Sec. 4. (a) Each state educational institution, in collaboration with the commission for higher education, shall, not later than July 1, 2014, work together to create a single articulation pathway for each programmatic area specified in subsection (b)(2), and implement the single articulation pathways not later than May 15, 2015, for students entering state educational institutions in the fall of 2015.

(b) The state educational institutions, in collaboration with the commission for higher education, shall:

(1) determine the programmatic areas in which to develop single articulation pathways to degrees;

(2) develop single articulation pathways for programmatic areas in which significant numbers of students may first obtain an associate of science or an associate of arts degree with the intent of obtaining a related baccalaureate degree; and

(3) take into account emerging innovations in technology and practices implemented by the state educational institutions from which a student transfers.

(c) The single articulation pathways must:

(1) incorporate the statewide transfer general education core developed under IC 21-42-3-2;

(2) match complementary competencies and learning outcomes for both associate and baccalaureate degrees;

(3) allow a student who completes an associate degree for which a single articulation pathway has been developed to:

(A) pursue a single, common curriculum in a particular programmatic area that will articulate, without alteration, with related baccalaureate degrees at all four (4) year state educational institutions that offer the baccalaureate degrees; and

(B) apply all the credits earned for the student's associate degree toward the related baccalaureate degree so that the student may begin the baccalaureate degree as a junior status student; and

(4) be developed after consultation with employers regarding the competencies and learning outcomes considered especially important for successful careers and employment.

As added by P.L.120-2013, SEC.10.