A two-bill package intended to streamline operations in higher education passed without dissent in the state House Wednesday.
Both bills were backed by state Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa. The both passed unanimously in the state Senate earlier in the legislative session.
The first bill, Senate Bill 103 requires colleges and universities to cap baccalaureate degree programs at 120 credit hours.
SB103 would exempt certain programs which require additional credit hours to meet certification or accreditation requirements. The measure stems from a recommendation from the legislatively formed higher education Governance Commission that wrapped up its work in January.
SB103 would remove some of the barriers students have while trying to earn a degree, Nevers has said.
Under Senate Bill 104, Louisiana’s postsecondary institutions will have to phase in over the next four years a common course numbering system.
The system, Nevers has said, will make it easier for students to transfer between institutions.
Louisiana Board of Regents Chief of Staff Kim Hunter Reed, has said SB104 will ensure that Louisiana has a system in place where students will know the time and money spent to complete courses at one higher education institution, wasn’t done in vain should they transfer schools.
