By Victoria Frazier
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – A new proposal from the Universities of Wisconsin could make transferring between campuses a lot easier for students.
If approved, it would make sure general education credits count no matter where they go within the system.
Students we talked to on Thursday say they hope that this proposal passes this fall so that they can stay on track with their graduation path.
There are over 160,000 students enrolled within the 13 Universities of Wisconsin system.
A proposal from the board of regents announced this week would allow students to transfer general education credits outside of their majors or minors from one university to another.
“We’re excited about it, though, because it puts students first. It creates ease to transfer, which can reduce the time for graduation, save money, and provide clarity and consistency for our students,” says UW System president Jay Rothman.
Nearly 3,000 students transfer every year within the system.
To help students stay on their graduation plan, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay lowered their general education requirements to 30 credit hours.
“We really have to acknowledge that students are taking credits from all sorts of institutions and so we need to be flexible as a university to make sure we see where students are and then we’re able to accept them in,” says Kate Burns, the vice chancellor of academic affairs at UWGB.
Over the years, the system has noticed that some students are not able to transfer certain credits because course requirements differ from school to school.
If approved, this proposal would change that.
“If, for example, you complete your gen eds at UW-Superior and you transfer to UWGB, you’re done. There’s no other questions asked,” says Rothman.
“It’s easier for the students, and the stuff they learn from NWTC and the other technical colleges goes towards this, so I feel like it’s going to be much easier for students,” says Masood Bare, a junior at UWGB.
The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents will vote on the proposal in the coming months.
If approved, it will go into effect for undergraduate students in the fall of 2026.
Source: Universities of Wisconsin System proposes credit transfer policy