2026 Senate Resolution 98

Whereas, The International Baccalaureate (IB) offers a world-renowned and rigorous educational framework for students aged 3-19 that develops inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people. IB programmes empower students with the critical thinking, research, and communication skills necessary for success in higher education and future careers; and

Whereas, As of October 2023, Michigan was home to 77 authorized and candidate IB World Schools, providing a holistic IB education to the highly capable students of this state. The IB organization estimates that nearly 25,000 Michigan students were enrolled in an IB programme during the 2022-2023 school year; and

Whereas, Michigan’s public universities benefit from enrolling IB students. IB students are exceptionally well-prepared for the demands of higher education and consistently enroll at, persist in attending, and graduate from postsecondary institutions at higher rates than the national average; and

Whereas, Michigan currently lacks a consistent, statewide policy for awarding college credit for IB achievements, creating uncertainty for students and families. IB students applying for college must research the credit policies of each institution they are considering, rather than being able to rest assured that their scores will be recognized regardless of where they pursue higher education in this state; and

Whereas, This inconsistency may be contributing to “brain drain.” IB data show that over 400 Michigan IB graduates sent their transcripts out of state in fiscal year 2024, and some of these students may have been attracted to states with more predictable credit policies. Retaining these talented graduates could strengthen Michigan’s economy and future workforce, as research shows that about two-thirds of college graduates begin their careers in the same state where they attended college; and

Whereas, A clear, statewide policy on awarding credit for IB coursework would benefit both students and institutions of higher education. Awarding credit for prior learning saves students and their families valuable time and money, increasing college affordability and accelerating degree progress. If institutions of higher education adopt more uniform policies on when credit will be awarded, it could help students evaluate their options for college more efficiently. A uniform policy that awards credit for IB courses could also enhance Michigan’s higher education system by helping to attract and retain highly prepared IB students who have a proven track record of success, which in turn could strengthen the academic profile of our state’s public universities; and

Whereas, In crafting an IB credit policy, institutions of higher education may look to the expertise of the American Council on Education (ACE), a leading authority on higher education practices. IB Diploma Programme courses are graded on a range from one to seven, and ACE recommends awarding college credit for a score of four or higher in 19 standard level courses, including biology, chemistry, physics, economics, history, and various language classes, as well as a score of a D or above, on a range from E to A, in the Theory of Knowledge course; and

Whereas, Institutions of higher education may also choose to impose different requirements in awarding postsecondary credit for courses in a student’s major. An institution might require a score of higher than four on IB courses for credit to be used toward a degree requirement, or it might only allow an IB course to satisfy an elective requirement if the IB course would otherwise satisfy a core class in the student’s major; and

Whereas, Nearly half the states have adopted policies that require or encourage institutions of higher education to utilize more uniform standards in awarding postsecondary credit for IB courses. Establishing minimum standards for when and how credit will be awarded and requiring these standards to be published online enhances transparency and helps students make an informed decision about higher education; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the public institutions of higher education in Michigan to establish a clear, consistent, and publicly available policy under which institutions will award postsecondary-level academic credit for International Baccalaureate coursework; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge the public institutions of higher education in Michigan to adopt a policy specifying that the institution shall award academic credit to a student who has achieved a score of four or higher on an International Baccalaureate exam, with that credit satisfying an elective degree requirement if that is part of the student’s degree program, though a score of higher than four may be required for credit toward a course requirement in a particular major; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the president or chancellor of each public institution of higher education in Michigan, the Michigan Association of State Universities, and the Michigan Community College Association.