Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:918 Primary Sponsor:Leventis Committee Number:04 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:College students, quality advisement of Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Education Computer Document Number:GJK/20170SD.94 Introduced Date:19940111 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:19940111 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Leventis O'Dell Wilson Rose Elliott Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________
918 Senate 19940111 Introduced, read first time, 04
referred to Committee
918 Senate 19931206 Prefiled, referred to 04
Committee
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TO AMEND CHAPTER 104, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO INITIATIVES FOR RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, BY ADDING SECTION 59-104-50 SO AS TO REQUIRE STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO DEVELOP CERTAIN PROCEDURES FOR ASSURING QUALITY ADVISEMENT OF THEIR STUDENTS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-104-660, RELATING TO STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES AND PROGRAMS TO MEASURE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THESE PROCEDURES AND PROGRAMS BY INCLUDING CRITERIA FOR THE ADVISING OF STUDENTS.
Whereas, the focus of state-supported institutions of higher learning is on the successful completion of coursework and attainment of degrees by their students; and
Whereas, the advisement of students is a responsibility of faculty members which should be carried out in an informed manner; and
Whereas, degree and certification requirements are often complex, crossing academic disciplines, so that students depend on their counselors to direct them in their choice of courses; and
Whereas, the quality of advice from college counselors and advisors can impact dramatically on the duration and cost of a student's education since poor advisement can place students in situations requiring additional time and expense to graduate. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 104, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-104-50. Each state-supported institution of higher learning in this State shall develop and implement a plan for training its faculty as to their responsibilities as advisors and in the knowledge needed in advising students as to their academic studies. Included in the plan must be the manner in which faculty are kept current on changes in requirements in their respective disciplines and in those other disciplines in which their advisees are attempting to major or to obtain certification, the manner in which faculty who experience difficulty in accurately advising students shall receive additional training, and the procedure for evaluating the quality of advisement received by students. The Commission on Higher Education shall review the progress in developing and implementing these plans and report its findings to the Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee in the annual report required pursuant to Section 59-101-350."
SECTION 2. Section 59-104-660 is amended to read:
"Section 59-104-660. (A) All state-supported institutions of higher learning shall establish their own procedures and programs to measure student achievement. The procedures and programs must be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education as part of the plan for measuring institutional effectiveness and must:
(1) derive from institutional initiatives, recognizing the diversity of South Carolina public colleges and universities, the tradition of institutional autonomy, and the capacity of faculty and administrators to identify their own problems and solve them creatively;
(2) be consistent with each institution's mission and educational objectives;
(3) involve faculty in setting the standards of achievement, selecting the measurement instruments, and analyzing the results;
(4) follow and assist each student's student progress through the curriculum, as appropriate college or university by providing advisors who are conversant with the educational objectives of the college or university, with the rationale for the various academic requirements, and with various means of meeting these educational objectives. These monitoring and advisement functions must include counseling the student in the policy, procedures, and curriculum of the college or university, and in employment considerations after graduation. The advisor also shall serve as an advocate for the student;
(5) include follow-up of graduates.
(B) As part of their annual report on institutional effectiveness, all state-supported colleges and universities shall describe their progress in developing assessment and advisement programs and submit information on student achievement the success of both of these programs to the commission."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.