Mayer: Measure Making College Student Transfers Easier and More Affordable Advances

Bill Improves Transfers Between Two- and Four-Year Colleges and Universities

JEFFERSON CITY— It may soon be easier and more affordable for Missouri college students to transfer college credits between two- and four-year universities based on legislation the Missouri Senate today advanced to the House. Senate Bill 455 would also enhance the retention of college students and improve remediation practices. Sponsor Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, said the changes were important to help students obtain their associate and four-year degrees.

“Our higher education students deserve every opportunity to succeed,” said Pearce. “Continuing education can be difficult enough without encountering obstacles. That is why schools should be able to offer the services students require to ease the process of transferring credits.”

Senate Bill 455 would require the creation of a library of at least 25 core courses that would be transferable between two- and four-year institutions. Those courses would be considered general education requirements, such as English, math, and science. In addition, it would call for development of a policy to encourage reverse transfer, allowing students who have collected enough hours to transfer from a four-year school to a two-year school in order to earn an associate degree.

The measure would also modify the current duties of the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education by requiring the board to develop policies for all two- and four-year institutions to replicate the best practices in remediation from sources across the country.

“I sponsored this bill advocating for Missouri’s higher education students because I believe in the students of our state,” Pearce said. “This legislation is now one step closer to benefitting those hard-working students.”

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, said making college more affordable and available to Missouri students is a priority of the Senate.

“These are common-sense steps that will ease the process of obtaining an associate or four-year degree for students whose path causes them to have to transfer, or even pause and restart their post-high school educational goals,” said Mayer. “As someone who returned to college later in life, I know firsthand how these simple changes can help more Missouri students graduate from college.”

The measure now moves to the House for similar consideration. To learn more about this bill or to track its progress, visit www.senate.mo.gov.