Wrap: Khadeaga Thabet is an accounting student from St. Louis Community College, and is transferring to the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the fall.

She works with her advisor closely, and only takes classes that can transfer.

But she is still prepared to repeat courses.

However, based on her friends' experience, repeating classes is not the only concern.

Under the current system, Thabet is not the only student who faces the risk of losing credits and repeating courses during the transfer process.

St. Louis Community College’s vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, Dona Dare, has been working closely with transfer students.

She says the number of students who want to transfer has been increasing, but she says the transfer process can be clearer and more transparent.

Different institutions have different policies for transferring credit.

Dare says a community college may have hundreds of agreements with different universities.

Therefore, it is sometimes difficult for students to follow various instructions.

Senate Education Committee Chair David Pearce and House Higher Education Committee Chair Mike Thomson worked together on legislation designed to make it easier to transfer credits.

The bill would establish a core library of 25 classes, including English, math and science, which would be guaranteed to transfer from one public higher education institution to another.

Pearce says this bill would make the process more efficient.

Thomson, who sponsors a version of this bill in the House, also stressed the importance of saving time in college.

Thomson also says this bill would allow students to get a degree easier, leading to an increase in the percentage of Missourians with degrees. 

Columbia Democratic Representative Steve Webber says he opposes the bill. He says the education quality in community college is different from universities, including the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Pearce, who sponsors a version of the bill in the Senate, says just because a student has these 25 courses, does not mean he or she is accepted in the college; receiving institutions would still maintain their high standards. Pearce says so far the receiving institutions seem to like it.

The Dean of Enrollment Services and director of admissions at University of Missouri-St. Louis, Alan Byrd, says he has the same goal as the students.

Byrd also says that communication between 2-year and 4-year institutions is the key to make sure transfer credits will be accepted. He also says  it is the community colleges' responsibility to make sure their students will meet the learning requirements after passing a course.

Another Columbia Democratic Representative Chris Kelly also says he opposes the bill.

Regardless legislators' concern, Thabet says she is excited about this future opportunity for students like her.

The Senate passed the measure without opposition, and the House passed it with only three opposite votes.  

Both measures have moved onto their counterparts.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ruohan Xu.