2023-2024 Regular Session HB 897 PN 3424 Bill Text (HTM)

SENATE AMENDED

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 895, 1676

PRINTER'S NO. 3424

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

897

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY KINKEAD, ISAACSON, CIRESI, MADDEN, McANDREW,

WARREN, SIEGEL, SANCHEZ, MALAGARI, HILL-EVANS, PARKER, ROZZI,

CONKLIN, NEILSON, HOWARD, GREEN, GUZMAN, KENYATTA, WEBSTER,

TAKAC, McNEILL AND T. DAVIS, APRIL 17, 2023

SENATOR ARGALL, EDUCATION, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, JUNE 27, 2024

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

act relating to the public school system, including certain

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

laws relating thereto," in transfers of credits between

institutions of higher education, further providing for

definitions and for duties of public institutions of higher

education, providing for guaranteed admission, AND for

reports to General Assembly and for dispute resolution and

further providing for Transfer and Articulation Oversight

Committee, AND FURTHER PROVIDING for duties of department and

for applicability.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 2001-C of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is

amended by adding definitions to read:

Section 2001-C. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this article

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

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* * *

"Parallel baccalaureate degree program." A bachelor's degree

program in a comparable field of study and with similar

foundation-level, major-specific competencies as an associate

degree program, as articulated in program-to-program agreements.

* * *

"Receiving institution." The public institution of higher

education where a transfer student plans to enroll and to apply

previously earned credit toward a degree program.

* * *

Section 2. Section 2002-C(c)(1) of the act is amended to

read:

Section 2002-C. Duties of public institutions of higher

education.

* * *

education shall do all of the following:

(1) Agree to accept with full junior standing the

associate of arts or associate of science degree [into a] and

to apply all college-level credits earned to fulfill the

degree requirements at the public institution of higher

education , including major requirements and general education

requirements, toward the parallel baccalaureate degree

program as outlined in paragraph (3) [by the timelines

established by the Transfer and Articulation Oversight

Committee but] no later than December 31, [2011] 2023 2024 .

For purposes of this paragraph, an associate of arts or

associate of science degree is a degree designed primarily

for transfer to a baccalaureate institution and must contain

a minimum of 60 credits. The following shall apply:

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(i) A student with an associate of arts or associate

of science degree from a public institution of higher

education who is transferring into a parallel

baccalaureate degree program at another public

institution of higher education shall be awarded full

junior standing and shall not be required to

satisfactorily complete more than 60 credits to earn a

120 credit baccalaureate degree in a parallel program,

regardless of the courses the student took to earn the

associate degree prior to transferring , unless required

to meet accreditation or external licensure or

certification standards.

(ii) A student transferring from one public

institution of higher education to another public

institution of higher education shall have the same

requirements for admission to a particular academic

program and for retention as a student who began their

postsecondary education at the receiving institution.

(iii) A student transferring into a parallel

baccalaureate degree program with an associate of science

or associate of arts degree shall be guaranteed admission

to the parallel baccalaureate degree program, subject to

capacity, as long as the student meets the criteria for

admission required of students who began their education

at the receiving institution .

(iv) A public institution of higher education may

designate majors or programs of study that are limited

access by reason of accreditation, clinical or resource-

based capacity.

(v) A student transferring from a public institution

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of higher education with an associate of arts or

associate of science degree or who has completed 30

credits of foundation courses, as defined by the Transfer

and Articulation Oversight Committee, shall have

satisfied the general education requirements at the

receiving institution, with possible exceptions made for

the following, provided that the exceptions do not extend

the student's time to the degree:

(A) One signature general education course of up

to three credits, if applicable.

(B) A prescribed general education course

required for the major, if not satisfactorily

completed.

advanced courses in the major.

* * *

Section 3. The act is amended by adding sections to read:

Section 2003.1-C. Guaranteed admission.

A public institution of higher education shall ensure the

following:

(1) An THAT AN undergraduate student transferring from a

public community college with an associate of arts or

associate of science degree shall be guaranteed admission

into the parallel baccalaureate degree program at a public

institution of higher education except in programs that have

mandated admission requirements, including , but not limited

to :

(i) A program for teacher preparation.

(ii) A program requiring an audition.

(iii) A program with GPA requirements.

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(iv) A program with additional entrance requirements

imposed by an accreditor.

(2) Starting with the 2024 spring semester,

undergraduate students from a community college in this

Commonwealth with an associate degree who fulfill the

requirements of paragraph (1) shall receive priority

enrollment in upper division coursework at the receiving

institution over out-of- State students.

(1) A PROGRAM REQUIRING AN AUDITION.

(2) A PROGRAM WITH ADDITIONAL ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

IMPOSED BY AN ACCREDITOR.

Section 2003.2-C. Reports to General Assembly.

For each academic year, the department shall prescribe data

requirements to be submitted by a public institution of higher

education and report to the General Assembly the following:

(1) Details of the progress made by a public institution

of higher education and an institution that elects to

participate under section 2006-C in furtherance of enabling

the transfer of credits between institutions, and which

recommends further action to be taken to ensure all students

which have completed credits in community colleges, shall be

able to transfer those credits to an institution of higher

education.

(2) Details of the ability of a student to transfer from

community colleges to institutions of higher education,

including the ability of students to graduate from

institutions of higher education. The report under this

section shall annually identify any issues encountered by

students in transferring from community colleges to

institutions of higher education, as well as issues

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encountered by transfer students in graduating from

institutions of higher education.

(3) Any other information related to student transfer,

awarding of credit for prior learning or difficulties in the

ability of a student to transfer between public institutions

of higher education.

Section 2003.3-C. Dispute resolution.

The department shall establish and maintain a dispute

resolution committee for disputes arising over the acceptance of

transfer students and credits. The dispute resolution committee

shall:

(1) Be composed of the following membership:

(i) The Secretary of Education or a designee, who

shall serve as chair of the dispute resolution committee.

(ii) Three members representing community colleges.

(iii) Three members representing the State System of

Higher Education.

(iv) One member representing State-related

institutions.

(v) One member representing independent institutions

of higher education that have elected to participate

under section 2006-C.

(vi) Other members as appointed by the chair of the

committee to the dispute resolution committee.

(2) Continue to develop dispute resolution policies and

procedures to be utilized when disputes arise relating to the

transfer and application of credits under this article.

(3) Resolve disputes involving disagreement over the

transfer or award of credits or the placement of students

between community colleges and institutions of higher

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education.

(4) Resolve appeals from students transferring from

community colleges who have been denied acceptance to an

institution of higher education after the completion of an

associate degree at a community college or who have been

denied the acceptance of college-level credits completed at a

community college.

(5) Report decisions regarding dispute resolutions and

appeals as well as the dispute resolution committee's reasons

for those decisions. Reports under this paragraph shall be

provided regularly to institutions of higher education and

community colleges to inform the application of the

articulation process.

Section 4. Sections 2004-C(b) and (c)(5), 2005-C(4)(ii) and

2007-C of the act are amended to read:

Section 2004-C. Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee.

* * *

[(b) Dispute resolution subcommittee.--

(1) The chair of the committee shall appoint a dispute

resolution subcommittee comprised of:

(i) Three members appointed under subsection (a)(1)

(ii)(A).

(ii) Three members appointed under subsection (a)(1)

(ii)(B).

(iii) One member appointed under subsection (a)(1)

(ii)(D).

(2) The chair of the committee may add members to the

dispute resolution subcommittee.

(3) The dispute resolution subcommittee shall develop

dispute resolution policies and procedures to be utilized

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when disputes arise relating to the transfer and application

of credits under this article.]

Committee.--The committee shall:

* * *

[(5) Submit an annual report to the General Assembly

that details the progress made by the public institutions of

higher education and institutions that elect to participate

under section 2006-C in furtherance of enabling the transfer

of credits between such institutions and which recommends

further action to be taken.]

* * *

SECTION 4. SECTIONS 2005-C(4)(II) AND 2007-C OF THE ACT ARE

AMENDED TO READ:

Section 2005-C. Duties of department.

The department shall:

* * *

(4) Provide for an electronic database or software

program and portal for the purpose of providing access to all

of the following information on an Internet website:

* * *

(ii) The annual report to the General Assembly as

required by section [2004-C(c)(5)] 2003.2-C.

Section 2007-C. Applicability.

[Nothing] Except as otherwise provided, nothing in this

article shall [do any of the following]:

(1) Preclude any institution of higher education from

establishing institution-to-institution articulation

agreements.

(2) Void articulation agreements that have been

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established prior to the effective date of this section.

Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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