Credit transfer bill passes IN Senate

INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) - A bill that would streamline academic credit transfer policies for state universities passed the Indiana Senate by a vote of 50-0 Tuesday, Senate Republicans reported. 

Senator Jim Banks (R- Columbia City ) authored the bill with the goal of saving families additional tuition costs that result when students have to retake classes. The bill would increase the number of courses that are transferable.

Currently, Banks said course numbering systems and acceptance guidelines are different for every school, often making the system difficult for transfer students to navigate. This bill would also bring more transparency to higher education by ensuring students know whether their courses are transferable.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education would create a common course numbering system for general education courses at all public Indiana institutions by May 15, 2013.

The bill now moves on to the Indiana House for consideration.