A bill is headed to Governor Pritzker’s desk that would require all community college credits to be counted towards 4-year degrees about public universities. Currently, many of these credits only count toward elective courses.
Senate Bill 2288 passed the house last week. Currently, each school gets to decide whether credits are counted when transferred in.
As students head into college, they are faced with the decision of where to attend, something credit opportunities can play a part in.
Abby Carlson will be attending Rock Valley College this falls and plans to transfer to a four-year university following her time there, something she hopes is made easier with the assurance of her credits transferring.
“It’s kind of ridiculous for them not to count them or transfer as credits because there’s really no reason for them not to. I mean, it’s the same classes, same general idea,” Carlson said.
One current Rock Valley student only sees this bill benefitting himself and his fellow classmates.
“I think it will help a lot of college students. It will also relieve a lot of stress and fear that I know some go through that their credits won’t transfer over,” Jonathon Stinson.
And Rock Valley College feels the exact same.
“Really help the community colleges across the state. Of course, Rock Valley College would be hoping that it would certainly impact our students positively,” said Dr. Patrick Peyer, the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
For Stinson, the positives of attending community college are plenty.
“Here at RVC, it’s way more convenient and it’s way more cheaper because it’s a community college. But, also the resources that are here at RVC are very beneficial,” Stinson said.
One of the things this bill could allow is more students to graduate in four years, something Rock Valley College sees is very possible.
“It’s getting into their major literally, hopefully the day they walk into that four year transfer partners university campus. They walk in the door knowing exactly what courses they’re going to take. They’re not having to repeat courses in their major and they don’t get off track,” Peyer said.
And as for remaining on track, this could provide help.
“Retake a course they’ve already taken it might put them out of sequence with the next course they want to take because instead of taking Bio 2 they have to take Bio 1 a 2nd time and that would slow their progression,” Peyer said.
For Stinson and other community college students, plans outside of Rockford could be easier to accomplish thanks to this bill.
“I think it’s important for students here in Rockford if they do want to go follow their dreams and majors at other universities, I think it’s important that they can take their credits here and not have to worry about them not transferring over to a four-year university,” Stinson said.
This law will go into affect January 1st pending Governor Pritzker’s signature.