(1) final administrative decisions over disputes between students and public institutions of higher education regarding the transfer of academic credits;
(2) the periodic review, occurring not less than once every three years, of the policies adopted by public institutions of higher education for the transfer of academic credit to ensure compliance with the credit transfer standards; and
(3) preparation of the annual credit transfer report.
The bill also requires each public institution of higher education to provide transfer students with data on program outcomes of students who have transferred from other public institutions of higher education in the State, including completion rates.
The bill includes technical corrections to: (1) remove references in existing law to the "collective Statewide transfer agreement" and the "collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement;" and (2) update outdated references.
