Bill Text: NJ AR193 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges establishment of additional bridge agreements between county colleges and four-year institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-12-05 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [AR193 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR193-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges establishment of additional bridge agreements between county colleges and four-year institutions of higher education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the establishment of additional bridge agreements between county colleges and four-year institutions of higher education.
Whereas, In 2007, the New Jersey Legislature enacted P.L.2007, c.175, commonly referred to as the Lampitt Law, requiring the State's public institutions of higher education to provide for the seamless transfer of academic credits from a county college to a four-year public institution of higher education; and
Whereas, A college education is one of the most valuable investments a family can make, but it has never been more difficult for families to afford a college education as the cost has grown exponentially in recent decades; and
Whereas, While the cost of college has risen more than 250 percent over the last three decades, students who take advantage of program offerings at their county college before enrolling in a four-year degree program have the potential to earn a bachelor's degree at a significantly reduced cost; and
Whereas, According to the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, 38 percent of all students who earned a bachelor's degree from a New Jersey college or university had previously completed courses at a county college; and
Whereas, Bridge agreements, sometimes called articulation agreements or guaranteed transfer agreements or two plus two programs, create seamless pathways for students who begin their studies at a county college and want to complete a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution. Two plus two programs often guarantee admission with junior standing at four-year institutions of higher education to a county college graduate who completes an associate of arts, associate of science, or associate in applied science in a technical studies degree program; and
Whereas, Students who start their education at a county college spend significantly less, and borrow less, than their peers who spend all four years enrolled at a senior institution of higher education; and
Whereas, Rutgers University-Camden has comprehensive articulation agreements with every county college in New Jersey which offer students an opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree seamlessly. Students who complete the associate degree program and fulfill other criteria included in the agreement will enter Rutgers University-Camden as fully matriculated students with junior standing; and
Whereas, Rowan University and Rowan College at Gloucester County and Rowan College at Burlington County have established two plus two programs that allow students to attain their associate degree at the county college and then either pursue a four-year Rowan University degree on the county college campus or online or at the university's main campus; and
Whereas, Bloomfield College has articulation agreements with all 19 county colleges in New Jersey and estimated that in the 2015 academic year, 125 students would complete their first two years at the county college tuition rate and then transfer to Bloomfield College receiving full junior status; and
Whereas, It is important therefore that institutions of higher education in New Jersey continue and improve existing bridge agreements and enter into new agreements across the State to help students fulfill the dream of a college education at an affordable cost; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House commends the efforts of county colleges and four-year institutions of higher education to enter into bridge agreements and urges the institutions to continue the existing agreements and expand the number of agreements available to students.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Secretary of Higher Education and to the New Jersey Presidents' Council.
STATEMENT
This resolution recognizes and commends the existing bridge agreements between county colleges and four-year institutions of higher education and urges the creation of more of these agreements throughout the State.
Bridge agreements, sometimes called articulation agreements or guaranteed transfer agreements or two plus two programs, create seamless pathways for students who begin their studies at a county college and want to complete a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution. Such agreements may guarantee admission with junior standing at the four-year institution of higher education to a county college student who completes an associate degree. Students who can take advantage of such agreements and start their education at a county college spend significantly less, and borrow less, than their peers who spend all four years enrolled at a senior institution of higher education. Therefore, it is important that institutions of higher education in New Jersey continue and improve existing bridge agreements and develop additional agreements in order to help students fulfill their dream of a college education at a more affordable cost.
The committee made a minor technical amendment to the bill's preamble.
