The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SB 132 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Nevers
Present law provides for the seamless transfer of credits between and among public secondary and
postsecondary educational institutions and charges the Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council
(SATC) with the responsibility to coordinate, oversee, and monitor transfer and articulation
activities.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law authorizes and encourages four-year colleges and universities and community colleges
to enter into reverse articulation or reverse transfer agreements to facilitate the transfer of academic
credits earned by a student while enrolled in a four-year postsecondary institution back to a
community college for the purpose of enabling a student to complete the requirements for an
associate degree from the community college. Requires the SATC to establish guidelines to govern
the reverse transfer of academic credits between four-year colleges and universities and community
colleges.
Proposed law requires every articulation and transfer agreement developed and implemented in
accordance with present law to maximize the number of academic or workforce education credits
awarded to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces for their military education, training, or experience
and provide for their seamless transfer from one public postsecondary institution to another.
Proposed law requires the SATC to utilize the "Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences
in the Armed Services" and the standards of the American Council on Education to govern the award
or transfer of academic or workforce credit to veterans for military education, training, or experience.
Proposed law requires each Louisiana public postsecondary educational institution to assist veterans
and their spouses in pursuing their educational goals by providing expedited transcript analysis, prior
learning assessment, portfolio analysis, advising, and testing.
Proposed law requires each postsecondary institution, at the request of an entering student who is
a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, to evaluate any transcript of prior earned postsecondary
academic credit and accept the transfer of any credit earned from a regionally accredited
postsecondary institution, provided that the credit aligns with the course and program requirements
of the receiving institution.
Proposed law requires the SATC to coordinate and oversee the development of a military articulation
and transfer process that shall be adhered to by all public postsecondary education institutions that
will: (1)Recognize and align military education, training, or experience with the appropriate
academic or workforce coursework.
(2)Provide for the transfer of academic credit hours earned by a veteran or the spouse of a
veteran from a postsecondary educational institution that offers academic coursework to
military personnel and their spouses, provided such institution is accredited by the
appropriate regional accrediting body and the credit to be transferred is aligned with the
course and program requirements of the receiving institution.
Proposed law requires the SATC to give proper consideration to the admissions standards and role,
scope, and mission of each public postsecondary institution in developing the military articulation
and transfer process.
Present law (R.S. 17:3351(E)) requires the public postsecondary education management boards to
adopt a policy requiring each postsecondary institution under their management to award educational
credits to veterans for courses that are part of the student's military training or service that meets the
standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic
credit if the award of such credit is based upon the institution's admission standards and role, scope,
and mission.
Proposed law retains present law but requires that any policy adopted by a postsecondary education
management board pursuant to present law must conform to the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law requires the SATC to meet not later than September 15, 2015, to begin the process of
implementing the provisions of proposed law. Further provides that the provisions of proposed law
shall be implemented not later than the beginning of the Spring semester of the 2015-2016 academic
year.
Present law requires the Board of Regents to annually report to the Senate and House committees
on education regarding the status of statewide articulation and transfer of credit across all educational
institutions in the state and specifies the data to be included in the report.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally provides that such report include:
(1)The number of academic or workforce education credits awarded to veterans for their
military education, training, and experience.
(2)The number of academic credit hours earned by veterans and spouses of veterans from a
postsecondary educational institution that are transferred to a La. public postsecondary
institution.
Proposed law specifies that this information be reported in aggregate and by public postsecondary
educational institution.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action. (Adds R.S. 17:3161.1, 3165.2 and 3168(6))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the original bill
1. Deletes requirement that postsecondary institutions enter into articulation agreements
with every institution that offers coursework to military personnel and their spouses
pursuant to a contract with the U.S. Dept. of Defense and to accept all credits earned.
Deletes related reporting requirement.
2. Requires postsecondary institutions to assist veterans and their spouses by providing
specified services to help them pursue their educational goals.
3. Requires postsecondary institutions to accept credits earned by veterans and their
spouses if the courses meet specified criteria.
4. Requires SATC to oversee development of a military articulation and transfer process
instead of a matrix and provide for the transfer of academic credit hours earned by
veterans and their spouses that meet specified criteria.