86R13351 KJE-F
By: West S.B. No. 1923
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to measures to facilitate the transfer, academic progress,
and timely graduation of students in public higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.9685(a)(2), Education Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Institution of higher education" has [and "public
junior college" have] the meaning [meanings] assigned by Section
61.003.
SECTION 2. Sections 51.9685(b), (c), and (g), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), each
student enrolled at an institution of higher education in an
associate or bachelor's degree program or a course for joint high
school and junior college credit under Section 130.008 [at an
institution of higher education] shall file a degree plan with the
institution not later than the first day of the [end of the second]
regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term
in which the student earned a cumulative total of 30 [45] or more
semester credit hours for coursework successfully completed by the
student, including transfer courses, international baccalaureate
courses, dual credit courses, and any other course for which the
institution the student attends has awarded the student college
course credit, including course credit awarded by examination.
(c) A student to whom this section applies who begins the
student's first semester or term at an institution of higher
education with 30 [45] or more semester credit hours of course
credit for courses described by Subsection (b) shall file a degree
plan with the institution not later than the 12th class day [end] of
that [the student's second regular] semester or term [at the
institution].
(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in
consultation with institutions of higher education, shall [may]
adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section,
including rules to ensure compliance with this section.
SECTION 3. Section 61.059(p), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(p) In its instruction and operations formula applicable to
an institution of higher education, the board may not include any
semester credit hours earned for dual course credit by a high school
student for high school and college credit at the institution
unless those credit hours are earned through any of the following:
(1) a course in the core curriculum of the institution
providing course credit;
(2) a course offered by the institution providing
course credit in:
(A) a field of study curriculum developed by the
board under Section 61.823; or
(B) a program of study curriculum established by
the board under Section 61.8235;
(3) a career and technical education course that
applies to any certificate or associate's degree offered by the
institution providing course credit; or
(4) [(3)] a foreign language course.
SECTION 4. Section 61.821(1), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(1) "Core curriculum" means the lower division
curriculum in liberal arts, humanities, and sciences and political,
social, and cultural history that provides the knowledge and
academic competencies foundational for all future learning and that
all undergraduate students of an institution of higher education
are required to complete before receiving an academic undergraduate
degree.
SECTION 5. Sections 61.822(b) and (c), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(b) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core
curriculum of no less than 42 semester credit hours, including
specific courses comprising the curriculum. The core curriculum
must:
(1) consist of general education courses that:
(A) are selected for inclusion in the core
curriculum based on a coherent rationale; and
(B) ensure a breadth of knowledge rather than
being narrowly focused on knowledge or competencies specific to a
certain profession or discipline;
(2) [shall] be consistent with the common course
numbering system approved by the board; and
(3) be approved by the board in accordance with the
statement, recommendations, and rules issued by the board. [An
institution may have a core curriculum of other than 42 semester
credit hours only if approved by the board.]
(c) If a student successfully completes the 42-hour core
curriculum at an institution of higher education, that block of
courses may be transferred to any other institution of higher
education and must be substituted for the receiving institution's
core curriculum. A student shall receive academic credit for each
of the courses transferred and may not be required to take
additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution
[unless the board has approved a larger core curriculum at the
institution].
SECTION 6. Section 61.823, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) A public junior college or public technical institute
shall adopt in whole or in part each field of study curriculum
developed by the board under this section for an academic area in
which the college or institute offers courses.
SECTION 7. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 61.8231 and 61.8232 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.8231. META-MAJOR ACADEMIC PATHWAYS. (a) To assist
in advising students regarding the selection of courses aligned
with the student's academic and career goals, the board shall
develop a meta-major academic pathway for each broad academic
discipline that consists of a set of courses commonly required by
institutions of higher education for that discipline that are:
(1) in the core curriculum recommended by the board
under Section 61.822; or
(2) the applicable field of study curriculum developed
by the board under Section 61.823.
(b) The board shall make the meta-major academic pathways
available to each institution of higher education for use in
advising students enrolled at the institution.
Sec. 61.8232. STUDY ON TRANSFER ADMISSION GUARANTEE. (a)
The board shall conduct a study on the feasibility of guaranteeing
transfer admission to an institution of higher education for
students who complete certain courses in the core curriculum or a
field of study curriculum at another institution of higher
education.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2020, the board shall submit
to the members of the legislature a report on the results of the
study and recommendations for legislative or other action. The
report must include recommendations regarding eligibility criteria
for a student to receive or an institution of higher education to
participate in the transfer admission guarantee.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 8. Section 130.0104(c), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) In complying with the requirements regarding the filing
of a degree plan under [Notwithstanding] Section 51.9685, [before
the beginning of the regular semester or term immediately following
the semester or term in which] a student enrolled [successfully
completes a cumulative total of 30 or more semester credit hours for
coursework] in a multidisciplinary studies associate degree
program established under this section [, the student] must meet
with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan [, as defined by
Section 51.9685(a)(1),] that:
(1) accounts for all remaining credit hours required
for the completion of the degree program; and
(2) emphasizes:
(A) the student's transition to a particular
four-year college or university that the student chooses; and
(B) preparations for the student's intended
field of study or major at the four-year college or university.
SECTION 9. Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 10. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
academic year.
SECTION 11. 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, 2019.