ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 4220

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 3, 2024

      The Assembly Higher Education Committee adopts an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 4220.

      This committee substitute revises the Statewide transfer agreements for the transfer of academic credit and reverse credit at public institutions of higher education and establishes the position of New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

      Under current law, each public institution of higher education is required to establish and enter into a collective Statewide transfer agreement that provides for the seamless transfer of academic credits across public institutions of higher education.  Similarly, current law requires institutions of higher education, both public and independent, to establish and enter into a collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement for the awarding of associate degrees by the county colleges.  Under current law, the Statewide transfer agreement is established by public institutions of higher education in consultation with the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and the New Jersey Presidents’ Council and the Statewide reverse transfer agreement is established by public institutions of higher education in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education and the New Jersey Presidents’ Council.

      This committee substitute modifies both the collective Statewide transfer agreement and the collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement and requires each public institution of higher education to enter into the modified agreements. Under the substitute, the agreements are to be developed by the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, in consultation with the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson established by the bill.

      The committee substitute establishes the position of the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The purpose of the ombudsperson is to facilitate the resolution of disputes between students and public institutions of higher education regarding the institution’s compliance with the credit transfer agreement. Under the substitute, the ombudsperson is to be responsible for:

      (1)  final administrative decisions over disputes between students and public institutions of higher education regarding the transfer of academic credits. In making a final administrative decision, the ombudsperson is to give appropriate consideration to any potential negative affect of a decision on the programmatic accreditation of the institution; provided, however, that the institution is afforded the opportunity to specifically demonstrate in each case the potential negative effect of a decision not in favor of the institution on the programmatic accreditation of the institution;

      (2)  the periodic review, occurring not less than once every five years, of the Statewide credit transfer agreement to ensure compliance with the applicable provisions of law; and

      (3)  preparation of the annual credit transfer report.

      The committee substitute also requires each public institution of higher education to 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. 

      Finally, the committee substitute includes technical corrections to update outdated references in the current law.