An Act ensuring students' access to academic transcripts
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Create an account to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill requires Massachusetts colleges and universities to provide students with their official academic transcripts once tuition and mandatory course fees are paid in full. Institutions can withhold transcripts only if tuition and fees are unpaid. The bill also clarifies that withholding a diploma or degree due to unpaid loan payments or other debts is still permitted. It applies to public and private higher education institutions within the state.
Key provisions
- Institutions must provide transcripts when tuition and fees are paid.
- Transcripts can be withheld if tuition and fees are unpaid.
- Institutions can still withhold diplomas/degrees for unpaid debts.
- The bill covers public and private colleges, universities, and occupational schools.
- The Department of Higher Education will create regulations to implement the law.
- The law does not affect the ability to withhold grades for unpaid tuition.
Who is affected
- Students
- Colleges and Universities
- Private Occupational Schools
- Private Colleges and Universities
Notable changes
- Clarifies that tuition and fee payment is the sole basis for withholding transcripts.
- Explicitly states that diploma withholding for unpaid debts is still allowed.
- Expands the scope of institutions covered to include private occupational schools and other higher learning institutions.
Bill text
Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
9 on record
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Higher Education
Cosponsors
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf
Arguments
Reasons offered for and against this legislation.
Arguments in favor
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours