00                            SENATE BILL NO. 31                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to the transferability of academic credit for specified courses among                                  
02 postsecondary education programs; and relating to the Board of Regents of the                                           
03 University of Alaska."                                                                                                  
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1. AS 14.40 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                  
06 Sec. 14.40.185. Transferability of credits; foundational curricula. (a) For                                           
07 each academic degree program in a major area of study offered by the University of                                      
08 Alaska, the Board of Regents shall establish a foundational curriculum for the first                                    
09 year of lower division courses to ensure the transferability of completed course credit                                 
10       between programs within the University of Alaska. In establishing the foundational                                
11       curricula, the Board of Regents shall                                                                             
12                 (1)  consult with directors from each campus of the University of                                       
13       Alaska;                                                                                                           
14                 (2)  evaluate current lower division courses offered at each campus of                                  

01       the University of Alaska for transferability between campuses;                                                    
02                 (3)  identify major areas of study based on workforce demand and                                        
03       academic need;                                                                                                    
04                 (4)  publicly disclose the criteria used to establish the foundational                                  
05       curricula and major areas of study;                                                                               
06                 (5)  distribute the foundational curriculum for each major area of study                                
07       to each campus of the University of Alaska for replication;                                                       
08                 (6)  determine and describe the courses, completion standards, and the                                  
09       optimal number of academic credits for the foundational curriculum for an academic                                
10       degree program in each major area of study;                                                                       
11 (7)  regularly update the foundational curricula and major areas of                                                     
12       study as necessary;                                                                                               
13 (8)  provide information and technical assistance to each campus of the                                                 
14 University of Alaska about implementing the foundational curricula and the                                              
15       transferability of credits; and                                                                                   
16 (9)  evaluate the effect of the foundational curricula on transferability                                               
17 of course credit and provide to the chairs of the house and senate committees having                                    
18 jurisdiction over education an annual report on the implementation and success of the                                   
19 foundational curricula and the transfer rate of courses completed at each campus of the                                 
20 University of Alaska; the report must include estimates of cost savings related to                                      
21 reductions in the time needed for degree completion by transfer students and other                                      
22       considerations relevant to implementation of the foundational curricula.                                          
23 (b)  The Board of Regents shall award full transfer credit to a student who                                             
24 satisfactorily completes a foundational curriculum established under (a) of this section,                               
25 or course within a foundational curriculum, in a major area of study identified by the                                  
26       Board of Regents.                                                                                                 
27 (c)  Each campus of the University of Alaska shall provide a foundational                                               
28 curriculum established under (a) of this section to all first-year students enrolled in an                              
29 academic degree program in a major area of study. For a student attending the                                           
30 University of Alaska who has not identified a major area of study but who indicates an                                  
31 interest in completing an academic degree program, the campus shall provide                                             

01       information on the major areas of study identified by the Board of Regents and advise                             
02       the student on the transferability of credits for the foundational curricula.