Missouri looks to ease college transfers

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Higher education boosters in Missouri hope to make it easier for students enrolled at one school to transfer to another institution.

A bill filed by Republican state Sen. David Pearce, of Warrensburg, calls for the creation of a "core transfer library" of at least 25 basic courses that would be honored for credit at each of Missouri's public colleges and universities.

Pearce's bill also requires the state Coordinating Board for Higher Education to adopt a statewide "reverse transfer" policy. The policy would let students at four-year schools receive associate degrees from community colleges once they've completed a two-year school's requirements.

The lawmaker cites federal data showing that fewer than 46 percent of Missouri college students seeking bachelor's degrees earn their diplomas after six years in school.