INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Mitch Daniels’ effort to limit “credit creep” at Indiana’s public universities hit a stumbling block in the Indiana House on Tuesday.
The bill is aimed at keeping students moving through their college degrees without being forced to pay for extra semesters or years’ worth of courses.
It would allow the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to reject bachelor’s degree programs that take more than 120 hours to complete, and associate’s degree programs that take more than 60 hours.
The problem: Lawmakers representing the areas around the state’s major universities said they oppose it, and believe those universities’ boards of trustees should play the “credit creep” oversight role.
Rep. Rhonda Rhoads, freshman Republican from Corydon who was carrying the bill, withdrew it after two of her party’s veteran members huddled with her and then House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis.
The move came as debate on the House floor indicated the bill was in trouble.
Rep. Randy Truitt, the West Lafayette Republican whose district includes Purdue University, said he wants to leave credit programs in the hands of universities’ boards of trustees.
He said lawmakers should “make sure we rely on the expertise of those individuals that are being held accountable for the management of the university.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, who represents the area that includes Indiana University, said the bill represents “the beginning of a bad precedent.”
“We do not need a state board of regents that is going to override and oversee our universities,” he said. “We should not have more consolidation of power in the hands of another bureaucratic body here in Indianapolis.”
Other lawmakers argued that dual-licensing teaching programs require more than 120 hours – meaning that if the Commission for Higher Education opted to flex its muscles, schools would have to sacrifice the quality of education they offer future teachers.
Rhoads could call House Bill 1220 up for debate and a vote again in the coming days or weeks.