West Virginia Legislature

2016 Regular Session

Introduced

House Bill 2594

2015 Carryover

(By Delegates McGeehan, Canterbury, Faircloth, Hill, Kessinger and Ihle)

[Introduced January 13, 2016; referred to the

Committee on Education.]

A BILL to amend of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18B‑14‑2, relating to transfer of course credit among higher education institutions; requiring that all higher education institutions in the state award credit to transfer students for similar courses completed at a different institution.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §18B‑14‑2, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 14.  MISCELLANEOUS.

§18B‑14‑2.  Transfer of credit for courses completed.

(a) This section may be known and shall be cited as the "Higher Education Opportunity Improvement Act".

(b) The Legislature finds that:

(1) The state has an increasing need for individuals with a post‑secondary credential or degree;

(2) A growing number of hard‑working individuals find community and technical colleges to be a more affordable option to start their college career; and

(3) The state can help students become successful by implementing a seamless education system and uniform transfer of credits with special attention to transfers between community and technical colleges and four‑year institutions.

(c) Effective immediately, a public or private institution of higher education in this state shall award credit to a student transferring to the institution for a course successfully completed at a different institution of higher education, if the curriculum of that course includes seventy percent of the curriculum of a similar course at the receiving institution.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require that all higher education institutions in the state award credit to transfer students for similar courses completed at a different institution.

This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.