Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3768 Compare Versions

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1		-	85R25806 KJE-F
2	1		By: Howard H.B. No. 3768
3		-	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3768:
4		-	By: Lozano C.S.H.B. No. 3768
5	2
6	3
7	4		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	5		AN ACT
9		-	relating to ~~the establishment of the Texas Guided Pathways~~ program
10		-	~~to facilitate the completion by students~~ of ~~undergraduate~~
11		-	~~certificate and degree programs~~.
	6	+	relating to a program to assist students in completing
	7	+	undergraduate certificates and degrees at certain institutions of
	8	+	higher education.
12	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13		-	SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
14		-	Subchapter S-1 to read as follows:
15		-	SUBCHAPTER S-1. TEXAS GUIDED PATHWAYS PROGRAM
16		-	Sec. 61.841. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
17		-	(1) "Program" means the Texas Guided Pathways program
18		-	established under this subchapter.
19		-	(2) "Texas OnCourse initiative" means the
20		-	postsecondary education and career counseling academy developed by
21		-	The University of Texas at Austin under Section 33.009.
22		-	Sec. 61.842. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The Texas
23		-	Guided Pathways program is established to inform, empower, and
24		-	support current and prospective students at institutions of higher
25		-	education by providing those students clear and efficient pathways
26		-	to completion of undergraduate certificate and degree programs.
	10	+	SECTION 1. Title 3, Subtitle A, Education Code, is amended
	11	+	by adding Chapter 51B to read as follows:
	12	+	CHAPTER 51B. TEXAS GUIDED PATHWAYS PROGRAM
	13	+	Sec. 51B.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	14	+	(1) "Board" means the board of regents of a university
	15	+	system or independent institution.
	16	+	(2) "Commissioner" means the Texas Higher Education
	17	+	Commissioner.
	18	+	(3) "Institution of higher education" means any
	19	+	public, state, and technical four-year college or university in the
	20	+	state.
	21	+	(4) "Lower-division institution" means a public
	22	+	junior college, public state college, or public technical
	23	+	institute.
	24	+	(5) "Program" means the Texas Guided Pathways Program
	25	+	described by this chapter.
	26	+	(6) "Public senior college or university" means any
	27	+	college or university designated as a general academic institution
	28	+	as defined in statute or as created and so classified, expressly or
	29	+	impliedly, by law.
	30	+	(7) "Recommended course sequence" means a curricular
	31	+	pathway designed to enable a student to obtain a degree or
	32	+	certificate in a chosen field of study in a timely manner, including
	33	+	completion of specific courses.
	34	+	(8) "Successfully completed" means that a student has
	35	+	met all of the necessary requirements for completing a course
	36	+	offered by an institution and has received a grade for the course of
	37	+	at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent grade or determination
	38	+	of mastery.
	39	+	(9) "Transfer compact" means an agreement between two
	40	+	or more institutions to facilitate the efficient transfer of
	41	+	courses and students.
	42	+	Sec. 51B.002. PROGRAM PURPOSE AND GOALS. (a) The Texas
	43	+	Guided Pathways Program is created for public institutions of
	44	+	higher education to inform, empower, and support students by
	45	+	providing clear and efficient pathways to completion of
	46	+	undergraduate certificates and degrees, including transparent and
	47	+	easily-accessible recommended higher education course sequences
	48	+	and transfer compacts.
27	49		(b) The goals of the program are to:
28	50		(1) provide recommended course sequences for all
29		-	undergraduate ~~certificate~~ and ~~degree programs~~ offered at
	51	+	undergraduate degrees and certificates offered by public
30	52		institutions of higher education;
31		-	(2) increase ~~the efficiency of transferring course~~
32		-	~~credit~~ between ~~two-year and four-year~~ institutions of higher
33		-	~~education~~;
34		-	(3) ~~empower students to~~ make ~~well-informed choices by~~
35		-	~~making useful course planning~~ information available to students
36		-	~~electronically~~;
37		-	(4) decrease the ~~cost~~ of ~~completing undergraduate~~
38		-	~~certificate~~ and ~~degree programs by helping students avoid taking~~
39		-	~~courses that do not count toward the programs~~; and
	53	+	(2) increase efficiencies in credit transferability
	54	+	between lower-division institutions of higher education and public
	55	+	senior colleges and universities;
	56	+	(3) make useful electronic course planning
	57	+	information available to students, empowering students to make
	58	+	well-informed choices;
	59	+	(4) decrease student costs by minimizing the risks of
	60	+	pursuing courses that fail to count towards degree and certificate
	61	+	requirements; and
40	62		(5) streamline student pathways to completion of
41		-	undergraduate certificate and degree programs in a manner aligned
42		-	with state goals to increase educational attainment.
43		-	Sec. 61.843. RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES. (a) Each
44		-	institution of higher education shall develop a recommended course
45		-	sequence for each undergraduate certificate or degree program
46		-	offered by the institution. Each recommended course sequence must:
47		-	(1) be designed to enable a student to obtain a
48		-	certificate or degree, as applicable, within:
49		-	(A) for an associate degree or certificate
50		-	program, four semesters or other academic terms; or
51		-	(B) for a baccalaureate degree program, eight
52		-	semesters or other academic terms;
53		-	(2) include a specific sequence in which courses
54		-	should be completed to ensure completion of the applicable program
55		-	within the time frame described by Subdivision (1); and
56		-	(3) be aligned with the applicable certificate or
57		-	degree requirements published by the institution.
58		-	(b) Not later than June 1 of each year, each institution of
59		-	higher education shall:
60		-	(1) after reviewing and, if necessary, updating each
61		-	recommended course sequence, adopt a version of each recommended
62		-	course sequence to take effect beginning with entering freshmen and
63		-	undergraduate transfer students for the following academic year;
64		-	(2) submit to the board, in an electronic format
65		-	specified by the board, each recommended course sequence and, if
66		-	the institution does not use the common course numbering system,
67		-	information regarding the course equivalent under the common course
68		-	numbering system, if any, for each course included in that course
69		-	sequence; and
70		-	(3) post each recommended course sequence, including
71		-	any information required to be provided under Subdivision (2) for
72		-	that course sequence, on the institution's Internet website in a
73		-	location that is accessible from the institution's website home
74		-	page by use of not more than three links.
75		-	(c) Each institution of higher education shall inform
76		-	students about the recommended course sequences, including how to
77		-	use those course sequences as a tool to aid in course selection, and
78		-	incorporate those course sequences into student advising.
79		-	(d) To enable students to compare recommended course
80		-	sequences at institutions of higher education, each institution of
81		-	higher education shall post on the institution's Internet website a
82		-	link to the web-based platform on recommended course sequences
83		-	developed by the board under Subsection (g).
84		-	(e) After notice to the board, an institution of higher
85		-	education may modify the institution's recommended course
86		-	sequences as necessary to:
87		-	(1) incorporate recommended changes identified as a
88		-	result of any program evaluation conducted by the institution; or
89		-	(2) comply with applicable institutional policies,
90		-	accreditation requirements, and state or federal law.
91		-	(f) An institution of higher education shall honor each
92		-	version of a recommended course sequence adopted by the institution
93		-	under Subsection (b)(1), including any necessary modifications
94		-	made to the course sequence under Subsection (e), for at least the
95		-	four academic years occurring after the date on which that version
96		-	of the course sequence is adopted.
97		-	(g) The board, in consultation with the Texas OnCourse
98		-	initiative and its partnering institutions of higher education,
99		-	shall establish a statewide web-based platform that enables a
100		-	student to:
101		-	(1) search for and compare recommended course
102		-	sequences at institutions of higher education; and
103		-	(2) determine whether a specific lower-division
104		-	course offered by an institution of higher education and identified
105		-	using the common course numbering system would transfer to another
106		-	institution of higher education for course credit applied toward
107		-	the student's undergraduate certificate or degree program and count
108		-	toward that institution's recommended course sequence for that
109		-	program.
110		-	(h) In establishing the web-based platform under Subsection
111		-	(g), the board may use technology platforms provided by the
112		-	National Student Clearinghouse or any other electronic data sharing
113		-	and exchange platforms that meet nationally accepted standards,
114		-	conventions, and practices.
115		-	(i) The board shall ensure that an electronic link to the
116		-	web-based platform established under Subsection (g) is posted on
117		-	the Internet website of any electronic common application system
118		-	developed by the board.
119		-	(j) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,
120		-	the board shall submit to the members of the legislature a report on
121		-	the recommended course sequences at institutions of higher
122		-	education. The report must include an analysis of the alignment of
123		-	courses taken by students in each undergraduate certificate or
124		-	degree program at an institution of higher education with the
125		-	institution's recommended course sequence for that program.
126		-	Sec. 61.844. TRANSFER COMPACTS. (a) Not later than March
127		-	15 of each year, each institution of higher education shall submit
128		-	to the board in an electronic format specified by the board:
129		-	(1) a list of the transfer compacts in which the
130		-	institution participates; and
131		-	(2) a copy of, or an electronic link to a copy of, each
132		-	transfer compact listed under Subdivision (1).
133		-	(b) The board shall provide any necessary support for the
134		-	development of transfer compacts between institutions of higher
135		-	education.
136		-	(c) The board, in consultation with the Texas OnCourse
137		-	initiative and its partnering institutions of higher education,
138		-	shall establish a statewide web-based platform that provides to
139		-	students information regarding transfer compacts between
140		-	institutions of higher education, including an electronic link to
141		-	each transfer compact submitted to the board under Subsection (a).
142		-	(d) In establishing the web-based platform under Subsection
143		-	(c), the board may use technology platforms provided by the
144		-	National Student Clearinghouse or any other electronic data sharing
145		-	and exchange platforms that meet nationally accepted standards,
146		-	conventions, and practices.
147		-	(e) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,
148		-	the board shall submit to the members of the legislature a report on
149		-	transfer compacts between institutions of higher education. The
150		-	report must include an analysis of the impact of those compacts on
151		-	students' efficient progress toward completion of an undergraduate
152		-	certificate or degree program.
153		-	Sec. 61.845. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may
154		-	solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or
155		-	private source for any expenses related to the program.
156		-	Sec. 61.846. RULES. The board, in consultation with
157		-	institutions of higher education:
158		-	(1) shall adopt rules for the electronic submission of
159		-	information required to be submitted to the board under this
160		-	subchapter; and
161		-	(2) may adopt rules as necessary to implement the
162		-	program.
163		-	SECTION 2. Subchapter S-1, Chapter 61, Education Code, as
164		-	added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2018-2019 academic
165		-	year.
166		-	SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 61.843(b), Education
167		-	Code, as added by this Act, not later than August 15, 2018, each
168		-	public institution of higher education shall adopt, submit to the
169		-	Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and post on the
170		-	institution's Internet website the initial recommended course
171		-	sequences as required under that section.
172		-	SECTION 4. Not later than November 1, 2018, the Texas Higher
173		-	Education Coordinating Board shall submit its initial report
174		-	required under Section 61.843(j), Education Code, as added by this
175		-	Act.
176		-	SECTION 5. Not later than March 15, 2019, the Texas Higher
177		-	Education Coordinating Board shall establish the statewide
178		-	web-based platforms required under Sections 61.843(g) and
179		-	61.844(c), Education Code, as added by this Act.
180		-	SECTION 6. Not later than November 1, 2020, the Texas Higher
181		-	Education Coordinating Board shall submit its initial report
182		-	required under Section 61.844(e), Education Code, as added by this
183		-	Act.
184		-	SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
185		-	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	63	+	certificates and degrees, in line with state goals, to increase
	64	+	educational attainment across the state.
	65	+	Sec. 51B.003. RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES. (a) Not later
	66	+	than March 15 of each year, each institution of higher education
	67	+	shall:
	68	+	(1) develop recommended course sequences for each
	69	+	undergraduate degree and certificate program offered by the
	70	+	institution that would enable full-time students to complete 60
	71	+	hour programs within four semesters, and 120 hour programs within
	72	+	eight semesters;
	73	+	(2) submit to the commissioner the recommended course
	74	+	sequences for each undergraduate degree and certificate program, in
	75	+	an electronic format specified by the commissioner;
	76	+	(3) for institutions that do not use the Texas Common
	77	+	Course Numbering System (TCCN), provide data, in an electronic
	78	+	format specified by the commissioner, indicating transfer
	79	+	equivalencies for institutions' compatible courses with TCCN
	80	+	courses, where compatible courses are offered by the institution
	81	+	and are included in recommended course sequences; and
	82	+	(4) publish the recommended course sequences and
	83	+	transfer equivalencies on the institution's website, accessible
	84	+	within three clicks from the institution's home page.
	85	+	(b) Not later than March 15 of each year, each
	86	+	lower-division institution shall:
	87	+	(1) inform students about recommended course
	88	+	sequences as a tool to aid in course selection;
	89	+	(2) incorporate recommended course sequences into
	90	+	advising;
	91	+	(3) inform all students during orientation of the the
	92	+	importance of selecting an intended major or field of study before,
	93	+	or as soon as possible after, enrollment in an institution of higher
	94	+	education, and potential consequences and costs of delaying that
	95	+	decision, particularly if the student intends to transfer between
	96	+	postsecondary educational institutions;
	97	+	(4) provide links to a searchable, web-based platform
	98	+	identified by the commissioner that enables students to compare
	99	+	institutions' recommended course sequences; and
	100	+	(5) ensure that the institution's own recommended
	101	+	course sequences, or their institutional equivalents if the
	102	+	institution's course offerings have been updated, and transfer
	103	+	equivalencies will be honored by the institution for not less than
	104	+	four years from the beginning of the academic year following
	105	+	initial publication date of the recommended course sequence or
	106	+	transfer equivalencies, subject to applicable institutional
	107	+	policies, accreditation requirements, and state and federal law.
	108	+	(c) Not later than March 15 of each year, each public senior
	109	+	college or university shall:
	110	+	(1) inform students about recommended course
	111	+	sequences as a tool to aid in course selection;
	112	+	(2) incorporate recommended course sequences into
	113	+	advising;
	114	+	(3) inform all students during orientation of the
	115	+	importance of selecting an intended major or field of study before,
	116	+	or as soon as possible after enrollment in an institution of higher
	117	+	education, and potential consequences and costs of delaying that
	118	+	decision, particularly if the student intends to transfer between
	119	+	postsecondary educational institutions;
	120	+	(4) provide links to a searchable, web-based platform
	121	+	identified by the commissioner that enables students to compare
	122	+	institutions' recommended course sequences; and
	123	+	(5) ensure that the institution's own recommended
	124	+	course sequences, or their institutional equivalents if the
	125	+	institution's course offerings have been updated, and transfer
	126	+	equivalencies will be honored by the institution for not less than
	127	+	four years from the beginning of the academic year following
	128	+	initial publication date of the recommended course sequence or
	129	+	transfer equivalencies, subject to applicable institutional
	130	+	policies, accreditation requirements, and state and federal law.
	131	+	(d) An institution of higher education may update or amend
	132	+	recommended course sequences for certificates or degree programs,
	133	+	with prior notification to the commissioner, subject to applicable
	134	+	institutional policies, accreditation requirements, and state and
	135	+	federal law.
	136	+	Sec. 51B.004. POWERS AND DUTIES RELATED TO COURSE
	137	+	SEQUENCES. (a) The commissioner shall:
	138	+	(1) work in consultation with institutions of higher
	139	+	education to develop rules for the electronic submission of data by
	140	+	institutions about recommended course sequences and transfer
	141	+	equivalencies for institutions' course numbers with corresponding
	142	+	Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCN) courses;
	143	+	(2) work with the Texas OnCourse initiative of The
	144	+	University of Texas at Austin and its partner institutions to
	145	+	establish a singular, searchable, web-based platform that enables
	146	+	students to compare institutions' recommended course sequences and
	147	+	that enables students to query whether specific lower-division TCCN
	148	+	courses offered by an institution of higher education would be
	149	+	accepted by another institution to meet state core curriculum
	150	+	requirements and would apply to institutions' recommended course
	151	+	sequences for specific undergraduate certificates or degree
	152	+	programs;
	153	+	(3) link to the web-based platform from the ApplyTexas
	154	+	webpage or similar webpage; and
	155	+	(4) not later than November 1 of each even-numbered
	156	+	year, provide a written report on the program to the members of the
	157	+	Texas Legislature that includes an analysis of the alignment of
	158	+	courses that have been taken and successfully completed by students
	159	+	with institutions' recommended course sequences.
	160	+	(b) The commissioner may:
	161	+	(1) adopt rules for implementation of the program, in
	162	+	consultation with institutions of higher education;
	163	+	(2) accept grants or gifts for the purpose of
	164	+	supporting the program; and
	165	+	(3) utilize technology platforms provided by the
	166	+	National Student Clearinghouse, or other approved electronic data
	167	+	sharing and exchange platforms that meet nationally accepted
	168	+	standards, conventions, and practices, to collect and store data
	169	+	regarding institutions' recommended course sequences or to provide
	170	+	a web-based application that enables students to compare
	171	+	institutions' recommended course sequences.
	172	+	Sec. 51B.005. TRANSFER COMPACTS. (a) The commissioner
	173	+	shall:
	174	+	(1) encourage institutions of higher education, other
	175	+	than research universities, to develop and participate in regional
	176	+	transfer compacts, in order to coordinate regional transfers of
	177	+	courses and students among institutions, increase clarity of
	178	+	program requirements, reduce costs for students and for the state,
	179	+	and reduce excess courses that do not contribute to completion of
	180	+	degrees or certificates;
	181	+	(2) work with the Texas OnCourse initiative of The
	182	+	University of Texas at Austin and its partner institutions to
	183	+	develop a singular, searchable, web-based platform that provides
	184	+	information to students about regional transfer compacts across the
	185	+	state, including links to regional transfer agreements that each
	186	+	institution participates in; and
	187	+	(3) not later than November 1 of each even-numbered
	188	+	year, provide a written report to the members of the Texas
	189	+	Legislature that includes an analysis of the impact of regional
	190	+	transfer compacts and research university transfer compacts on
	191	+	students' efficient progress towards completion of certificates
	192	+	and degree programs.
	193	+	(b) All institutions other than research universities shall
	194	+	participate in the development of regional transfer compacts that
	195	+	facilitate efficient transfers of course credits and students among
	196	+	regional institutions, including agreements regarding processes
	197	+	for faculty to develop cross-walks between courses and recommended
	198	+	course sequences from participating institutions, and processes
	199	+	for updating cross-walks and institutions' recommended course
	200	+	sequences as program requirements change.
	201	+	(c) Research universities shall develop and participate in
	202	+	an agreement with at least one lower-division institution to
	203	+	establish research university transfer compacts that provide a
	204	+	guaranteed transfer into the research university for Texas resident
	205	+	students upon successful completion of at least 15 semester credit
	206	+	hours at the lower-division institution and other requirements
	207	+	specified by the research university, which may include grade point
	208	+	averages and successful completion of specific courses or course
	209	+	sequences. Research university transfer compacts must enable
	210	+	eligible full-time students to complete at least one 120 hour
	211	+	undergraduate degree program at the research university within
	212	+	eight semesters, including students' full-time enrollment at the
	213	+	lower-division institution prior to the students' transfer,
	214	+	provided that students follow the university's recommended course
	215	+	sequence for the program.
	216	+	(d) Not later than March 15 of each year, each institution
	217	+	of higher education shall submit to the commissioner a list of all
	218	+	transfer compacts in which the institution participates, and a
	219	+	website hyperlink to or copy of applicable inter-institutional
	220	+	agreements, in an electronic form to be specified by the
	221	+	commissioner.
	222	+	Sec. 51B.006. The commissioner may, in consultation with
	223	+	institutions of higher education, adopt rules for implementation of
	224	+	the program.
	225	+	SECTION 2. Not later than 30 days of the effective date of
	226	+	this Act, the Commissioner of Higher Education shall notify boards
	227	+	and presidents of each Texas institution of higher education of the
	228	+	requirement to develop recommended course sequences for each
	229	+	undergraduate degree and certificate program offered at their
	230	+	institutions.
	231	+	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	232	+	a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as
186	233		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
187	234		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
188	235		Act takes effect September 1, 2017.