Bill to prevent college ‘credit creep’ stalls in House

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Brandon Hayes of Highland looks over his text before his last class of the day Thursday afternoon at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: February 23, 2012 8:17AM

INDIANAPOLIS — A piece of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels’ legislative agenda aimed at preventing excessive degree requirements at public universities ran into trouble last week at the Indiana House.

The bill’s author withdrew the legislation on its third and final reading in the House after a handful of lawmakers voiced concerns on the so-called “credit creep” bill.

But House Education Committee Chairman state Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, said the bill will be brought back.

“After that brief debate we had we decided to withdraw the bill, so we could make sure everybody understood exactly where their institutions were,” Behning said. “Since, I’ve talked to most of our state universities about it and none of them find it to be offensive. Their concern was originally they thought it was going to be a much more aggressive version than what was actually introduced.”

The bill requires public universities to justify degrees that go beyond the traditional credit hour requirements and may lead students so stay extra semesters at school. One Democratic lawmaker said the bill would turn the Indiana Commission for Higher Education into a “super bureaucracy” over state schools.

Supporters say the legislation will save students’ money and keep postsecondary educations accessible to the middle class.

Purdue University Calumet student Brandon Hayes said he feels the 126 credit hours required for his sociology degree is an accurate amount.

“Most students go well over that mark,” Hayes, 23, of Highland said. “I think there is a financial burden on students because they have to go even another year just to reach those requirements but it all depends on the individual student. I’ve taken classes I didn’t need at all because it interests me.”

Schools would have to justify Bachelor’s degrees requiring more than 120 hours and associate’s program requiring more than 60 hours to the state commission. The bill also gives the commission the authority to reject current programs.

Purdue Calumet Chancellor Thomas Keon said he shares concerns of academic programs that have evolved to require more than 120 hours for graduation.

“While some may only be one hour, others have inched higher. Universities must constantly assess the hours toward completion and separate those that make academic sense from those increasing with little or no rationale,” Keon said in a statement.

State Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, argued the bill would turn the commission into a state board of regents with the ability to override local decisions.

“The whole theory of this bill is somehow the universities are cranking up the credit hours to make extra money, said Pierce whose district covers Indiana University.

Pierce said what the bill doesn’t realize is many universities must meet requirements set out by accrediting organizations for certain degrees. But Behning said the bill is flexible to allow schools to meet those standards.

For Hayes, the problem isn’t the “credit creep.” He transferred to Purdue Calumet after receiving an associate’s degree from Ivy Tech. He’ll stay at Purdue Calumet for at least another year and a half because of the availability of some of his courses.

“The only problem I have is the way courses are laid out, they’re only offered once a year,” Hayes said. “So that’s my only complaint: they don’t offer some classes enough.”