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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 7, 2020 11:25 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Wendy Ullman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Affordable College - COVID-19: A Degree with a Guarantee – Transferring from Community College to PASSHE |
| As we emerge from COVID -19 and the cost of higher education continues to rise, more and more students will decide to start at a community college before transferring to finish their degree. In Pennsylvania alone, nearly 35,000 community college students transferred to another college during the 2017-2018 school year. Much of this progress is due to our efforts at the state level to streamline the process of transferring credits and align community college programs with corresponding programs at our public universities. With that said, however, we still have more work to do. In order to increase the number of transfer students who are able to complete a bachelor’s degree in a timely manner, I am introducing legislation that will guarantee admission into the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education with junior standing to community college students who complete an approved Associate Degree for Transfer program. A similar program was introduced in California to immense success—48% of students in the program earned a BA degree within two years of transferring compared to only 27% for traditional transfer students. Too often, the journey from community college to 4-year degree is convoluted and expensive in a way that discourages students from completing school. Implementing this program would guarantee a clear, affordable pathway for all students and send a strong message: if you work hard, you will be able to earn a degree and graduate without crippling debt. Please join me in co-sponsoring this effort which will improve access to cost-effective higher education across Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HB2447