[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 760

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM

District 31 (Hudson)

Senator  NELLIE POU

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Ruiz

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires undergraduate students to file degree plan and requires institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions to develop pathway systems to graduation.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended by the Senate on May 13, 2019.

 


An Act concerning college degree completion and supplementing chapter 1[62] 3B1 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.   As used in this 1[section,] act:1,

     “Degree plan” means a statement of the course of study requirements that an undergraduate student enrolled in 1[a public] an1 institution of higher education 1or a proprietary institution1 must complete to graduate from the institution.

     1“Proprietary institution” means a proprietary institution whose students are eligible to participate in any student financial aid program administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.1

      b.   Except as otherwise provided in subsection c. of this section, an undergraduate student enrolled in a four-year 1[public]1 institution of higher education shall file a degree plan with the institution as soon as practicable, but not later than by the completion of 45 credit hours of course work. 

     c.     An undergraduate student who transfers to a four-year 1[public]1 institution of higher education with at least 45 credit hours of course work shall file a degree plan with the institution during the student’s first semester at the institution.

     d.    A degree-seeking undergraduate student enrolled in a county college 1or proprietary institution1 shall file a degree plan with the institution 1[upon entering the institution] as soon as practicable, but not later than by the completion of 30 credit hours of course work1 .

     e.     1A student who changes his course of study and selects a new academic major or minor, or who experiences such other change in circumstance as defined by the institution, shall file a revised degree plan with the institution.

     f.1   A degree plan filed pursuant to this section shall:

     (1)   be developed in consultation with an 2[academic advisor] appropriate academic official2 in the student’s degree program, or if an 2[academic advisor] appropriate academic official2 is not available in the student’s degree program, 2[any academic advisor] an appropriate academic official2 at the institution; and

     (2)   follow a pathway to a degree as required pursuant to section 2 of this act.

 

     2.    a.   1[A public] An1 institution of higher education 1or a proprietary institution1 shall:

     (1)   develop a pathway system whereby the institution  establishes graduation progress benchmarks for each academic major and for the general education program for students who have not declared a major;

     (2)   require the pathway for each first-time degree-seeking student to include credit-bearing mathematics and English courses 1that are applicable towards degree requirements1 in the first 24 credit hours of course work; and

     (3)   require the pathway for each degree-seeking student enrolled in a remedial course in mathematics, reading, or English to include the credit-bearing course in mathematics, reading, or English concurrent with or in the semester immediately following completion of the remedial course.

     b.    (1)   The graduation progress benchmarks established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section shall specify the credit and course criteria that indicate satisfactory progress toward a degree.

     (2)   The academic departments of 1[a public] an1 institution of higher education 1or a proprietary institution1 shall establish schedules for regular periodic reviews of student progress.

     (3)   A student who is in danger of falling behind the graduation progress benchmarks shall be required to consult with an 2[academic advisor] appropriate academic official2 prior to course registration.

 

      3.   This act shall take effect immediately and shall first be applicable to the first class of students entering a public institution of higher education following the effective date of this act.