Associated Press Published

W.Va. Higher Education Changes to Help Students

Higher Education Policy Commission

West Virginia higher education leaders are finalizing policy changes to help students more easily transfer college credits and earn degrees.

The changes were approved by the state Higher Education Policy Commission and the state Council for Community and Technical College Education within the last two months.

The proposed rules state that a school should accept course credits from another institution if 70 percent of learning objectives are similar between the courses at each school.

However, officials tell The Charleston Gazette that there may be exceptions if the 30 percent difference between courses is crucial.

Rules also would require four-year public colleges to notify two-year community and technical colleges about students that meet “reverse transfer status” and can be awarded an associate’s degree while continuing work toward a bachelor’s degree.