January 27, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Jacque, Felzkowski, Nass, Wanggaard
and Stafsholt, cosponsored by Representatives Murphy, Rettinger,
Penterman, Brandtjen, Brooks, Maxey, Mursau, Ortiz-Velez, Rodriguez,
Tusler, Wichgers and Zimmerman. Referred to Committee on Universities
and Revenue.
SB19,1,7 1An Act to repeal 36.11 (3) (cm) 1. and 3. and 36.31 (1); to amend 36.11 (3) (b),
236.11 (3) (c), 36.11 (3) (cm) 4. and 36.31 (2); and to create 36.11 (3) (bm), 36.31
3(1m) and 36.31 (2m) (d) of the statutes; relating to: uniform course numbering
4and the transfer of course credits among technical colleges and University of
5Wisconsin System schools, and eliminating certain restrictions on the
6respective educational roles of the University of Wisconsin System and the
7Technical College System.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
and the Technical College System Board to implement a universal course numbering
and credit transfer system within five years. The bill also eliminates a restriction
on the respective educational roles of the UWS and TCS.
Under current law, one of the purposes of the TCS is to provide a collegiate
transfer program, which is a full-time program at a technical college in which the
credits earned may be transferable to a four-year institution of higher education.
Collegiate transfer programs may not comprise more than 25 percent of the approved
credit hours offered in any technical college district.
The TCS Board and the Board of Regents may agree to designate courses as
transferable for credit between the TCS and UWS, and must enter into an agreement

identifying at least 72 credits of core general education courses that are transferable
between the UWS and TCS. The TCS Board and the Board of Regents must also
enter into an agreement to identify, promote, support, and prioritize
“program-to-program articulation agreements” that articulate how the completion
of requirements for a specified program of study at one institution transfers toward
the completion of requirements for a specified program of study at another
educational institution. Private colleges and tribal colleges may also participate in
agreements related to course credit transfers and the program-to-program
articulation agreements. The Board of Regents must establish policies for the
appropriate transfer of credits between UWS institutions, and may establish policies
for the appropriate transfer of credits with other educational institutions. The Board
of Regents must further establish and maintain a computer-based credit transfer
system.
This bill requires the TCS Board and the Board of Regents to implement a
universal course numbering and credit transfer system under which credits for
courses with the same universal course number are automatically transferable
among UWS institutions and technical colleges. If a UWS institution or technical
college offers a course, other UWS institutions or technical colleges must award
academic credit to a student who has successfully completed a course with the same
universal course number at any other UWS institution or technical college; the
course credit awarded must be applied toward degree requirements, as applicable.
This bill also eliminates the following prohibitions relating to the respective
educational roles of the UWS and the TCS: 1) that the Board of Regents not broaden
the UWS mission to include training for semiprofessional or skilled-trade
occupations beyond that offered during the 1972-73 academic year unless the TCS
Board approves; and 2) that the TCS Board not broaden TCS collegiate transfer
program offerings beyond those in existence during the 1972-73 academic year
unless the Board of Regents approves.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB19,1 1Section 1 . 36.11 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB19,3,42 36.11 (3) (b) Subject to par. (bm) and s. 36.31 (2m), the board shall establish
3policies for the appropriate transfer of credits between institutions within the
4system, including postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil enrolled in a
5course at an institution within the system under the program under s. 118.55. If the
6board determines that postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil under the

1program under s. 118.55 are not transferable under this paragraph, the board shall
2permit the individual to take an examination to determine the individual's
3competency in the subject area of the course and, if the individual receives a passing
4score on the examination, shall award equivalent credits to the individual.
SB19,2 5Section 2 . 36.11 (3) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB19,3,136 36.11 (3) (bm) Upon implementation of the universal course numbering and
7credit transfer system under s. 36.31 (1m) (a), credits for courses with the same
8universal course number shall be transferable among institutions and technical
9colleges without further review. The policies under pars. (b) and (c) may provide for
10the transfer of credits among institutions and technical colleges for courses in which
11the receiving institution or technical college does not offer the same universally
12numbered course taken at a different institution or technical college from which the
13credit transfer is sought.
SB19,3 14Section 3 . 36.11 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB19,3,2415 36.11 (3) (c) Subject to par. (bm) and s. 36.31 (2m), the board may establish
16policies for the appropriate transfer of credits with other educational institutions
17outside the system, including postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil
18enrolled in a course at an educational institution outside the system through the
19program under s. 118.55. If the board determines that postsecondary credits earned
20by a high school pupil under the program under s. 118.55 are not transferable under
21this paragraph, the board shall permit the individual to take an examination to
22determine the individual's competency in the subject area of the course and, if the
23individual receives a passing score on the examination, shall award equivalent
24credits to the individual.
SB19,4 25Section 4 . 36.11 (3) (cm) 1. and 3. of the statutes are repealed.
SB19,5
1Section 5. 36.11 (3) (cm) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB19,4,32 36.11 (3) (cm) 4. Other All courses for which the transfer of credits is accepted
3under par. pars. (b) or, (bm), and (c).
SB19,6 4Section 6 . 36.31 (1) of the statutes is repealed.
SB19,7 5Section 7 . 36.31 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB19,4,96 36.31 (1m) (a) The Board of Regents and the technical college system board
7shall implement a universal course numbering and credit transfer system no later
8than the first day of the 60th month beginning after the effective date of this
9paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
SB19,4,1310 (b) The universal course numbering and credit transfer system shall include
11the transfer of postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil enrolled in a
12course at an institution within the University of Wisconsin System under the
13program under s. 118.55 or at a technical college under s. 38.12 (14).
SB19,4,1914 (c) As part of the universal course numbering and credit transfer system, each
15institution and technical college offering a course shall award academic credit for a
16course with the same universal course number successfully completed at another
17institution or technical college, including applying the course credits to satisfy
18general education requirements or requirements for a degree in a specific field of
19study, as applicable.
SB19,8 20Section 8 . 36.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB19,4,2521 36.31 (2) The technical college system board, in agreement with the board, may
22designate courses other than those covered under sub. (1) as transferable for
23collegiate credit between the 2 systems. Upon implementation of the universal
24course numbering and credit transfer system under sub. (1m) (a), this subsection
25does not apply.
SB19,9
1Section 9. 36.31 (2m) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB19,5,62 36.31 (2m) (d) Upon implementation of the universal course numbering and
3credit transfer system under sub. (1m) (a), credits for courses with the same
4universal course number may be included in the calculation to determine whether
5the agreement of the Board of Regents and the technical college system board under
6par. (b) has identified at least 72 transferable course credits.
SB19,5,77 (End)
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