The bill that would increase the GPA value of STEM courses for college students passed the House of Representatives Wednesday, February 3.
House Bill 801, sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, passed with an overwhelming majority of 167-0, and has now been sent to the Senate. The bill, if passed, would grant a half-point boost to the GPA of students who take qualifying STEM courses in science, technology, engineering and math fields.
Under the wording of the bill, the Board of Regents would consult with colleges and universities to determine which courses should qualify for the GPA boost.
A study called “The Effect of Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship on College Major: A Focus on STEM” found that some students avoid STEM courses and majors due to their inherent difficulty because they need to maintain higher grades to keep HOPE eligibility. According to Jones, this is meant to encourage those students to take the tougher courses without fear of losing HOPE.
