The bill amends the Code of West Virginia by adding 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 guaranteed statewide transfer pathways. The bill also creates a statewide guaranteed transfer and articulation advisory committee, which will consist of representatives from state institutions of higher education and will report to the chancellors or their designees.

The legislation outlines specific requirements for the guaranteed transfer pathways, including the acceptance of general education courses, the automatic admission of community and technical college graduates to public baccalaureate institutions, and the recognition of credits earned through various programs such as dual enrollment and competency-based education. It emphasizes the importance of creating a seamless education system to enhance degree completion rates and reduce costs for students. Additionally, the commission and council are required to propose rules for legislative approval to implement these provisions effectively.

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