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PRINTER'S NO. 675
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
705
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY KINKEAD, ISAACSON, DEASY, DELLOSO, FREEMAN,
GALLOWAY, GUZMAN, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, KINSEY, MADDEN,
NEILSON, N. NELSON, PARKER, ROZZI, SANCHEZ, SCHWEYER,
SHUSTERMAN, STURLA, WEBSTER AND ZABEL, MARCH 1, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 1, 2021
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," providing for associate degree for
transfer programs.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XIX-I
Associate Degree for Transfer Programs
Section 1901-I. Scope of article.
This article relates to associate degree for transfer
programs.
Section 1902-I. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Community college." A community college under Article XIX-
A.
"Institution." As defined under section 2001-A.
Section 1903-I. Associate degree for transfer programs.
(a) General rule.--Beginning with the fall term of the 2021-
2022 academic year, a student who earns an associate degree for
transfer granted under subsection (b) shall be eligible for
transfer into a baccalaureate program at an institution when the
student meets both of the following requirements:
(1) Completion of 60 semester credit hours that are
eligible for transfer to an institution, including both of
the following:
(i) The community college's general education
requirements.
(ii) A minimum of 18 semester credit hours in a
major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community
college.
(2) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
(b) Associate degree for transfer.--A community college
shall develop a program and grant associate degrees for transfer
to students that meet the requirements under subsection (a).
(c) Prohibition.--A community college may not impose any
requirements in addition to the requirements under this section
for a student to be eligible for the associate degree for
transfer and subsequent admission to an institution.
(d) Collaboration.--A community college may consider the
articulation agreements and other agreements between the
respective faculties from the affected community college and
institution campuses in implementing the requirements of this
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section.
(e) Credits earned at other community college.--A community
college may accept credits earned at other community colleges
toward the associate degree for transfer under this section.
Section 1904-I. Admission to institution.
(a) General rule.--An institution shall guarantee admission
with junior status to any community college student who is
granted an associate degree for transfer under section 1903-I.
(b) Specific majors and campuses.--Admission to an
institution does not guarantee admission for a specific major or
campus. An institution shall grant a student priority admission
to a campus near the student's residence and to a program or
major that is similar to the student's community college major
or program area of emphasis, as determined by the institution
campus to which the student is admitted.
(c) Priority.--A student admitted under this article shall
receive priority over all other community college transfer
students, excluding community college students who have entered
into a transfer agreement between a community college and an
institution prior to the effective date of this section.
(d) Admissions redirection process.--An institution shall
develop an admissions redirection process for a student admitted
under this article who applies for admission to the institution
but is not accepted into the institution's campus to which the
student applied.
Section 1905-I. Transfer process.
(a) Additional courses.--An institution may require a
student transferring under this article to take additional
courses at the institution so long as the student is not
required to take any more than 60 additional semester credit
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hours at the institution for majors requiring 120 semester
credit hours. Specified majors may be exempt from this
subsection upon agreement by the Board of Governors of the State
System of Higher Education and a community college.
(b) Applicability of credits.--Community college transfer
credit hours shall not be applicable to upper division
requirements at the institution, unless agreed upon by the
institution and a community college and the transferred credit
hours do not exceed the required 60 semester credit hours
required under subsection (a).
(c) Similar courses.--An institution may not require a
student transferring under this article to repeat courses that
are similar to those taken at the community college that counted
toward the associate degree for transfer granted under this
article.
Section 1906-I. Report.
(a) General rule.--At the end of the 2021-2022 academic
year, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall review
and provide a report with an update on the implementation of
this article to the following:
(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Senate.
(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the House of Representatives.
(3) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Finance Committee of the Senate.
(4) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Finance Committee of the House of Representatives.
(b) Contents of report.--The report under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
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(1) The outcomes of implementation of this article,
including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) The number and percentage of community college
students who earned an associate degree for transfer and
transferred to an institution under this article.
(ii) The average number of semester credit hours it
takes a community college student earning an associate
degree for transfer under this article to transfer to and
graduate from an institution, as compared to the average
number of semester credit hours it took community college
transfer students prior to enactment of this article, and
compared to students using other transfer processes
available.
(iii) Student progression and completion rates.
(iv) Other relevant indicators of student success.
(v) The degree to which the requirements for an
associate degree for transfer take into account existing
articulation agreements and the degree to which community
colleges facilitate the acceptance of credits between
community colleges.
(vi) The degree to which institutions were able to
accommodate students admitted under this article to a
campus of their choice and a major that is similar to the
student's community college major.
(2) Recommendations for statutory changes necessary to
facilitate the goal of a clear and transparent transfer
process.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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