Transferring Credits for College Completion Act of 2014

To increase transparency and reduce students’ burdens related to transferring credits between institutions of higher education. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transferring Credits for College Completion Act of 2014 2. Data reporting requirements (a) Transfer completion data Section 132(i)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1015a(i)(1) (AA) The percentages of degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who have transferred from another institution and who obtain a degree or certificate within— (i) the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program (including the time spent as a degree- or certificate-seeking un­der­grad­u­ate student at any other institution); (ii) 150 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student’s program (including the time spent as a degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate student at any other institution); and (iii) 200 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the students program (including the time spent as a degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate student at any other institution). . (b) Effective date This section shall take effect one year after the date of enactment of this Act. 3. Articulation agreements (a) Transfer of credit policies Section 485(h) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(h) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking Each institution of higher education (A) Private institutions Each institution of higher education that is not described in subparagraph (B) and that is ; (B) by redesigning subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (B) Public institutions Each public institution of higher education participating in any program under this title shall— (i) not later than July 1, 2017, publicly disclose on a central location, and in a readable and comprehensible manner, on the website of such institution— (I) a list of the public institutions of higher education that hold an articulation agreement in common with the institution; (II) a list of the courses in the common general education core curriculum of such public institutions of higher education; and (III) a description of each associate degree program at a public institution of higher education in the State that is acceptable in transfer and will provide credit toward the first 2 years of a related baccalaureate program at a public institution of higher education in such State, including each such associate degree program that is fully acceptable in transfer and will be credited as the first 2 years of a baccalaureate program; and (ii) to the extent practicable, in each electronic and printed publication of the institution’s course schedule published on or after July 1, 2017, in a manner of the institution’s choosing, for each course or program of study listed in the institution’s course schedule, whether such course or program of study is part of the common general education core curriculum at the institution and transferable for credit toward the completion of a degree at any public institution of higher education listed under clause (i)(I). (C) Definitions For purposes of subparagraph (B), the terms articulation agreement common general education core curriculum ; and (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting following: (2) Articulation agreements Except as provided in paragraph (3) (A) A common general education core curriculum consisting of not less than 30 credit hours or the equivalent coursework, which are fully acceptable in transfer at any such public institution of higher education in the State toward meeting specific degree or certificate requirements. (B) Common course numbering for substantially similar courses in such common general education core curriculum. (C) A guarantee that an associate degree in an academic major in the arts or sciences that is awarded by a public institution of higher education in the State on or after July 1, 2017, shall be fully acceptable in transfer and credited as the first 2 years of a related baccalaureate program at a public institution of higher education in such State. (3) Exception for Tribal Colleges and Universities A Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316) shall not be required to enter into or otherwise participate in an articulation agreement required under paragraph (2) (4) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to— (A) except as provided in paragraph (2) (B) authorize an officer or employee of the Department to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any institution of higher education, or over any accrediting agency or association; (C) limit the application of the General Education Provisions Act; (D) require an institution of higher education to accept or enroll a student; or (E) create any legally enforceable right, including with respect to a guarantee under paragraph (2)(C) . (b) Articulation agreements Section 486A(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1093a(b) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by inserting that meet the requirements of section 485(h)(2) comprehensive articulation agreements (B) by inserting comprehensive articulation agreements practicable) (C) by striking 2010 2017 (D) by striking the third sentence, including subparagraphs (A) through (D); and (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting before the period at the end the following: and section 485(h)(2)

Summary: Transferring Credits for College Completion Act of 2014 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to require the Secretary of Education to include on the College Navigator website the percentage of undergraduates at an institution of higher education (IHE) who have transferred from another IHE and earned their degree or certificate in their program of study within: (1) the normal time for its completion, (2) 150% of the normal time for its completion, and (3) 200% of the normal time for its completion. Requires private IHEs participating the programs under title IV (Student Assistance) of the HEA to publicly disclose, in a readable and comprehensible manner, their transfer of credit policies, including a list of IHEs with which they have established an articulation agreement. Requires each public IHE participating in a title IV program to publicly disclose, by July 1, 2017, on a central location of its website and in a readable and comprehensible manner: a list of the public IHEs with which it has an articulation agreement, a list of the courses in the common general education core curriculum of such public IHEs, and a description of each associate degree program at a public IHE in the state that is acceptable in transfer and that will provide credit toward the first two years of a related baccalaureate program at a public IHE in such state. Requires each public IHE, to the extent practicable, to include in its course schedule publication information on whether each listed course or program of study is part of its common general education core curriculum and is transferable for credit toward the completion of a degree at any public IHE with which it has an articulation agreement. Requires each public IHE, by July 1, 2017, to enter into an articulation agreement with the other public IHEs located in its state. Requires those agreements to include: a common general education core curriculum consisting of at least 30 credit hours or equivalent coursework that are fully transferable toward meeting specific degree or certificate requirements at other public IHEs in the state, common course numbering for substantially similar courses in that curriculum, and a guarantee that an associate degree in an academic major in the arts and sciences at a public IHE in the state will be credited as the first two years of a related baccalaureate program at other public IHEs in the state. Excepts Tribal Colleges or Universities from those articulation agreement requirements.