Texas Senate Bill SB883

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to use of a tuition set-aside to fund the doctoral incentive loan repayment program.

Impact

The introduction of SB883 is notable as it directly addresses the financial burden of student loans that academic staff face within higher education institutions. By implementing this bill, the state seeks to support the development of a robust educational environment where professors and instructors can find relief from their educational debts. This could potentially enhance the ability of these institutions to attract and retain qualified faculty, ultimately benefiting the quality of education provided to students.

Summary

Senate Bill 883 aims to establish a tuition set-aside program that funds a doctoral incentive loan repayment program for faculty and administrators employed at institutions of higher education in Texas. Under this legislation, each higher education institution will be required to allocate $4 for every semester credit hour a doctoral student is enrolled in, and this amount will be set aside from the tuition collected. This earmarked funding will then be managed by the state comptroller and used solely for the purpose of repaying student loans for eligible faculty members.

Contention

While SB883 presents a beneficial initiative for educators, there might be concerns regarding how this set-aside will affect overall tuition rates, considering that institutions may pass on costs to students. Additionally, there could be debate over the specific implementation details, such as which doctoral programs are eligible and how effectively the funds can be managed over time. Stakeholders within higher education may argue over the feasibility of funding and the equitable distribution of this financial support across various programs and institutions.