Modifies collective statewide transfer agreement and reverse transfer agreement; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education.

A1315

ASSEMBLY, No. 1315

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman CODY D. MILLER

District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman� CARMEN THERESA MORALES

District 34 (Essex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson, Speight, Pintor Marin,
Assemblyman Freiman, Assemblywoman Drulis, Assemblymen Sampson, G. Rodriguez,
Assemblywomen Donlon and Peterpaul

SYNOPSIS

���� Modifies collective statewide transfer agreement and
reverse transfer agreement; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within
Office of Secretary of Higher Education.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act

concerning academic credit transfer at
institutions of higher education, amending
P.L.2007, c.175 and P.L.2017,
c.130, and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

����
Be It Enacted

by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 1 of P.L.2007,
c.175 (C.18A:62-46) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� Each public institution
of higher education
[
,
in consultation with the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and the New
Jersey Presidents' Council,
]

shall
[
establish
and
]

enter into a collective Statewide transfer agreement
[
that provides for the seamless
transfer of academic credits to a baccalaureate degree program from a completed
associate of arts degree program, a completed associate of science degree
program, or a completed associate in applied science in technical studies
degree program which has credits transferred by the NJ PLACE program from
apprenticeship programs
]

developed by the New Jersey Presidents� Council, in consultation with the
New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson established pursuant to section 5 of
P.L. , c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) and approved by the Secretary of
Higher Education, that provides for the transfer of academic credits between
all public institutions of higher education in the State, including academic
credits earned through a dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment agreement
.�
The transfer agreement shall include:

���� a.���� a listing of the
general education
[
core
]
courses
[
as stipulated
]

compiled

by the
secretary in consultation with the
Presidents' Council;

���� b.��� policies and procedures
for the
[
seamless
transfer and application of academic credits
]
:

����
(1) transfer and
application of academic credits for general education courses between public
institutions of higher education

that ensure that credits for general
education courses are fully

transferable and applicable across all public
institutions of higher education, except where transferability would adversely
impact certification, licensure, or accreditation requirements at the receiving
institution;

����
(2)
transfer
and application of academic credits
to a baccalaureate degree program
from a completed associate degree program
[
,
including a guarantee
]

that ensure
that an associate
[
of
arts
]

degree
[
,
associate of science degree, or associate in applied science in technical
studies degree which has credits transferred by the NJ PLACE program from
apprenticeship programs,
]

awarded by a county college established pursuant to chapter 64A of Title 18A of
the New Jersey Statutes shall be fully transferable and credited as the first
two years of a baccalaureate degree program at the four-year public institution
of higher education in the State to which a student is admitted
, except
where transferability would adversely impact certification, licensure, or
accreditation requirements at the receiving institution
;

����
(3)

transfer
and application of academic credits for courses completed under a dual
enrollment agreement or a concurrent enrollment agreement between a public
school in the State and a public institution of higher education in the State,
which policies and procedures ensure that credits for these courses are fully
transferable and applicable across all participating institutions of higher
education, except where transferability would adversely impact certification,
licensure, or accreditation requirements at the receiving institution; and

����
(4) transfer and
application of academic credits

for courses completed under a dual enrollment agreement or a
concurrent enrollment agreement approved by the Secretary of Higher Education
that permits the dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment of a student at both
a public school in the State and an out-of-State institution of higher
education;

���� c.���� policies and procedures
for the
[
implementation
of an appeals process for students and institutions to resolve disputes
regarding the transfer of academic credits
]

implementation of an appeals process at each participating institution of
higher education for students and institutions to resolve disputes regarding
the transfer of academic credits;

���� d.���
[
policies and
procedures for the annual review and update of the agreement; and
]
�
(Deleted
by amendment, P.L.��� , c.� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

���� e.���� policies and procedures
for the collection of data by the
[
commission
]

secretary to
be utilized by the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson established pursuant to
section 5 of P.L.��� , c.���� (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill)
to ensure that all
[
participating
]

public

institutions of higher education are in compliance with the provisions of
[
this act
]

P.L.2007,
c.175 (C.18A:62-46 et seq.), as amended and supplemented,
and to ensure
that the agreement is fostering
[
both
a seamless
]

the
transfer process and the academic success of transfer students at
the
[
senior
]

receiving

institutions.� The
[
commission
]

secretary

shall annually determine the data to be collected and shall notify each
[
participating
]

public

institution in a timely manner
; and

����
f.� policies and procedures
for the transfer and application of academic credits earned through
participation in dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment
.

����
[
The policies and procedures set
forth in the transfer agreement shall be fully operational by September 1,
2008, except that, with respect to associate in applied science in technical
studies degree programs which have credits transferred by the NJ PLACE program
from apprenticeship programs, the transfer agreement shall be fully operational
by September 1, 2011
]

����
As used in this section,
�general education� means instruction that presents forms of expression, fields
of knowledge, and methods of inquiry fundamental to intellectual growth and to
a mature understanding of the world and the human condition, as distinguished
from �specialized education,� which prepares individuals for particular
occupations or specific professional responsibilities
.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.200, s.2)

���� 2.��� Section 1 of P.L.2017,
c.130 (C.18A:62-46.1) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.� a.� Each institution of
higher education
[
,
in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education the New Jersey
Presidents' Council,
]

shall
[
establish
and
]

enter into a collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement
developed by
the New Jersey Presidents� Council, in consultation with the New Jersey
Transfer Ombudsperson established pursuant to section 5 of
P.L. , c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) and approved by the Secretary of
Higher Education
.� Under the agreement, a student enrolled in a four-year
institution of higher education who has a cumulative total of 66 credits earned
between a county college
established pursuant to chapter 64A of Title 18A of
the New Jersey Statutes
and the four-year institution may be awarded an
associate degree by the county college.� The reverse transfer agreement shall
address the following:

���� (1)�� the effective
communication between the county college and the four-year institution on
student transcripts and course equivalencies;

���� (2)�� the process by which a
student is notified of potential eligibility, and by which the four-year
institution obtains the consent of the student for release of
[
his
]

the
student�s
transcript to the county college;

���� (3)�� procedures for advising
students on the courses that a student needs to complete to attain an associate
degree;
and

���� (4)��
[
policies and
procedures for the annual review and update of the agreement; and
]

(Deleted
by amendment, P.L.��� , c.� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

���� (5)�� policies and procedures
for the collection of data by the
[
secretary
]

secretary

to ensure that all institutions are in compliance with this section.� The
secretary shall annually determine the data to be collected and shall notify
each institution in a timely manner.

���� b.���
[
The policies
and procedures set forth in the collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement
shall be fully operational by September 1, 2018.
]
�
(Deleted by amendment,
P.L.��� , c.� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

���� c.� (1)� The annual report
prepared by the Secretary of Higher Education pursuant to section 4 of
P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-49) shall include an analysis of each institution's
compliance with the provisions of this section.

���� (2)��
[
In the first
annual report issued after the effective date of this act, the secretary shall
identify the institutions that have entered into a reverse transfer agreement
prior to that effective date, and the institutions that enter into an agreement
on or after that effective date.
]

(Deleted by amendment, P.L.��� , c.� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill)

(cf: P.L.2017, c.130, s.1)

���� 3.��� Section 2 of P.L.2007,
c.175 (C.18A:62-47) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.���
[
On or before
January 1, 2008, each
]

Each
public institution of higher education shall, in consultation with
the
[
Commission
on
]

Secretary
of
Higher Education and the Presidents' Council
[
,
]
develop and adopt as part of the
collective Statewide transfer agreement established pursuant to section 1 of
[
this act
]

P.L.2007,
c.175 (C.18A:62-46)
, policies and procedures for the transfer of credits
earned by a student who has not completed
[
his
]

an

associate degree program prior to transferring into a baccalaureate degree
program
[
,
except that, with respect to associate in applied science in technical studies
degree programs which have credits transferred by the NJ PLACE program from
apprenticeship programs, those policies and procedures shall be developed and
adopted on or before January 1, 2011
]
.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.200, s.3)

���� 4.��� Section 4 of P.L.2007,
c.175 (C.18A:62-49) is amended to read as follows:

���� 4.��� The
[
Commission on
Higher Education
]

New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson established pursuant to section 5 of
P.L.��� , c.���� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

shall prepare an annual report
for the Secretary of Higher Education

containing a compilation of the data collected pursuant to subsection e. of
section 1 of
[
this
act
]

P.L.2007,
c.175 (C.18A:62-46), as amended and supplemented
, an analysis of the effect
of the agreement on the transfer process and on the academic success of
transfer students at the senior institutions, and an analysis of each
[
participating
]

public

institution's compliance with the provisions of
[
this act
]

P.L.2007,
c.175 (C.18A:62-46 et seq.), as amended and supplemented
.� The
[
commission
]

secretary

shall
annually
submit the report to the
[
Legislature and the
]
Governor
[
by November
15th of each year
]

, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164
(C.52:14-19.1)
.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.175, s.4)

���� 5.��� (New section)� a.� The
position of the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson shall be established within
the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The primary purpose of the
ombudsperson shall be to serve as a resource for students and participating
institutions of higher education regarding compliance with the credit transfer
agreement established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46),
as amended and supplemented, in order to foster the transfer process and the
academic success of transfer students. �The ombudsperson may, upon the request
of a student or participating institution of higher education, serve as an
impartial third-party mediator of disputes between one or more students and a
participating institution or between two or more participating institutions.�
In this capacity, the ombudsperson shall collect and review all necessary data
and information and seek appropriate input from faculty, administrators, and
other stakeholders before reporting on the final resolution of the dispute.�
Nothing in P.L.��� , c.���� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill) shall be construed to confer upon the ombudsperson the authority to
compel an institution of higher education to accept academic credits.

���� b.� The ombudsperson shall be
qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office.�

���� c.� The ombudsperson shall
organize and direct the work of the office, including the work of any
professional and clerical staff as may be necessary to carry out the
ombudsperson�s duties.� The ombudsperson shall regularly convene, but not more
than biannually, stakeholders from participating institutions to determine best
practices in credit transfer and share findings related to the institutions�
implementation of the credit transfer agreement.

���� d.� The ombudsperson shall be
responsible for:

���� (1) �the periodic review,
occurring not less than once every five years, of the agreement to ensure
compliance with the provisions of P.L.2007, c.175 (C.18A:62-46 et seq.), as
amended and supplemented; and

���� (2)� preparation of the annual
credit transfer report required pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.175
(C.18A:62-49), which shall be posted publicly on the website of the Office of
the Secretary of Higher Education.�

�����
The report shall
include, but not be limited to:

(a) the number of student transfers between public institutions of higher
education;

(b) the number of associate and baccalaureate degree completions for
transfer students;

(c) any public institutions of higher education determined by the
ombudsperson to be noncompliant with the credit transfer standards established
pursuant to section 1 of
P.L.2007, c.175
(C.18A:62-46), as amended and supplemented
; and

���� (d) recommendations, as
appropriate, to the Secretary of Higher Education and the Legislature regarding
the credit transfer standards and any other initiatives or proposals towards
improving the experiences and academic outcomes of transfer students.

���� 6.��� (New section)� Each public
institution of higher education shall provide transfer students with data on
program outcomes of students who have transferred from other public
institutions of higher education in the State, including completion rates.� The
data shall include general and specific programmatic outcomes, as those
measures are determined by the secretary.

���� 7.��� (New section)� The
Secretary of Higher Education shall approve or disapprove any dual enrollment
or concurrent enrollment agreement in which the partnering institution of
higher education is located out-of-State.

���� 8.��� (New section) �
The Secretary of Higher Education shall adopt rules
and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act,"
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to carry out the provisions of
this act.

���� 9.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

����� This bill
modifies the collective Statewide transfer
agreement and reverse transfer agreement and establishes the New Jersey
Transfer Ombudsperson within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

����� Current law requires each public institution of
higher education to enter into a collective Statewide transfer agreement, in
consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education and the New Jersey
Presidents� Council.� This bill requires each public institution of highe
r education to enter into a collective Statewide
transfer agreement developed by the New Jersey Presidents� Council, in
consultation with the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson established pursuant to
the bill�s provisions, and approved by the Secretary of Higher Education.� The
agreement is to provide for the transfer of academic credits between all public
institutions of higher education in the State, including academic credits
earned through a dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment agreement.

�����
����� Under the bill, the agreement would
include:
�

���� (1)�� a listing of the general
education courses compiled by the secretary in consultation with the
Presidents' Council;

���� (2)�� policies and procedures
for the
:

���� (a)�� transfer and application
of academic credits for general education courses between public institutions
of higher education; and

���� (b)�� transfer and application
of academic credits to a baccalaureate degree program from a completed
associate degree program;

���� (c)�� transfer and application
of academic credits for courses completed under a dual enrollment agreement or
a concurrent agreement between a public school in the State and a public
institution of higher education in the State;

���� (d)�� transfer and application
of academic credits for courses completed under certain dual enrollment
agreement or concurrent enrollment agreements approved by the Secretary of
Higher Education;

���� (3)�� policies and procedures
for the implementation of an appeals process at each participating institution
of higher education for students and institutions to resolve disputes regarding
the transfer of academic credits;�����������

���� (4)�� policies and procedures
for the collection of data by the secretary to be utilized by the
New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson
to ensure
compliance with the law; and

���� (5)�� policies and procedures
for the transfer and application of academic credits earned through
participation in dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment.

���� The bill removes a provision
in current law that requires the annual review and update of the
collective Statewide transfer agreement
.�

����� Current
law requires each institution of higher education, in consultation with the
Secretary of Higher Education and the New Jersey Presidents� Council, to
establish and enter into a collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement.�
This bill requires each institution of higher education to enter into a
collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement developed by the New Jersey
Presidents� Council, in consultation with the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson
and approved by the Secretary of Higher Education. The bill removes a provision
in current law that requires the annual review and update of the agreement.��

���� The
bill establishes the
position of
the
New
Jersey Transfer
Ombudsperson
within the
Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The
primary
purpose of the
ombudsperson
is
to
serve as a resource for

students and
participating
institutions
of higher education regarding compliance with the credit transfer
agreement
in order to foster the transfer
process and the academic success of transfer students.�
The ombudsperson may, upon the request of a student
or participating institution of higher education, serve as an impartial
third-party mediator of disputes between one or more students and a
participating institution or between two or more participating institutions.�

���� The bill directs the ombudsperson to regularly
convene, but not more than biannually, stakeholders from participating
institutions to determine best practices in credit transfer and share findings
related to the institutions� implementation of the credit transfer agreement.

���� Under the bill, the
ombudsperson
is responsible for the: (1)
periodic review, occurring not less than once every
five
years
of the
agreement
; and
(2)
preparation
of the annual credit transfer report
.

The bill stipulates that
the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to
confer upon the ombudsperson the authority to compel an institution of higher
education to accept academic credits.

�����
The bill directs the
Secretary of Higher
Education to approve or disapprove any dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment
agreement in which the partnering institution of higher education is located
out-of-State.