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

S1461 SHI Statement 2/12/26

SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No.
1461

STATE
OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:
�FEBRUARY
12, 2026

����� The Senate Higher Education Committee reports
favorably Senate Bill No. 1461.

����� 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 higher
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 required 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;

����� (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; and

����� (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: periodic review, occurring not less than once every five years, of the Statewide
transfer agreement; and 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.

����� This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027
session pending technical review.� As reported, the bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed.