By: Kolkhorst, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro) H.B. No. 2504
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2009;
May 11, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
Education; May 22, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 22, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring a public institution of higher education to
make available to the public on the institution's Internet website
certain undergraduate course information.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.974 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.974. INTERNET ACCESS TO COURSE INFORMATION. (a)
Each institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003,
shall make available to the public on the institution's Internet
website the following information for each undergraduate classroom
course offered for credit by the institution:
(1) a syllabus that:
(A) satisfies any standards adopted by the
institution;
(B) provides a brief description of each major
course requirement, including each major assignment and
examination;
(C) lists any required or recommended reading;
and
(D) provides a general description of the subject
matter of each lecture or discussion;
(2) a curriculum vitae of each regular instructor that
lists the instructor's:
(A) postsecondary education;
(B) teaching experience; and
(C) significant professional publications; and
(3) if available, a departmental budget report of the
department under which the course is offered, from the most recent
semester or other academic term during which the institution
offered the course.
(a-1) A curriculum vitae made available on the
institution's Internet website under Subsection (a) may not include
any personal information, including the instructor's home address
or home telephone number.
(b) The information required by Subsection (a) must be:
(1) accessible from the institution's Internet website
home page by use of not more than three links;
(2) searchable by keywords and phrases; and
(3) accessible to the public without requiring
registration or use of a user name, a password, or another user
identification.
(c) The institution shall make the information required by
Subsection (a) available not later than the seventh day after the
first day of classes for the semester or other academic term during
which the course is offered. The institution shall continue to make
the information available on the institution's Internet website
until at least the fourth anniversary of the date on which the
institution initially posted the information.
(d) The institution shall update the information required
by Subsection (a) as soon as practicable after the information
changes.
(e) The governing body of the institution shall designate an
administrator to be responsible for ensuring implementation of this
section. The administrator may assign duties under this section to
one or more administrative employees.
(f) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, each
institution of higher education shall submit a written report
regarding the institution's compliance with this section to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative
standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher
education.
(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
rules necessary to administer this section.
SECTION 2. Section 51.974, Education Code, as added by this
Act, applies beginning with the 2010 fall semester.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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