81R3871 KSD-F
By: Kolkhorst H.B. No. 2746
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the School of Ethics, Western
Civilization, and American Traditions at The University of Texas at
Austin.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 67, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter E to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. SCHOOL OF ETHICS, WESTERN CIVILIZATION, AND
AMERICAN TRADITIONS (SEWCAT)
Sec. 67.81. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "General academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) "School" means the School of Ethics, Western
Civilization, and American Traditions established under this
subchapter.
Sec. 67.82. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the
legislature in establishing the School of Ethics, Western
Civilization, and American Traditions (SEWCAT) under this
subchapter:
(1) to foster an understanding among university
students and members of the general public regarding the
intellectual origins and traditions of our government and society;
(2) to build on the remarkable success of the Program
in Western Civilization and American Institutions at the university
by consolidating and rendering permanent that program;
(3) to lay the groundwork for the future
implementation of a new undergraduate degree program, the Bachelor
of Arts in Western Civilization and American Institutions, at the
university; and
(4) to establish a model of a standard curriculum in
Western civilization and American traditions that fosters the
thoughtful development of ethical character and civic
responsibility to be used by other general academic teaching
institutions in developing similar programs of study.
Sec. 67.83. ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOL AS INTERDISCIPLINARY
UNIT OF UNIVERSITY. (a) The school is established as an
interdisciplinary academic unit of the university devoted to the
study of the Western intellectual tradition from antiquity to the
present in conjunction with the study of American institutions,
values, and principles.
(b) The school is a part of and under the direction and
control of the university.
Sec. 67.84. PROGRAMS AND COURSES. (a) The school shall
develop and offer students an interdisciplinary course of study in
Western civilization and American institutions and practices
designed to foster the thoughtful development of ethical character
and civic responsibility, including a sequence of six three-hour
courses, each covering one of the following topics:
(1) ancient philosophy and literature;
(2) ideas from the Bible;
(3) great works from the Middle Ages;
(4) classics of the Renaissance and the Age of
Enlightenment;
(5) the development of Western science and technology;
and
(6) classics of the American founding and development
of the American Republic.
(b) A student who completes the sequence of courses
described by Subsection (a) shall be considered by the university
to have satisfied 18 hours of core curriculum course work in the
following areas:
(1) three hours of communications;
(2) three hours of additional natural science;
(3) three hours of humanities;
(4) three hours of government;
(5) three hours of visual and performing arts; and
(6) three hours of any institutionally designated
optional or seminar course.
(c) A student who completes the sequence of courses
described by Subsection (a) in addition to 18 hours of
upper-division course work in the Western civilization (WCV) field
of study at the university shall be considered by the university to
have completed an undergraduate major in Western Ethics and
American Tradition for a bachelor of arts degree in the
university's College of Liberal Arts.
(d) Each course offered by the school must:
(1) be multidisciplinary;
(2) be based primarily on:
(A) a critical reading of the primary texts that
have shaped the tradition of Western civilization, including works
spanning a significant range of genres such as literature,
philosophy, religion, history, art, science, and technology; and
(B) a study of the institutions, ideals, and
principles of the United States and the development of the American
Republic;
(3) focus on developing a student's understanding of
the primary texts described by Subdivision (2)(A) that is based
primarily on the student's direct reading of those texts without
the introduction of external sources of interpretation or theory;
(4) employ the Western civilization (WCV) field of
study at the university; and
(5) be designed to engage students in exploring
enduring fundamental questions of profound ethical and
philosophical significance.
Sec. 67.85. SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF. The school may
recruit, hire, and supervise:
(1) postdoctoral teaching fellows, lecturers,
assistant instructors, and visiting and adjunct professors to teach
courses at the school in addition to the university's regular
tenure-track professors; and
(2) any necessary support staff.
Sec. 67.86. SPECIAL EVENTS AND OUTREACH. The school may
host events and other opportunities for students and faculty of the
university and members of the public to learn more about the
heritage of Western civilization and American history, including
lecture series, conferences, workshops, book clubs, student
organization activities of a scholarly, literary, and
philosophical nature, and summer institutes for graduate,
undergraduate, and high school students and for middle school and
high school teachers.
Sec. 67.87. APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR; QUALIFICATIONS. The
university shall appoint a director for the school. To serve as
director, a person must have:
(1) earned the rank of full professor at the
university or another distinguished public or private institution
of higher education;
(2) significant, demonstrated expertise and a
national reputation in one or more fields relevant to the school;
(3) at least 20 years of experience as a highly
regarded undergraduate instructor;
(4) extensive experience in academic administration;
(5) a proven record of:
(A) fund-raising success;
(B) junior faculty mentorship; and
(C) academic innovation and leadership; and
(6) significant experience in curriculum design.
Sec. 67.88. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTOR. (a) The school's
director has the rights and privileges of a dean of the university.
(b) The director shall oversee:
(1) the establishment of the school's curriculum;
(2) the evaluation of the school's course offerings;
(3) the hiring of school faculty; and
(4) the school's fund-raising activities.
(c) The director shall:
(1) report directly to the university's provost; and
(2) on request, be available to report personally on
the progress and activities of the school to any standing committee
of the Texas Legislature with jurisdiction over higher education
matters.
(d) The director may:
(1) hold an affiliation with another academic
department of the university in addition to the position of
director; and
(2) elect to continue as an instructor or be relieved
of teaching responsibilities.
Sec. 67.89. QUARTERLY REPORT. The university's provost
shall review the school's activities quarterly and make a report of
the provost's findings to the chair of each standing committee of
the Texas Legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher
education matters.
Sec. 67.90. STEERING COMMITTEE. The university's provost,
in consultation with the school's director, shall appoint a
steering committee for the school. Once appointed, the steering
committee may add additional members to the committee.
Sec. 67.91. ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. The school may solicit and
accept funds, including gifts and grants, from any public or
private source for the purpose of the school.
SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.977 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.977. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF
PROGRAM OF STUDY IN ETHICS, WESTERN CIVILIZATION, AND AMERICAN
TRADITIONS. (a) In this section, "general academic teaching
institution" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) Each general academic teaching institution shall
conduct a study regarding the feasibility of establishing a program
of study in ethics, Western civilization, and American traditions
at the institution using a curriculum modeled on the curriculum
established under Subchapter E, Chapter 67, for the School of
Ethics, Western Civilization, and American Traditions at The
University of Texas at Austin.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2010, each general academic
teaching institution shall submit to each standing committee of the
Texas Legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education
matters a written report of the institution's findings and
recommendations regarding the feasibility of establishing a
program of study in ethics, Western civilization, and American
traditions at the institution. Based on the findings and
recommendations received, the committees shall recommend whether
legislation is needed to implement the program at each general
academic teaching institution.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2011.
SECTION 3. Not later than October 1, 2009, The University of
Texas at Austin shall appoint a director of the School of Ethics,
Western Civilization, and American Traditions established under
Subchapter E, Chapter 67, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. 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.