The bill amends the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new section, 18B-14-5, which establishes a guaranteed transfer of credit for courses completed in career pathways among high schools, career and technical education centers, community and technical colleges, and baccalaureate institutions. It mandates the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education to oversee the development and maintenance of statewide transfer pathways, ensuring that students can transfer credits seamlessly between institutions. The bill also creates a statewide guaranteed transfer and articulation advisory committee to facilitate this process, which will include representatives from state institutions of higher education.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific requirements for guaranteed transfer pathways, including the acceptance of general education courses, the automatic admission of community college graduates to baccalaureate programs, and the recognition of credits earned through various accelerated programs. It emphasizes the importance of aligning educational pathways with workforce needs, particularly in high-demand fields such as nursing and hospitality. The commission and council are tasked with proposing rules for legislative approval to implement these provisions, ensuring that the transfer pathways are universally accepted across public institutions in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-14-2
Committee Substitute: 18B-14-2
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 18B-14-2
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18B-14-5