Relating to the establishment of the Texas Returning Adult Student Grant Program for certain students enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs at certain postsecondary educational institutions.
Impact
The implications of SB1103 extend to the administration of student financial aid within Texas. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is tasked with overseeing the program, including the distribution of funds to qualified institutions. This grant program could enhance the financial capacity of students who may have previously struggled to afford higher education, leading to higher enrollment numbers among returning adult students. Furthermore, the bill necessitates the state to allocate funds generated through appropriations and donations, which may have wider fiscal implications for budget planning in educational sectors.
Summary
SB1103 establishes the Texas Returning Adult Student Grant Program, designed to provide financial assistance to adult learners over the age of 25 who are enrolling in baccalaureate degree programs at eligible institutions. This initiative aims to help students who have previously earned college credit but have not yet obtained a degree, addressing a growing need for accessible financial resources for non-traditional students in Texas. The program emphasizes financial need, prioritizing students who demonstrate significant unmet needs, thereby expanding educational access for a marginalized demographic.
Contention
While the establishment of the Texas Returning Adult Student Grant Program has generally been met with support, some potential points of contention may arise regarding the prioritization criteria for grant allocation. Discussions in committees and among educators may focus on the appropriate balance between need-based and merit-based assistance, as well as the extent to which this program could interfere with existing financial aid programs. Additionally, some institutions might express concerns about the program's funding levels and its sustainability in the long term, especially if the demand for grants exceeds available resources.
Identical
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Returning Adult Student Grant Program for certain students enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs at certain postsecondary educational institutions.
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Competency-Based Education Grant Program for certain students enrolled in competency-based baccalaureate degree programs and to formula funding and dropped and repeated course restrictions for students enrolled in those degree programs at public institutions of higher education.
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Competency-Based Education Grant Program for certain students enrolled in competency-based baccalaureate degree programs and to formula funding and dropped and repeated course restrictions for students enrolled in those degree programs at public institutions of higher education.
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Students with Disabilities Scholarship Program for certain students at public institutions of higher education.
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Students with Disabilities Scholarship Program for certain students at public institutions of higher education.
Relating to measures to enhance and maintain the quality of state universities, including funding and incentives to support emerging public research universities, to the abolition of the higher education fund, to the institutional groupings under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's accountability system, to the independent status of Lamar Institute of Technology, to research conducted by public universities and other state entities, and to the authorization of revenue bonds for certain institutions of higher education.
Relating to financial support and incentives for the development of national research universities and high-quality comprehensive regional universities and a review of the institutional groupings under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's accountability system.