H.B. 320

1

TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS AMONG
2 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
3 2004 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Bradley T. Johnson
6 Douglas C. Aagard
7 J. Stuart Adams
8 Roger E. Barrus
9 Ron Bigelow
10 Calvin G. Bird
11 DeMar Bud Bowman
12 Craig W. Buttars
13 D. Gregg Buxton
14 David Clark
15 Stephen D. Clark
16 David N. Cox
17 Greg J. Curtis
18 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 19
20 LONG TITLE
21 General Description:
22 This bill modifies the State System of Higher Education Code by requiring the State
23 Board of Regents to provide a transfer and articulation system for the institutions of
24 higher education.
25 Highlighted Provisions:
26 This bill:
27 . requires the State Board of Regents to:
28 . develop and maintain a transfer and articulation system;
29 . maintain a common numbering system for general education and premajor
30 program requirements; and
31 . provide for credit by examinations;

32 . requires institutions of higher education to accept commonly numbered courses for
33 general education and premajor program requirements; and
34 . requires the State Board of Regents to include compliance information in its annual
35 report to the governor and the Legislature.
36 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
37 None
38 Other Special Clauses:
39 None
40 Utah Code Sections Affected:
41 ENACTS:
42 53B-16-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
43
44 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
45 Section 1. Section 53B-16-105 is enacted to read:
46 53B-16-105. Common course numbering -- Credit by examination --
47 Transferability of credits -- Policies.
48 (1) The board shall:
49 (a) facilitate articulation and the seamless transfer of courses within the state system of
50 higher education;
51 (b) provide for the efficient and effective progression and transfer of students within
52 the state system of higher education;
53 (c) avoid the unnecessary duplication of courses; and
54 (d) allow students to proceed toward their educational objectives as rapidly as their
55 circumstances permit.
56 (2) The board shall develop, coordinate, and maintain a transfer and articulation system
57 within the state system of higher education that:
58 (a) maintains a course numbering system that assigns common numbers to specified
59 courses of similar level with similar curricular content, rigor, and standards;
60 (b) allows students to transfer courses among institutions of higher education to meet
61 general education and premajor requirements within a degree;
62 (c) improves program planning;

63 (d) increases communications and coordination between institutions of higher
64 education; and
65 (e) facilitates student acceleration and the transfer of students and credits between
66 institutions.
67 (3) (a) The board shall identify general education courses in the humanities, social
68 sciences, arts, physical sciences, and life sciences with uniform prefixes and common course
69 numbers.
70 (b) All institutions of higher education shall accept the courses described under
71 Subsection (3)(a) toward filling specific area general education or other premajor program
72 requirements.
73 (4) (a) The board shall identify common prerequisite courses and course substitutions
74 for degree programs across all institutions of higher education.
75 (b) The commissioner shall appoint committees of faculty members from the
76 institutions of higher education to recommend appropriate courses of similar content and
77 numbering that will satisfy premajor requirements for degrees.
78 (c) All institutions of higher education shall accept the courses approved under
79 Subsection (4)(a) toward filling graduation requirements.
80 (5) The board shall identify minimum scores and maximum credit for each:
81 (a) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general examination;
82 (b) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject examination;
83 (c) College Board advanced placement examination; and
84 (d) other examination for credit.
85 (6) (a) Institutions of higher education shall award credit if competencies have been
86 demonstrated by passing a challenge examination.
87 (b) Institutions of higher education shall award credit for the specific courses for which
88 competency has been demonstrated by successfully passing a challenge examination described
89 under Subsection (5)(a) unless the award of credit duplicates credit already awarded.
90 (7) The board shall establish policies to administer the policies and requirements under
91 Subsections (2) through (6).
92 (8) The board shall include information demonstrating that institutions of higher
93 education are complying with the provisions of this section and the policies established in

94 accordance with Subsection (7) in the annual report of its activities to the governor and to the
95 Legislature required under Section 53B-1-107 .




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-3-04 2:45 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel