Universities of Wisconsin logo. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Universities of Wisconsin officials are considering a new policy that would ensure all core general education credits can transfer between each of the 13 schools within the system.
The proposed Board of Regents policy is currently being shared for comment at the UWs.
“The success of our students is paramount. Nothing should keep students from pursuing their dreams, and this policy puts students first,” said UW President Jay Rothman in a news release.
Core general education courses, known informally as Gen Eds, are classes outside of major and minor requirements that students must take to graduate. At this time, Gen Ed credit requirements vary widely depending upon the university.
If approved, this policy would guarantee that core Gen Ed credits earned at one UW school will transfer and count toward the graduation requirements at another UW school. Core Gen Ed requirements would range from 30 to 36 credit hours in 10 to 12 courses in six curricular categories at all the UWs.
Officials say this policy is a student-friendly approach to transferability that would:
- Provide broader consistency and transparency in the core general education requirements across all of the UWs
- Reaffirm that college credit earned in high school through statewide dual enrollment opportunities transfers and applies the same as credit earned while in college
- Strengthen existing transfer pathways for students transferring not only between UWs but also from the Wisconsin Technical College System
- Ensure general education credit mobility and course applicability
- Reduce the time to degree completion and the cost of attendance following transfer between UWs
In recent years, the Universities of Wisconsin has taken steps to try to smooth out credit transfers between its schools, but while the credits associated with the core Gen Ed classes transfer between the UWs, the applicability of the courses has been uneven.
Officials say this new effort — which is the result of provisions in the 2025-27 state budget — is intended to ensure courses consistently transfer and apply to graduate requirements systemwide.
The Board of Regents will review the policy this fall and, if approved, it would go into effect for undergraduate students who first enroll in fall 2026.
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