This bill mandates the Secretary of Higher Education to establish standards for academic credit transfer and reverse credit transfer, replacing the previous requirement for public institutions to enter into collective Statewide agreements. The new standards will be developed in consultation with the New Jersey Presidents' Council and will ensure that academic credits are transferable between all public institutions of higher education in the state. The bill also introduces the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman, whose role is to facilitate the resolution of disputes regarding compliance with these credit transfer standards, conduct periodic reviews of institutional policies, and prepare an annual report on credit transfer outcomes.

Additionally, the bill requires public institutions to provide transfer students with data on program outcomes, including completion rates, for students who have transferred from other institutions. It eliminates outdated references to collective agreements in existing law and emphasizes the importance of compliance with the newly established standards. The Secretary of Higher Education is also tasked with adopting necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this act, which takes effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:62-46, 18A:62-47, 18A:62-48, 18A:62-49, 18A:62-50, 18A:71B-86.5