WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 846

By Senator Maynard

[Introduced February 19, 2024; referred
to the Committee on Military]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §18B-4-11, relating to creating an associate's or bachelor's degree based on skills, education, and experience earned while serving in the military.  

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 4. General Administration.

§18B-4-11. Undergraduate degree program military veterans.

(a) The Legislature finds that a traditional education, including college, is only one avenue towards the knowledge and skill obtained while pursuing a bachelor's degree. Service in the military includes significant education, job specialization training, and leadership skills that are comparable to those obtained in a bachelor's degree or associate degree program. Veterans should be acknowledged for that earned training and it should be reflected in a bachelor's or associate degree for, or credits towards a similar degree, their service and the special skills they were able to cultivate in the military.

(b) For these reasons, in collaboration with the Higher Education Policy Commission, there shall be a bachelor's, associate's, or credit towards a similar degree conferred upon veterans who have completed a tour of service. The determination of credits earned and the type of degree conferred will be determined in a uniform fashion for the colleges and universities of West Virginia. The degree shall be honored in the same manner as a bachelor's degree or associate degree from a college or university in West Virginia.

(c) Collaboration between the Commission and West Virginia universities and colleges towards realizing this degree shall be commenced upon passing of this bill.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create an associate's of bachelor's degree based on skills, education, and experience earned while serving in the military.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.