From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org

JEFFERSON CITY - Senate Education Committee Chairman David Pearce introduced a bill establishing a new system for transferring credits to try to make the time spent in college as short and efficient as possible.

Pearce said now the problem is when students take some courses in community colleges and then apply for four-year universities they found some certain courses cannot be transfered.

"Yes, you've wasted time; you've wasted money. And what happens is if it takes too long and then some people do end up in dropping out," Pearce said.

The bill would require an index of at least 25 introductory courses transferable from community colleges to four-year universities.

Pearce said the new system will also give students more information they need before they apply for four-year universities.

"So there is no surprises when they leave that two-year institution and they go to enroll," said Pearce. "They will know beforehand which courses will transfer and which courses will not."

Meanwhile, Pearce said the system will financially help college students since the longer they stay and the more money they spend the less likely they are to graduate and then the more debt they have when they graduate.

There would also have a reverse transfer in the system to allow students to get an associate degree if they accumulate enough hours in combination with institutions that offer an associate degree and four-year institutions.

Private higher education institutions would not be required to participate in the system, but they could if they want.

 

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