(RALEIGH) -- State lawmakers are looking at possible changes to courses aimed at getting students ready for college-level work. NC Community College System chief academic officer Dr. Sharon Morrissey said many students will spend as many as three or four semesters of classes before they can take college-level courses.

"We need to make sure that we can do something to reduce the time that it takes students to finish their credentials and get into the workforce, which is why they came to us in the first place," said Morrissey.

Remedial training is needed at both public universities and community colleges, although it’s more prevalent at the community college level where the state is expected to spend $135 million. That’s roughly 10 percent of the system’s entire state budget.

Morrissey attributes the problem to the current one-size-fits-all approach. "It does not take into consideration an individual student's needs.  It assumes that every student needs the same prescription for remediation."

Education Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Bryan Holloway said the panel will hire an outside consultant to recommend changes in time for the next legislative session.