Why aren't transcript reviews automated?

[allvia]

If someone has a prior degree, then they have to differentiate between credits earned before and after conferral. The old credits might fit in gen ed and electives, but they can't be used in the major because you need 30 new credits.

30 new credits can be anywhere in your degree plan.  You can sometimes reuse credits from the major.  

I used some of my 1st BS business management degree "major" credits in my second  BS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) degree.  Fact, they satisfied the concentration: Agency Management

As a policy Excelsior College will not give you a second business degree if you have one already.  In a second field (HSEM) yes.

So, basically, the credits have to be "new" to the second degree but not necessarily new to the student?

For TESU (I don't know about the others) it is new to the student - they must be earned after the first degree is conferred.  So if your WGU degree is conferred on Sept 30 - your new credits need to be earned (awarded) after 10/01.  So, in this date scenario - if you're earning new credits from Study.com - don't take your final exams prior to 10/01.  Study.com uses the Exam date as the completed date (even if you hand in your papers/assignments after the exam has been taken; meaning you can't take the exam 9/25 and then hand in the assignments 10/05. Why, I don't know its just how it works - likely easier record keeping for them)