A bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and two Democratic colleagues would make it easier for former community college students who don’t finish a four-year degree program to still receive an associate degree.
Casey, D-Scranton, and Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., joined to introduce the Correctly Recognizing Educational Achievements to Empower Graduates Act. The chief aim of the legislation is to provide four-year colleges with incentives to “reverse transfer” credits to two-year institutions so that students who transfer yet do not receive a bachelor’s degree can still earn an associate degree.
“A college degree can increase earning potential and position students to succeed in today’s economy, but in order to realize these benefits, students must complete their studies and earn their degree,” Casey said in a joint statement.
“Too many students have done all the work but never earn the degree,” he said. “This legislation will help students transfer back to the community college where they were initially enrolled so they can receive the degree that will lead to increased opportunities.”
Under the CREATE Graduates Act, states will be given grants to find and award degrees to students who have enough credits for an associate degree but have not received one, reach out to students who are within 12 credits of earning an associate degree and implement plans to help students receive degree audits so that they are aware of graduation requirements.
“If a student has earned the credits required for an associate degree, they should be able to obtain it. Period,” Booker said in the statement.
Kaine said community colleges and four-year schools should “work together” to ensure that students who have pursued degrees earn them.
“The CREATE Graduates Act will make it easier for these students to get their associate degree at a community college so they can enter the job market better prepared to compete in today’s economy and earn higher wages,” he said.