Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Higher Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee passes bill to set 15-hour statewide requisite core and give institutions flexibility on general-education hours
Summary
Legislation to replace the 35-hour mandatory general-education core with a 15-hour requisite core (including English, math, American history and government) and give institutions flexibility on remaining general-education requirements passed committee after consultation with higher-education representatives.
Representative Macklinden presented House Bill 16-96, the Strengthening Arkansas Education Act, which would remove a rigid 35-hour statewide general-education requirement and instead establish a 15-hour requisite core required for associate and bachelor degrees. The requisite core requires two English or equivalent courses, one math or equivalent course, a three-hour American history course and a three-hour American government course.
The sponsor said the change gives higher-education institutions flexibility to tailor degree plans while ensuring every graduate receives coursework in fundamental subjects; the sponsor and the Department of Higher Education said institutions and agency staff participated extensively in drafting the measure.
Mason Campbell, assistant commissioner for academic affairs, told the committee the department and institutions are comfortable with the bill and that it reinforces existing practices while allowing institutions to modernize remaining core requirements. Committee members voiced concerns about establishing a curricular mandate but accepted sponsor and agency assurances that the change was negotiated with institutions. The committee voted to pass the bill on a voice vote.
