Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1787 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	86R13000 KJE-D
2	2	By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1787
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to measures to facilitate the transfer, academic progress,
8	8	and timely graduation of students in public higher education.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853 to read as
12	12	follows:
13	13	Sec. 51.96852. RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES. (a) In this
14	14	section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned
15	15	by Section 61.003.
16	16	(b) Each institution of higher education shall develop a
17	17	recommended course sequence for each undergraduate certificate or
18	18	degree program offered by the institution. Each recommended course
19	19	sequence must identify the required courses for the applicable
20	20	certificate or degree program in the general core curriculum or the
21	21	academic discipline core curriculum as described by Section 61.822.
22	22	(c) Each institution of higher education shall include the
23	23	recommended course sequences developed under this section in the
24	24	institution's course catalog and on the institution's Internet
25	25	website.
26	26	Sec. 51.96853. TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM LOWER-DIVISION
27	27	INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS. (a) In
28	28	this section:
29	29	(1) "Articulation agreement" means a formal written
30	30	agreement between a lower-division institution of higher education
31	31	and a general academic teaching institution identifying courses
32	32	offered by the lower-division institution that must be accepted for
33	33	credit toward specific course requirements at the general academic
34	34	teaching institution.
35	35	(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the
36	36	meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
37	37	(3) "Lower-division institution of higher education"
38	38	means a public junior college, public state college, or public
39	39	technical institute, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003.
40	40	(b) Each general academic teaching institution shall:
41	41	(1) identify each lower-division institution of
42	42	higher education from which the general academic teaching
43	43	institution regularly receives at least 20 percent of its transfer
44	44	students; and
45	45	(2) establish an articulation agreement with each
46	46	lower-division institution of higher education identified under
47	47	Subdivision (1) for each certificate or degree program for which at
48	48	least five percent of students transferring from the lower-division
49	49	institution to the general academic teaching institution receive
50	50	transfer credit.
51	51	(c) An articulation agreement established under Subsection
52	52	(b)(2) must enable a transfer student to receive up to 60 semester
53	53	credit hours for courses completed at the lower-division
54	54	institution of higher education.
55	55	(d) A general academic teaching institution's participation
56	56	in an articulation agreement under this section does not affect the
57	57	institution's admissions policies.
58	58	SECTION 2. Section 61.822, Education Code, is amended by
59	59	adding Subsections (a-2) and (b-1) and amending Subsection (b) to
60	60	read as follows:
61	61	(a-2) The recommended core curriculum developed under
62	62	Subsection (a-1) must have the following components:
63	63	(1) a general core curriculum of at least 24 semester
64	64	credit hours that includes:
65	65	(A) six semester credit hours in:
66	66	(i) American or Texas history;
67	67	(ii) government or political science; and
68	68	(iii) communication; and
69	69	(B) three semester credit hours in:
70	70	(i) language, philosophy, or culture; and
71	71	(ii) creative arts; and
72	72	(2) for each broad academic discipline, an academic
73	73	discipline core curriculum of at least 18 semester credit hours
74	74	specific to that discipline and that includes relevant courses in
75	75	mathematics and physical sciences.
76	76	(b) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core
77	77	curriculum of no less than 42 semester credit hours, including
78	78	specific courses comprising the curriculum. The core curriculum
79	79	shall:
80	80	(1) include a general core curriculum and an academic
81	81	discipline core curriculum as described by Subsection (a-2); and
82	82	(2) be consistent with the common course numbering
83	83	system approved by the board and with the statement,
84	84	recommendations, and rules issued by the board.
85	85	(b-1) An institution may have a core curriculum of other
86	86	than 42 semester credit hours only if approved by the board.
87	87	SECTION 3. Section 130.0104(b), Education Code, is amended
88	88	to read as follows:
89	89	(b) A multidisciplinary studies associate degree program
90	90	established at a junior college under this section must require a
91	91	student to successfully complete:
92	92	(1) the junior college's core curriculum adopted under
93	93	Section 61.822 [61.822(b)]; and
94	94	(2) after completion of the core curriculum under
95	95	Subdivision (1), the courses selected by the student in the
96	96	student's degree plan completed under Subsection (c).
97	97	SECTION 4. Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853, Education Code,
98	98	as added by this Act, and Section 61.822, Education Code, as amended
99	99	by this Act, apply beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year.
100	100	SECTION 5. Not later than May 31, 2021, the Texas Higher
101	101	Education Coordinating Board shall develop a recommended core
102	102	curriculum that conforms to the requirements of Section 61.822,
103	103	Education Code, as amended by this Act.
104	104	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.