H.B. 320 Enrolled

TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS AMONG
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
2004 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Bradley T. Johnson
Douglas C. Aagard
J. Stuart Adams
Roger E. Barrus
Ron Bigelow
Calvin G. Bird
DeMar Bud Bowman
Craig W. Buttars
D. Gregg Buxton
David Clark
Stephen D. Clark
David N. Cox
Greg J. Curtis
Margaret DaytonBrad L. Dee
Craig A. Frank
James R. Gowans
Neil A. Hansen
Ann W. Hardy
Wayne A. Harper
Kory M. Holdaway
Gregory H. Hughes
Eric K. Hutchings
Patricia W. Jones
Brad King
Todd E. KiserBradley G. Last
M. Susan Lawrence
Rebecca D. Lockhart
Steven R. Mascaro
Michael T. Morley
Michael E. Noel
Darin G. Peterson
Jack A. Seitz
LaWanna Lou Shurtliff
Martin R. Stephens
Michael R. Styler
Stephen H. Urquhart
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies the State System of Higher Education Code by requiring the State
Board of Regents to provide a transfer and articulation system for the institutions of
higher education.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
. requires the State Board of Regents to:
. develop and maintain a transfer and articulation system;
. maintain a common numbering system for general education and certain lower
division courses; and
. provide for credit by examinations;
. requires institutions of higher education to accept commonly numbered courses for
program requirements; and

. requires the State Board of Regents to include compliance information in its annual
report to the governor and the Legislature.
Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53B-16-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 53B-16-105 is enacted to read:
53B-16-105. Common course numbering -- Credit by examination -- Transferability
of credits -- Policies.
(1) The board shall:
(a) facilitate articulation and the seamless transfer of courses within the state system of
higher education;
(b) provide for the efficient and effective progression and transfer of students within the
state system of higher education;
(c) avoid the unnecessary duplication of courses; and
(d) allow students to proceed toward their educational objectives as rapidly as their
circumstances permit.
(2) The board shall develop, coordinate, and maintain a transfer and articulation system
within the state system of higher education that:
(a) maintains a course numbering system that assigns common numbers to specified
courses of similar level with similar curricular content, rigor, and standards;
(b) allows students to transfer courses among institutions of higher education to meet
requirements for general education and lower division courses that transfer to baccalaureate

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majors;
(c) improves program planning;
(d) increases communications and coordination between institutions of higher education;
and
(e) facilitates student acceleration and the transfer of students and credits between
institutions.
(3) (a) The board shall identify general education courses in the humanities, social
sciences, arts, physical sciences, and life sciences with uniform prefixes and common course
numbers.
(b) All institutions of higher education shall accept the courses described under
Subsection (3)(a) toward filling specific area requirements for general education or lower division
courses that transfer to baccalaureate majors.
(4) (a) The board shall identify common prerequisite courses and course substitutions for
degree programs across all institutions of higher education.
(b) The commissioner shall appoint committees of faculty members from the institutions
of higher education to recommend appropriate courses of similar content and numbering that will
satisfy requirements for lower division courses that transfer to baccalaureate majors.
(c) All institutions of higher education shall accept the courses approved under
Subsection (4)(a) toward filling graduation requirements.
(5) The board shall identify minimum scores and maximum credit for each:
(a) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general examination;
(b) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject examination;
(c) College Board advanced placement examination; and
(d) other examination for credit.
(6) (a) Institutions of higher education shall award credit if competencies have been
demonstrated by passing a challenge examination.
(b) Institutions of higher education shall award credit for the specific courses for which
competency has been demonstrated by successfully passing a challenge examination described

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under Subsection (5)(a) unless the award of credit duplicates credit already awarded.
(7) The board shall establish policies to administer the policies and requirements under
Subsections (2) through (6).
(8) The board shall include information demonstrating that institutions of higher
education are complying with the provisions of this section and the policies established in
accordance with Subsection (7) in the annual report of its activities to the governor and to the
Legislature required under Section 53B-1-107 .

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