81R39051 KSD-D
By: Branch H.C.R. No. 288
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Tuition and fees at the state's public four-year
universities have increased materially in recent years; and
WHEREAS, Texas families, already struggling to meet the costs
of higher education, now see college slipping further from their
reach as the global recession takes a toll on state and local
economies; and
WHEREAS, A college education is directly linked to one's
future employment opportunities; people with a college education
earn larger salaries and see greater financial benefits over their
lifetimes, in turn contributing significantly to the state's
economic base; unpredictable tuition hikes, however, make it much
more difficult for young people to plan for their education, and as
a result, many will delay college or skip it altogether, while those
who enroll will carry larger debt loads than ever; and
WHEREAS, The current economic crisis is limiting students'
access to additional funds from loans, family assistance, and
part-time jobs, but the continuing vitality of Texas depends on an
educated population and workforce; temporarily limiting tuition
and student fees at our state universities will help ensure that
students are able to obtain a college education, thereby
contributing to a diverse and robust economy throughout the state,
both now and in the future; and
WHEREAS, The importance of higher education to the economic
and cultural vitality of this state dictates that any limitation on
increases in tuition and student fees be implemented in a manner
that does not unduly restrict the quality and excellence of the
state's universities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby direct the governing board of each general academic teaching
institution to make every effort to ensure that the total academic
costs, including tuition, mandatory academic fees, and any other
academic-related general fees and college course fees, charged to a
resident undergraduate student for the 2010-2011, 2011-2012, or
2012-2013 academic year do not exceed the total academic costs that
the institution would have charged such a student enrolled in the
same courses in the preceding academic year by more than the greater
of 3.95 percent or $280; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the legislature hereby direct those governing
boards to make every effort to ensure that the total academic costs
charged to a resident undergraduate student for the 2013-2014
academic year do not exceed the total academic costs the
institution would have charged such a student enrolled in the same
courses in the 2012-2013 academic year by more than the greater of:
(1) 3.95 percent; or
(2) the average of the following:
(A) the average percentage increase, if any, in
the consumer price index for each of the three preceding calendar
years as compared to the consumer price index for the year preceding
each of those years; and
(B) the average percentage increase, if any, in
an appropriate higher education price index for each of the three
preceding calendar years as compared to that higher education price
index for the year preceding each of those years; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
copy of this resolution to the commissioner of higher education and
to the presidents and members of the boards of regents of general
academic teaching institutions throughout Texas.