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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
August 8, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Jacque and Stroebel, cosponsored by
Representatives Murphy, Wichgers, Kulp, Kerkman, Vorpagel, Nygren,
Felzkowski, Mursau, Ramthun and Zimmerman. Referred to Committee on
Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families.
SB342,1,7 1An Act to repeal 36.11 (3) (cm) 1. and 3., 36.31 (1) and 36.31 (2); to amend 36.11
2(3) (b), 36.11 (3) (c), 36.11 (3) (cm) 4. and 36.31 (2); and to create 36.11 (3) (bm),
336.31 (1m) and 36.31 (2m) (d) of the statutes; relating to: uniform course
4numbering and the transfer of course credits among technical colleges and
5University of Wisconsin System schools, and eliminating certain restrictions on
6the respective 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, but collegiate transfer programs may not comprise more than 25
percent of the approved credit hours offered in any technical college district. A
“collegiate transfer program" is a full-time program, approved by the TCS Board, in
which the credits earned may be transferable to a four-year institution of higher
education. The TCS Board, in agreement with the Board of Regents, may designate
courses as transferable for collegiate credit between the two systems. 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, including technical colleges. In addition, the Board
of Regents and the TCS Board must enter into an agreement identifying at least 30
credits of core general education courses that are transferable between the UWS and
TCS. Private colleges and tribal colleges may also participate in this agreement
related to course credit transfers. The Board of Regents must further establish and
maintain a computer-based credit transfer system.
This bill requires the Board of Regents and the TCS Board 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, the UWS institution or technical college must award academic
credit to a student who successfully completes a course with the same universal
course number at any other UWS institution or technical college and 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's 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:
SB342,1 1Section 1 . 36.11 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB342,3,22 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
7program under s. 118.55 are not transferable under this paragraph, the board shall
8permit the individual to take an examination to determine the individual's

1competency in the subject area of the course and, if the individual receives a passing
2score on the examination, shall award equivalent credits to the individual.
SB342,2 3Section 2 . 36.11 (3) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB342,3,114 36.11 (3) (bm) Upon implementation of the universal course numbering and
5credit transfer system under s. 36.31 (1m) (a), credits for courses with the same
6universal course number shall be transferable among institutions and technical
7colleges without further review. The policies under pars. (b) and (c) may provide for
8the transfer of credits among institutions and technical colleges for courses in which
9the receiving institution or technical college does not offer the same
10universally-numbered course taken at a different institution or technical college
11from which the credit transfer is sought.
SB342,3 12Section 3 . 36.11 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB342,3,2213 36.11 (3) (c) Subject to par. (bm) and s. 36.31 (2m), the board may establish
14policies for the appropriate transfer of credits with other educational institutions
15outside the system, including postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil
16enrolled in a course at an educational institution outside the system through the
17program under s. 118.55. If the board determines that postsecondary credits earned
18by a high school pupil under the program under s. 118.55 are not transferable under
19this paragraph, the board shall permit the individual to take an examination to
20determine the individual's competency in the subject area of the course and, if the
21individual receives a passing score on the examination, shall award equivalent
22credits to the individual.
SB342,4 23Section 4 . 36.11 (3) (cm) 1. and 3. of the statutes are repealed.
SB342,5 24Section 5 . 36.11 (3) (cm) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB342,4,2
136.11 (3) (cm) 4. Other All courses for which the transfer of credits is accepted
2under par. pars. (b) or, (bm), and (c).
SB342,6 3Section 6 . 36.31 (1) of the statutes is repealed.
SB342,7 4Section 7 . 36.31 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB342,4,85 36.31 (1m) (a) The Board of Regents and the technical college system board
6shall implement a universal course numbering and credit transfer system no later
7than the first day of the 60th month beginning after the effective date of this
8paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
SB342,4,129 (b) The universal course numbering and credit transfer system shall include
10the transfer of postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil enrolled in a
11course at an institution within the University of Wisconsin System under the
12program under s. 118.55 or at a technical college under s. 38.12 (14).
SB342,4,1813 (c) As part of the universal course numbering and credit transfer system, each
14institution and technical college offering a course shall award academic credit for a
15course with the same universal course number successfully completed at another
16institution or technical college, including applying the course credits to satisfy
17general education requirements or requirements for a degree in a specific field of
18study, as applicable.
SB342,8 19Section 8 . 36.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB342,4,2420 36.31 (2) The technical college system board, in agreement with the board, may
21designate courses other than those covered under sub. (1) as transferable for
22collegiate credit between the 2 systems. Upon implementation of the universal
23course numbering and credit transfer system under sub. (1m) (a), this subsection
24does not apply.
SB342,9 25Section 9 . 36.31 (2m) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB342,5,5
136.31 (2m) (d) Upon implementation of the universal course numbering and
2credit transfer system under sub. (1m) (a), credits for courses with the same
3universal course number may be included in the calculation to determine whether
4the agreement of the Board of Regents and the technical college system board under
5par. (b) has identified at least 30 transferable course credits.
SB342,5,66 (End)
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