HB5786 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 18736 NHT 63971 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5786

Introduced 2/16/2012, by Rep. Kay Hatcher

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 805/8.36 new

Creates the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Provides that, commencing with the fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year, a community college student who enrolls in and subsequently earns an associate degree for transfer granted pursuant to the Act is deemed eligible for transfer into the baccalaureate program of a State university and must be considered to have fulfilled all lower division coursework in the major field of study. Requires each community college district to ensure that associate degrees for transfer adhere to the degree models under rules of the Illinois Community College Board, which shall include specific lower division courses in the major field of study that are comparable to the lower division courses in the major field of study at State universities, as agreed to by the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board. Requires a State university to guarantee junior status to any community college student who is admitted under the provisions of the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning coursework, reviews and reports by the Board of Higher Education, and implementation of the Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Associate degree for transfer" means an associate of arts or associate of science degree, as defined in rules of the Illinois Community College Board.

"Community college" means a public community college in this State.

"State university" means a public university in this State.

Section 10. Associate degree for transfer.

(a) Commencing with the fall term of the 2014-2015 academic year, a community college student who enrolls in and subsequently earns an associate degree for transfer granted pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section is deemed eligible for transfer into the baccalaureate program of a State university and must be considered to have fulfilled all lower division coursework in the major field of study. While a student may apply for admission in the semester during which coursework for the associate degree will be completed, timely completion of the degree is a condition of transfer under the provisions of this Act.

(b) Each community college district shall ensure that associate degrees for transfer adhere to the degree models under rules of the Illinois Community College Board, which shall include specific lower division courses in the major field of study that are comparable to the lower division courses in the major field of study at State universities, as agreed to by the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board.

(c) The General Assembly encourages the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to make use of the Illinois Articulation Initiative major directives process to inform the development of the models referenced in subsection (b) of this Section.

(d) The General Assembly encourages community college districts to consider the articulation agreements and other work between the respective faculties from the affected community college and State universities in implementing the requirements of this Section.

(e) The General Assembly encourages community colleges to facilitate the acceptance of credits earned at other community colleges and from lower division courses completed at 4-year colleges and universities toward an associate degree for transfer pursuant to this Section.

(f) This Section does not preclude students who are assessed below collegiate level from acquiring developmental coursework in preparation for obtaining an associate degree for transfer. Developmental coursework must not be counted as part of the transferable units required pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.

Section 15. Admission to a State university.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, a State university shall guarantee junior status to any community college student who is admitted under the provisions of this Act. Admission to a State university, as provided under this Act, does not guarantee admission to specific programs or specific majors.

Section 20. Coursework. A State university may require a student transferring pursuant to this Act to take additional courses at the State university so long as the student is not required to take more semester hours or the equivalent number of quarter hours, in combination with the associate degree for transfer and the baccalaureate degree, than would otherwise be required of a student native to that university in completing the baccalaureate degree. A minimum of 60 semester credit hours, or the equivalent number of quarter hours, taken at the community college must be counted toward the total minimum number of hours required for the baccalaureate degree. A State university may not require students transferring pursuant to this Act to repeat courses that are similar to those taken at the community college that counted toward an associate degree for transfer granted pursuant to Section 10 of this Act, regardless of whether the credits earned and the courses required were offered at a different level. Pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 10 of this Act, a State university may not require individual review of lower division course equivalencies in the major by respective institutions.

Section 25. Board of Higher Education reviews and reports.

(a) The Board of Higher Education shall review the implementation of this Act and file a report on that review with the General Assembly on or before May 31, 2016, as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act.

(b) The Board of Higher Education shall review both of the following and file a report on that review with the General Assembly within 4 years after the effective date of this Act, as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act:

(1) The outcomes of implementation of this Act, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) The number and percentage of community college students who earned an associate degree for transfer.

(B) The number and percentage of community college students who earned an associate degree for transfer and subsequently transferred to a State university.

(C) The number and percentage of community college students who earned an associate degree for transfer and earned a baccalaureate degree from a State university pursuant to this Act.

(2) Recommendations for statutory changes necessary to facilitate the goal of a clear and transparent transfer process.

Section 30. Implementation of Act; intent. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the requirements placed on community college districts pursuant to this Act be carried out in the normal course of program development and approval, course scheduling, and degree issuance and do not represent any new activities or a higher level of service on the part of community college districts.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.36 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.36 new)

Sec. 8.36. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act.