Along with tuition and fee information, such information would be available on a federal College Opportunity On-Line Web site. The site would have links where individual institutions would publish their transfer policies and articulation agreements. This type of information is essential to low-income students, the House bill states.
A Senate HEA bill now under consideration has similar language, with colleges required to describe their credit transfer policies in a “readable manner” for consumers. Colleges’ student outcome data also would include information on the transfer rates of two-year students to four-year institutions.
But while such information may smooth the transition process for some students, Spellings says more action is needed to address the issue.
“For those who challenge whether or not we should be acting at all, the facts speak for themselves,” she said, noting that millions of students must spend more money and time repeating courses they took previously. “Billions and billions of dollars are wasted by students and institutions because of this issue.”
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