A2119

An Act concerning academic credit at public institutions of higher education and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Prior Learning Assessment Network, the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey, shall establish standards for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning at public institutions of higher education.

b. The standards shall include policies and procedures for the:

(1) assessment of prior learning completed by a student including, but not limited to: Advanced Placement and College Level Examination Program assessments; validated workforce learning; industry-valued credentials; institutionally-conducted examinations; and portfolio assessments;

(2) awarding of academic credit for prior learning completed by a student, including a minimum limit of prior learning credits that a public institution of higher education shall be required to accept;

(3) transfer of credits awarded based on prior learning completed by a student between public institutions of higher education;

(4) implementation of an appeals process for students and public institutions of higher education to resolve disputes regarding the assessment and awarding of academic credit for prior learning;

(5) annual review and update of the standards; and

(6) collection of data by the secretary to ensure that all participating institutions of higher education are in compliance with the provisions of this act and to ensure the standards are fostering the academic success of students.

c. A public institution of higher education may establish a maximum limit of academic credits for prior learning that may be applied towards an associate or baccalaureate degree awarded by the institution, except that the maximum limit shall be no less than any limit of prior learning academic credits established by the secretary pursuant to subsection b. of this section. The limit established by the secretary shall not jeopardize the accreditation status of any institution of higher education, or of any academic program of an institution.

2. a. Each public institution of higher education shall establish a policy for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning that is consistent with the standards established pursuant to section 1 of this act. This requirement may be satisfied, among other ways, through the establishment of:

(1) a credit reciprocity agreement with Thomas Edison State University;

(2) a partnership between the public institution of higher education and Thomas Edison State University wherein Thomas Edison State University is to assess and recommend the award of academic credit for prior learning on behalf of the public institution of higher education;

(3) or a partnership between a public institution of higher education and a qualified third party wherein the third party is to assess and recommend the award of academic credit for prior learning on behalf of the public institution of higher education.

b. An independent institution of higher education may elect to establish a policy for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning that is consistent with the standards established pursuant to section 1 of this act.

3. a. A public institution of higher education, or any other institution or organization conducting a prior learning assessment on behalf of a public institution of higher education, may charge a nominal fee for an assessment to cover the administrative costs incurred during the assessment.

b. A public institution of higher education shall not charge the per-credit tuition rate of the institution for prior learning credits awarded pursuant to section 2 of this act.

4. The Secretary of Higher Education shall submit an annual report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), containing the data collected pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection b. of section 1 of this act, an analysis of the effect of the standards on the academic success of students enrolled in public institutions of higher education, and an analysis of each participating institution’s compliance with the provisions of this act.

5. Nothing in this act shall be construed to require any institution of higher education to admit a student or to waive its admission standards and application procedures.

6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full academic year next following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to establish standards for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning at public institutions of higher education.

Under the bill, the standards are to include policies and procedures for the: (1) assessment of prior learning completed by a student including: Advanced Placement and College Level Examination Program assessments; validated workforce learning; industry-valued credentials; institutionally-conducted examinations; and portfolio assessments; (2) awarding of academic credit for prior learning completed by a student, including a minimum limit of prior learning credits that a public institution of higher education shall be required to accept; (3) transfer of credits awarded based on prior learning completed by a student between public institutions of higher education; (4) implementation of an appeals process for students and public institutions of higher education to resolve disputes regarding the assessment and awarding of academic credit for prior learning; (5) annual review and update of the standards; and (6) collection of data by the secretary to ensure that all participating institutions of higher education are in compliance with the provisions of the bill and to ensure the standards are fostering the academic success of students.

Additionally, the bill permits a public institution of higher education to establish a maximum limit of academic credits for prior learning that may be applied towards an associate or baccalaureate degree awarded by the institution, except that the maximum limit shall be no less than any limit of prior learning academic credits established by the secretary.

Pursuant to the bill, each public institution of higher education is required to establish a policy for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning that is consistent with the standards established by the secretary. This requirement may be satisfied through the establishment of: (1) a credit reciprocity agreement with Thomas Edison State University; (2) a partnership between the public institution of higher education and Thomas Edison State University wherein Thomas Edison State University is to assess and recommend the award of academic credit for prior learning on behalf of the public institution of higher education; or (3) a partnership between a public institution of higher education and a qualified third party wherein the third party is to assess and recommend the award of academic credit for prior learning on behalf of the public institution. The bill permits an independent institution of higher education to establish a policy consistent with the standards.

Finally, the bill stipulates that a public institution of higher education, or any other institution or organization conducting a prior learning assessment on behalf of a public institution of higher education, may charge a nominal fee for an assessment of prior learning to cover the administrative costs incurred during the assessment and prohibits an institution from charging the per-credit tuition rate of the institution for prior learning credits awarded pursuant to the provisions of the bill.