Pennsylvania Statutes Title 24 P.S. Education § 20-2002-C. Duties of public institutions of higher education

(i) A student with an associate degree from a public institution of higher education who is transferring into a parallel baccalaureate degree program at another public institution of higher education shall be awarded full junior standing and shall not be required to satisfactorily complete more than 60 credits to earn a 120-credit baccalaureate degree in a parallel program, regardless of the courses the student took to earn the associate degree prior to transferring, unless required to meet accreditation or external licensure or certification standards.

(ii) A student transferring into a parallel baccalaureate degree program with an associate degree shall be guaranteed admission to the parallel baccalaureate degree program, subject to capacity, if the student meets the program criteria required of students in the parallel baccalaureate degree program at the receiving institution.

(iii) A student transferring from one public institution of higher education to another public institution of higher education shall have the same requirements for retention as a student in the parallel baccalaureate degree program at the receiving institution.

(iv) A public institution of higher education may designate majors or programs of study that are limited access by reason of accreditation, clinical or resource-based capacity.

(v) A student transferring from a public institution of higher education with an associate degree shall have satisfied the general education requirements at the receiving institution, with possible exceptions made for the following, provided that the exceptions do not extend the student's time to the degree:

(i) Consult with the Department of Education on a process and timeline, subject to approval by the department, to identify the associate of arts or associate of science degree aligned with the graduation requirements of the parallel baccalaureate degree in all public institutions of higher education in consultation with faculty and personnel.

(ii) Identify associate of arts or associate of science degree programs for transfer with full junior standing into a parallel baccalaureate degree in consultation with faculty and personnel in those degree programs by December 31, 2011.

(iii) Identify modifications that may be required in existing associate or baccalaureate degrees to satisfy external accreditation or licensure requirements in consultation with faculty and personnel. Approved modifications shall recognize all competencies attained within either the associate or baccalaureate programs.

(iv) Define requirements, in consultation with faculty and personnel, for education degrees, including early childhood education degrees, leading to certification to be included in an associate degree and to be accepted for transfer with full junior standing into a parallel baccalaureate degree program.

(i) Consult with the department on a process and timeline, subject to approval by the department, to develop uniform standards for determining academic credit for prior learning, in consultation with faculty and personnel.

(ii) Develop and implement uniform standards for determining academic credit for prior learning, in consultation with faculty and personnel.

(iii) Participate in submitting a status report to the department, the Education Committee of the Senate and the Education Committee of the House of Representatives.

(i) The total number of students awarded credits for prior learning, including Advanced Placement Program exams, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program exams and College-Level Examination Program exams, Dantes Subject Standardized Tests and Cambridge advanced exams.

(ii) The total number of credits awarded to students for prior learning, including Advanced Placement Program exams, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program exams and College-Level Examination Program exams, Dantes Subject Standardized Tests and Cambridge advanced exams.

(iii) The number of credits awarded to matriculating students who present Advanced Placement Program, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and College-Level Examination Program exams, Dantes Subject Standardized Tests and Cambridge advanced exams that meet the standards established under section 2004-C(c)(6) and, of those credits, the number of credits applied toward major requirements and the number of credits applied toward elective requirements.

(iv) Any other information related to awarding of credit for prior learning as requested by the department or the Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee, including the usability of transfer credits.