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"Credit Creep" bill heading to governor

Governor Mitch Daniels says he will sign into law legislation limiting the number of credit hours needed to earn a college degree.

The bill would cap most bachelor’s degrees at 120 hours and a associate’s degrees at 60 hours. If a public college or university requires more than that, it must explain why to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Daniels says the measure addresses two problems: The college completion rate and tuition costs.

"It's a good system. It sends the right signal. It could put the brakes on the upward creep of credit requirements, but it's flexible. I don't doubt, particularly some of the technical disciplines taught at Purdue, if someone says, 'No. It just takes 125 hours or 130 hours to really master some of these.' Everybody is going to agree with that.”

Daniels made the credit creep issue part of his legislative agenda and mentioned it during his State of the State address in January. He says the measure allows for some exceptions to the rule as well.

"Many of the engineering disciplines at Purdue are subject to national licensing or certifications and standards, and those are automatic in the bill. There's been no question. But I gave some examples along the way of degrees that were being offered at Indiana schools that wasn't so obvious that it should really take 130 or 140 hours and all the expense that goes with that."

The Commission for Higher Education may allow programs to exceed the set limits if it's related to employer requirements or enhanced program quality and content. Also, any new degree proposal submitted to the Commission that exceeds the limits must include justification for doing so. Colleges and universities must review and report to the Commission the credit hours required for degree programs at least every three years