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, 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 the guaranteed transfer pathways, including the acceptance of general education courses, dual enrollment credits, and credits from accelerated programs. It guarantees that graduates of community and technical colleges with approved associate degrees will be admitted to public baccalaureate institutions without additional general education requirements, provided they meet certain conditions. The commission and council are also tasked with proposing rules for legislative approval to implement these provisions, ensuring that the transfer pathways are recognized universally 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