Legislative Alert: Transfer of Credit

This may be the last chance to stop the federal government from intervening in the academic affairs of institutions.  The House Education and Workforce Committee will consider a bill tomorrow, July 20, 2005, that contains intrusive and prescriptive language about transfer of academic credit. If you believe that your institution should have the right to establish its own policy, without political micromanagement from Congress, NOW is the time to speak up.

The legislation—a substitute to H.R. 609— contains a "non-discrimination" clause (in sections 486 and 495) that would prohibit institutions of higher education from basing their credit acceptance policies on the accreditation of sending institution if the accrediting body is recognized by the Secretary of Education.

AACRAO continues to object to the inclusion of this mandate, because institutions should be allowed to exercise their best academic judgment with regard to the terms and conditions that their students must meet to earn their credentials. In addition, we are very concerned that by denying institutions the right to set higher standards than the Secretary, the new federal transfer mandate would eliminate an important evaluation tool without providing additional alternatives.

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), a former college provost, will offer an amendment to strike the dangerous transfer of credit language from the Chairman’s mark. AACRAO strongly supports this amendment.  Mr. Bishop’s amendment, however, will not pass unless supporters of academic autonomy speak up.  We encourage you to review the Bishop amendment, and inform your member of Congress of your views.

If you feel strongly about this important matter, now is the time to contact Congress. A list of the members of the Education and Workforce Committee and their phone numbers are below. It is essential that Members of Congress hear from the college administrators this proposal will affect the most.

Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Members of the House Education and Workforce Committee:

Arizona
Raul Grijalva (D-7th)
202-225-2435

California
Susan Davis (D-53rd)
202-225-2040

Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-25th)
202-225-4527

George Miller (D-7th)
202-225-2095

Lynn Woolsey (D-6th)
202-225-5161

Colorado
Marilyn Musgrave (R-4th)
202-225-4676

Delaware
Michael Castle (R-At Large)
202-225-4165

Florida
 Ric Keller (R-8th)
(202) 225-2176

Georgia
John Barrow (D-12th)
202-225-2823

Charlie Norwood (R-9th)
202-225-4101

Tom Price (R-6th)
202-225-4501

Illinois
Judy Biggert (R-13th)
202-225-3515

Danny Davis (D-7th)
202-225-5006

Indiana
Mark Souder (R-3rd)
202-225-4436

Louisiana
Charles Boustany (R-7th)
202-225-2031

Bobby Jindal (R-1st)
202-225-3015

Maryland
Chris VanHollen (D-8th)
202-225-5341

Massachusetts
John Tierney (D-6th)
202-225-8020

Michigan
Vernon Ehlers (R-3rd)
(202) 225-3831

Dale Kildee (D-5th)
202-225-3611

Minnesota
John Kline (R-2nd)
202-225-2271

Betty McCollum (D-4th)
202-225-6631

Nebraska
Tom Osborne (R-3rd)
202-225-6435

Nevada
Jon C. Porter (R-3rd)
202-225-3252

New Jersey
Rob Andrews (D-1st)
202-225-6501

Rush Holt (D-12th)
202-225-5801

New York
Randy Kuhl (R-29th)
202-225-3161

Carolyn McCarthy (D-4th)
202-225-5516

Major Owens (D-11th)
225-225-6231

Donald Payne (D-10th)
202-225-3436

North Carolina
Virginia Foxx (R-5th)
202-225-2071

Ohio
John Boehner (R-8th)
202-225-4527

Dennis Kucinich (D-10th)
202-225-5871

Tim Ryan (D-17th)
202-225-5261

Patrick Tiberi (R-12th)
(202) 225-5355

Oregon
David Wu (D-1st)
202-225-0855

Pennsylvania
Todd Russell Plats (R-19th)
202-225-5836

Puerto Rico
Louis G. Fortuno (R-At-large)
202-225-2615

Texas
Ruben Hinojosa (D-15th)
202-225-2531

Sam Johnson (R-3rd)
(202) 225-4201

Kenny Marchant (R-24th)
202-225-6605

South Carolina
Bob Inglis (R-4th)
202-225-6030

Joe Wilson (R-2nd)
202-225-2452

Virginia
Thelma Drake (R-2nd)
202-225-4215

Robert Scott (D-3rd)
202-225-8351

Washington
Cathy McMorris (R-5th)
202-225-2006

Wisconsin
Ron Kind (D-3rd)
202-225-5506

Tom Petri (R-6th)
202-225-2476