Measure to expand transfer credits allowed

By: Scott Gilbert

A measure awaiting action in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly would expand the number of credits that community college students can transfer to state-owned universities.

By: Scott Gilbert

A measure awaiting action in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly would expand the number of credits that community college students can transfer to state-owned universities.

Listen:
[audio: 090715sgcollege.mp3]

Current law requires schools in the State System of Higher Education to accept 30 transfer credits from community colleges.

State System spokesman Kenn Marshall says the bill, which system officials helped to craft, would double that figure.

Marshall: If they earned an associate degree at any of the 14 community colleges in Pennsylvania, they essentially could take that degree, come to a state university, all 60 credits would transfer and then they would just complete the bachelor’s degree in hopefully another two years at one of our institutions.

Marshall notes some state-owned universities already have such agreements with nearby community colleges. He says the bill would also make those arrangements automatic and expand them across the commonwealth.

The legislation would also allow, but not require, private colleges and state-related institutions, such as Penn State, to participate.