HB 2517: Higher Education; Credit Transfer

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to Higher Education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that many students enrolled in public institutions of higher education possess college-level knowledge and skills acquired through military service, workforce training, apprenticeships, professional certifications, and other structured learning experiences outside of traditional classrooms.

     The legislature further finds that inconsistent and opaque practices for evaluating prior learning may delay degree completion, increase student costs, and create inequities among similarly situated students.

     The legislature further finds that appropriate recognition of prior learning may reduce time to degree, lower educational costs, and support workforce development by enabling students, including working adults and veterans, to efficiently complete certificates and degrees aligned with Hawaii's workforce needs.

     The purpose of this Act is to authorize the university of Hawaii to establish a systemwide framework for the assessment and award of academic credit for prior learning, while preserving faculty authority over academic standards and campus autonomy over implementation.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-     Prior learning assessment framework.  (a)  The university of Hawaii shall establish a systemwide framework to guide the assessment of prior learning for the purpose of awarding academic credit, where appropriate, toward certificates or degrees offered by the university.

     (b)  The framework shall:

     (1)  Be developed in consultation with faculty governance bodies and academic leadership across the university system;

     (2)  Identify categories of prior learning that may be eligible for assessment, which may include but are not limited to:

          (A)  Military education and training;

          (B)  Industry-recognized credentials or certifications;

          (C)  Registered apprenticeships or workforce training programs;

          (D)  Credit-by-examination or challenge examinations; and

          (E)  Portfolio-based assessments evaluated by qualified faculty;

     (3)  Establish principles to ensure that any academic credit awarded for prior learning reflects college-level learning outcomes equivalent to those required for credit-bearing coursework;

     (4)  Preserve faculty authority over curriculum, academic standards, and the evaluation of prior learning;

     (5)  Permit campuses and academic programs to determine how awarded credit may apply toward degree or certificate requirements, including limitations on applicability to major, elective, or general education requirements;

     (6)  Promote transparency and consistency in prior learning assessment practices across campuses, to the extent practicable, including through the publication of campus level policies or guidance regarding prior learning assessment; and

     (7)  Include publicly available guidance describing the general processes, assessment methods, and categories of prior learning through which students may seek academic credit.

     (c)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

     (1)  Require the award of academic credit for any particular form of prior learning;

     (2)  Require uniform acceptance of prior learning credit across campuses or programs;

     (3)  Alter admissions standards or degree requirements; or

     (4)  Limit the authority of faculty to determine academic rigor and equivalency.

     (d)  The university may implement the framework in phases or through pilot programs, as determined appropriate by the university, including in academic or workforce aligned programs where prior learning assessment may most effectively support student completion."

     SECTION 3.  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028, the university of Hawaii shall submit a report to the legislature describing:

     (1)  The status of the prior learning assessment framework established pursuant to section 304A-    , Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (2)  The categories of prior learning assessed, and the general types of academic credit awarded;

     (3)  Aggregate data on student participation and outcomes, including the number of students assessed, general categories of prior learning evaluated, the approximate number of academic credits awarded, and impacts on time-to-degree, where available;

     (4)  Recommendations for any proposed legislation; and

     (5)  Any identified implementation challenges or barriers, and recommendations to improve access, consistency, or effectiveness of prior learning assessment.

The report shall not include personally identifiable student information.

     SECTION 4.  In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Higher Education; Credit Transfer

Description:

Establishes a statewide framework for the assessment and the award of academic credit for prior learning acquired through military service, workforce training, apprenticeships, professional certifications, and other structured learning experiences outside of traditional classrooms.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.