Bill Text: PA HB1659 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Further providing for duties of public institutions of higher education, for the Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee and for participation by independent institutions of higher education and for participation by State-related institutions.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 26-10)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-07-06 - Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS [HB1659 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1659-Amended.html

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2089 PRINTER'S NO. 2377
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1659 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY HOUGHTON, SHAPIRO, McILVAINE SMITH, BRIGGS, BRADFORD, FREEMAN, HARHAI, STURLA, WANSACZ, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BOYD, D. COSTA, DONATUCCI, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GROVE, HARKINS, HELM, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, MAHONEY, MANN, MILNE, MUSTIO, PAYTON, PETRARCA, PRESTON, SAINATO, SEIP, SOLOBAY, SIPTROTH, VULAKOVICH, YOUNGBLOOD, BROWN AND MURT, JUNE 10, 2009
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JULY 2, 2009
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," further providing for duties of
public institutions of higher education, for the Transfer and
Articulation Oversight Committee and for participation by
independent institutions of higher education or and for <--
participation by State-related institution institutions. <--
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2002-C of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added
July 11, 2006 (P.L.1092, No.114), is amended to read:
Section 2002-C. Duties of public institutions of higher
education.
(a) Completion.--Each public institution of higher education
shall complete all of the following by June 30, 2008:
(1) Participate in the development and implementation of
equivalency standards pursuant to section 2004-C(c)(1).
(2) Establish and maintain records and data detailing
the credits transferred to and received from other public
institutions of higher education as the department may
prescribe.
(3) Make any reasonable changes and modifications to its
foundation courses, including the strengthening of the
courses, to ensure equivalency of those credits among the
public institutions of higher education, as recommended by
the Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee.
(4) Agree to accept for transfer foundation courses
determined to meet equivalency standards under section
2004-C(c)(2).
(a.1) Completion of second phase.--Each public institution <--
of higher education shall agree to accept for transfer courses
that qualify under section 2004-C(c)(2.2) by June 30, 2011.
(a.1) Completion of second phase.--Each public institution <--
of higher education shall agree to accept with full junior
standing the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree
into a parallel baccalaureate program as outlined in section
2004-C(c)(2.1), (2.2), (2.3) and (2.4) by the timelines
established by the transfer and articulation subcommittee but
not later than December 31, 2011. For the purposes of this
article, an Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree is
a degree designed primarily for transfer to a baccalaureate
institution and must contain a minimum of 60 credits.
(b) Reporting requirements.--
(1) A public institution of higher education shall
submit to the department a series of interim reports
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outlining the actions that the public institution of higher
education has undertaken or intends to undertake to comply
with subsection (a), which shall be filed December 31, 2006,
June 30, 2007, and December 31, 2007.
(2) A public institution of higher education shall
submit to the department interim reports outlining the
actions that the public institution of higher education has
undertaken or intends to undertake to comply with subsection
(a.1), which shall be filed by December 31, 2009, June 30,
2010, and December 31, 2010.
Section 2. Section 2004-C(c) of the act is amended by adding
paragraphs to read:
Section 2004-C. Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee.
* * *
(c) Duties of Transfer and Articulation Oversight
Committee.--The committee shall:
* * *
(2.1) Within 120 days of the effective date of this <--
section, consult with the department on a process, subject to
approval by the department, to identify 30 additional credit
hours to be counted toward graduation requirements of the
baccalaureate degree in all public institutions of higher
education and to develop academic clusters in consultation
with faculty and personnel where credit for courses may count
toward the graduation requirements in each major identified
in the cluster.
(2.2) No later than June 30, 2010, in consultation with
faculty and personnel, determine equivalent courses for an
additional 30 credit hours that will count toward
baccalaureate graduation requirements in all public
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institutions of higher education. The credit hours shall not
include developmental or remedial courses or career,
technical or applied courses except if those courses are
designed to meet competencies of specific program
accreditation, licensing or approval standards.
(2.1) By December 1, 2009, consult with the department <--
on a process and timeline, subject to approval by the
department, to identify the Associate of Arts and Associate
of Science degrees aligned with the graduation requirements
of the parallel baccalaureate degree in all public
institutions of higher education in consultation with faculty
and personnel.
(2.2) Identify Associate of Arts and Associate of
Science degree programs for transfer with full junior
standing into a parallel baccalaureate degree in consultation
with faculty and personnel in those degree programs by
December 31, 2011.
(2.3) Identify modifications that may be required in
existing associate or baccalaureate degrees to satisfy
external accreditation or licensure requirements in
consultation with faculty and personnel. Approved
modifications must recognize all competencies attained within
either the associate or baccalaureate programs.
(2.4) Define requirements, in consultation with faculty
and personnel, for education degrees, including Early
Childhood Education degrees, leading to certification to be
included in an associate degree and be accepted for transfer
with full junior standing into a parallel baccalaureate
degree program.
* * *
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Section 3. Section 2006-C of the act, added July 11, 2006
(P.L.1092, No.114), is amended to read:
Section 2006-C. Participation by independent institutions of
higher education or State-related [institution] <--
institutions.
(a) Participation.--An independent institution of higher <--
education or a State-related institution may elect to
participate through the adoption of equivalency standards as
provided for in subsection 2004-C(c)(1) and by agreement to
accept for transfer courses degrees that qualify under section <--
2004-C(c)(2.2) by its governing body.
(b) Election to participate.--An independent institution of <--
higher education or a State-related institution that elects to
participate under subsection (a) shall be subject to all of the
requirements of this act.
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009, or
immediately, whichever is later.
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