| 1 | 1 | | By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1726 |
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| 2 | 2 | | (Branch) |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the development of measurable learning outcomes for |
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| 8 | 8 | | undergraduate courses at public institutions of higher education. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 51.96851 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 51.96851. LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR UNDERGRADUATE |
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| 13 | 13 | | COURSES. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" |
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| 14 | 14 | | has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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| 15 | 15 | | (b) To foster a transparent student learning environment at |
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| 16 | 16 | | institutions of higher education and to facilitate the universal |
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| 17 | 17 | | articulation of undergraduate courses that are transferable for |
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| 18 | 18 | | credit among all institutions of higher education, each institution |
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| 19 | 19 | | of higher education shall identify, adopt, and make available for |
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| 20 | 20 | | public inspection measurable learning outcomes for each |
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| 21 | 21 | | undergraduate course offered by the institution other than: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) a course with a highly variable subject content |
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| 23 | 23 | | that is tailored specifically to an individual student, such as an |
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| 24 | 24 | | independent study or directed reading course; or |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2) a laboratory, practicum, or discussion section |
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| 26 | 26 | | that is an intrinsic and required component of a lecture course. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (c) An institution of higher education may adopt learning |
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| 28 | 28 | | outcomes for a course under this section that are the same as or |
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| 29 | 29 | | based on those identified for that course by the institution's |
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| 30 | 30 | | recognized accrediting agency. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (d) In consultation with institutions of higher education, |
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| 32 | 32 | | the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt any rules |
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| 33 | 33 | | the coordinating board considers appropriate for the |
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| 34 | 34 | | administration of this section. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 36 | 36 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 37 | 37 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 38 | 38 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 39 | 39 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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