COMMENTARY: New Texas law gives transfer students clarity on class credits

The fall semester has begun, which means many students are scrambling to get their financial aid awards in order to pay their tuition fees on time. It’s no surprise why students would be seeking financial aid as tuition costs steadily rise with each year that goes by.

Students have to make careful decisions about what classes to take considering that there is a maximum limit of 150 credit hours the state of Texas will support for undergraduate degrees. If a student seeking an undergraduate degree exceeds this limit, they will be forced to pay tuition at a much higher rate as outlined in the Texas Education Code §54.014.

Going to college is a massive investment of both time and money, so it would be in a student’s best interests to avoid paying more for tuition and know for sure which credits can be transferred. After students successfully transfer from a community college to a university they may find out that some of their classes could not be transferred. This usually happens when the university declares that these classes do not meet certain criteria, such as the content the class covers, in order to be transferred.

Having classes rejected for transfer credit is disheartening to many students who themselves transfer from community colleges to universities. Some universities do not disclose outright which classes are able to transfer until the student is admitted into the college. This practice is outdated and unacceptable in today’s age of digital information. There is no excuse for why students should not be able to look up what classes can and cannot be transferred.

Some colleges and universities form articulation agreements that save students the hassle of figuring out which classes are capable of transferring. An articulation agreement is described as an agreement where two or more colleges aid in the transfer of college credits when a degree plan has been declared by a student who wishes to transfer from their current college to a university. Not all universities are open to forming these articulation agreements for whatever reason, but this summer the Texas Senate passed a bipartisan bill focusing primarily on transfer students and articulation agreements.

The bipartisan bill in question is Texas Senate Bill TX SB25 which was signed by the governor and accepted into Texas law in June of 2019. The exact purpose of this bill is to make it so four-year universities are required by law to sign an articulation agreement with students transferring from two-year community colleges.

However, this agreement can only be formed after students have already taken at least 30 credit hours in the community college they are attending and have declared a degree plan they wish to pursue. Both colleges will then be able to map out course loads every semester detailing which classes to take to ensure students are able to graduate as soon as possible. Additionally, every four-year university will be required to declare which classes could not be transferred and the reason why to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board every year.

It is unsurprising why a law like this would need to be implemented when, as stated by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, “37.2 percent of college students transfer at least once within six years.” This percentage includes every student in America transferring to other colleges and not necessarily from community colleges to four-year universities. Being able to sign articulation agreements with any community college and four-year university is a good solution considering that there are many students who decide to take classes at a community college knowing they will transfer to a university as a way to save money.

It is far from perfect, though, because the law only affects students attending community colleges and transferring to four-year universities. Not only that, but students would need to be aware that these agreements are even an option they have. Not enough is being done between the colleges and universities to make students aware of these agreements and declare which classes are able to be transferred. If the idea is to save money for both students and taxpayers then there has to be more collaboration between our institutions of higher education.

Fortunately for our future Hawks, the University of Houston-Clear Lake is one of several colleges in the Houston area that help students transfer their class credits without the need to enter into any agreements. When asked about this new Texas law, Kathryn Matthew, associate vice president for academic affairs, responded by saying that Houston Guided Pathways to Success (GPS) has been benefitting transfer students by facilitating the transfer of class credits from community colleges to universities for several years.

The University of Houston’s webpage for Houston GPS lists the two-year and four-year institutions that have entered collaborative partnerships to make it all possible. Houston GPS also lists common problems college students face and the reasons behind them, so it is advised that transfer students in the Houston area recognize the efficacy of this program.

The semester has only just begun with some of us still wondering about furthering our education and how much time and money will be devoted to seeing it through. UHCL Hawks are always welcome to set up appointments to see their academic advisers and speak with faculty members in their fields of study. Transfer student or not, every student should have access to excellent advisers who are capable of guiding them down the path to success. All students should also feel encouraged to seek out this guidance so they can make better informed decisions later down the line. Don’t let the weight of tuition fees keep you from soaring, Hawks.