Bill Text: TX HB4018 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to measures to facilitate the transfer, academic progress, and timely graduation of students in public higher education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-23 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB4018 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB4018-Comm_Sub.html
86R26295 KJE-D | |||
By: Turner of Tarrant | H.B. No. 4018 | ||
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4018: | |||
By: Turner of Tarrant | C.S.H.B. No. 4018 |
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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 [ |
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61.003. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 51.9685, Education Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (b), (c), and (g) and adding Subsection (c-2) | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), each | ||
student enrolled in an associate or bachelor's degree program at an | ||
institution of higher education shall file a degree plan with the | ||
institution after the 12th class day but before [ |
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end of the [ |
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the semester or term in which the student earned a cumulative total | ||
of 30 [ |
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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 Subsection (b) [ |
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who begins the student's first semester or term at an institution of | ||
higher education with 30 [ |
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course credit for courses described by Subsection (b) shall file a | ||
degree plan with the institution after the 12th class day but before | ||
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semester or term [ |
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(c-2) A student enrolled in a dual credit course at an | ||
institution of higher education and to whom Subsection (b) does not | ||
apply shall file a degree plan with the institution not later than: | ||
(1) the end of the second regular semester or term | ||
immediately following the semester or term in which the student | ||
earned a cumulative total of 15 or more semester credit hours of | ||
course credit for dual credit courses successfully completed by the | ||
student; or | ||
(2) if the student begins the student's first semester | ||
or term at the institution with 15 or more semester credit hours of | ||
course credit for dual credit courses successfully completed by the | ||
student, the end of 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 [ |
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adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section. In | ||
adopting those rules, the coordinating board shall use the | ||
negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government | ||
Code. | ||
SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Sections 51.96852, 51.96853, and 51.96854 to read | ||
as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.96852. RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES. (a) In this | ||
section: | ||
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher | ||
Education Coordinating Board. | ||
(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(b) Each institution of higher education shall develop at | ||
least one recommended course sequence for each undergraduate | ||
certificate or degree program offered by the institution. Each | ||
recommended course sequence must: | ||
(1) identify all required lower-division courses for | ||
the applicable certificate or degree program; | ||
(2) include for each course, if applicable, the course | ||
number or course equivalent under the common course numbering | ||
system approved by the coordinating board under Section 61.832; | ||
(3) be designed to enable a full-time student to | ||
obtain a certificate or degree, as applicable, within: | ||
(A) for an associate degree or certificate | ||
program, two years; or | ||
(B) for a baccalaureate degree program, four | ||
years; and | ||
(4) include a specific sequence in which courses | ||
should be completed to ensure completion of the applicable program | ||
within the time frame described by Subdivision (3). | ||
(c) Each institution of higher education shall: | ||
(1) include the recommended course sequences | ||
developed under this section in the institution's course catalog | ||
and on the institution's Internet website; and | ||
(2) submit the recommended course sequences developed | ||
under this section to the coordinating board as provided by | ||
coordinating board rule. | ||
(d) In adopting rules under this section, the coordinating | ||
board shall consult with institutions of higher education. | ||
Sec. 51.96853. TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM LOWER-DIVISION | ||
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS. (a) In | ||
this section: | ||
(1) "Articulation agreement" means a formal written | ||
agreement between a lower-division institution of higher education | ||
and a general academic teaching institution identifying courses | ||
offered by the lower-division institution that must be accepted for | ||
credit toward specific course requirements at the general academic | ||
teaching institution. | ||
(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the | ||
meaning assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(3) "Lower-division institution of higher education" | ||
means a public junior college, public state college, or public | ||
technical institute, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003. | ||
(b) Each general academic teaching institution may enter | ||
into an articulation agreement with a lower-division institution of | ||
higher education for a certificate or degree program for which | ||
students transferring from the lower-division institution to the | ||
general academic teaching institution receive transfer credit. | ||
(c) An articulation agreement entered into under Subsection | ||
(b) may use fields of study curricula developed by the Texas Higher | ||
Education Coordinating Board under Section 61.823. | ||
(d) A general academic teaching institution may extend an | ||
existing articulation agreement entered into under Subsection (b) | ||
to another lower-division institution of higher education with | ||
respect to the transfer of courses from that lower-division | ||
institution of higher education to the general academic teaching | ||
institution, on request by that lower-division institution of | ||
higher education. | ||
(e) An articulation agreement established under this | ||
section may enable a transfer student to receive up to 60 semester | ||
credit hours for courses completed at the lower-division | ||
institution of higher education. | ||
(f) A general academic teaching institution's participation | ||
in an articulation agreement under this section does not affect the | ||
institution's admissions policies. | ||
Sec. 51.96854. DECLARATION OF META MAJOR. (a) In this | ||
section: | ||
(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(2) "Meta major" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
61.821. | ||
(b) Each student enrolled at an institution of higher | ||
education in an associate or bachelor's degree program or in a dual | ||
credit course shall file with the institution a declaration of the | ||
meta major under which the student intends to earn a degree after | ||
the 12th class day but before the end of the semester or term | ||
immediately following the semester or term in which the student | ||
earned a cumulative total of 15 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) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in | ||
consultation with institutions of higher education, shall adopt | ||
rules as necessary for the administration of this section. In | ||
adopting those rules, the coordinating board shall use the | ||
negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government | ||
Code. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 61.821, Education Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows: | ||
(4) "Meta major" means a collection of programs of | ||
study or academic disciplines that share common foundational | ||
skills. | ||
SECTION 5. Section 61.822, Education Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (a-1), (b), (c), and (d) and adding | ||
Subsections (a-2), (a-3), (b-1), (f), and (g) to read as follows: | ||
(a-1) The board, with the assistance of advisory committees | ||
composed of representatives of institutions of higher education or | ||
university systems designated by the applicable institution or | ||
system, shall develop a recommended core curriculum of at least 42 | ||
semester credit hours, including a statement of the content, | ||
component areas, and objectives of the core curriculum. At least a | ||
majority of the members of any advisory committee named under this | ||
section shall be faculty members of an institution of higher | ||
education. [ |
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(a-2) The recommended core curriculum developed under | ||
Subsection (a-1) must have the following components: | ||
(1) a general core curriculum of at least 24 semester | ||
credit hours that includes: | ||
(A) six semester credit hours in: | ||
(i) American or Texas history; and | ||
(ii) government or political science; and | ||
(B) three semester credit hours in: | ||
(i) communications; | ||
(ii) language, philosophy, or culture; | ||
(iii) creative arts; and | ||
(iv) a component area provided by board | ||
rule; and | ||
(2) for each meta major under Subsection (a-3), an | ||
academic discipline core curriculum of not more than 18 semester | ||
credit hours specific to that meta major and that includes: | ||
(A) six semester credit hours in life sciences or | ||
physical sciences; and | ||
(B) three semester credit hours in: | ||
(i) mathematics; | ||
(ii) behavioral science; | ||
(iii) communications; and | ||
(iv) a component area provided by board | ||
rule. | ||
(a-3) The board shall develop a recommended academic | ||
discipline core curriculum under Subsection (a-2) for each of the | ||
following meta majors: | ||
(1) arts, humanities, communications, and design; | ||
(2) business; | ||
(3) education; | ||
(4) health sciences; | ||
(5) industry, manufacturing, and construction; | ||
(6) public safety; | ||
(7) science, technology, engineering, and | ||
mathematics; and | ||
(8) social and behavioral sciences and human services. | ||
(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 | ||
shall: | ||
(1) include a general core curriculum and for each | ||
meta major, an academic discipline core curriculum as described by | ||
Subsection (a-2); and | ||
(2) be consistent with the common course numbering | ||
system approved by the board and with the statement, | ||
recommendations, and rules issued by the board. | ||
(b-1) 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 or the general core curriculum or academic discipline | ||
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, general core curriculum, or academic discipline | ||
core curriculum, as applicable. A student shall receive academic | ||
credit for each of the courses transferred and may not be required | ||
to take additional core curriculum, general core curriculum, or | ||
academic discipline core curriculum courses, as applicable, at the | ||
receiving institution unless the board has approved a larger core | ||
curriculum at the institution. | ||
(d) A student who transfers from one institution of higher | ||
education to another without completing the core curriculum of the | ||
sending institution shall receive academic credit from the | ||
receiving institution toward that institution's general core | ||
curriculum or academic discipline core curriculum, as applicable, | ||
for each of the courses that the student has successfully completed | ||
in the core curriculum of the sending institution. Following | ||
receipt of credit for these courses, the student may be required to | ||
satisfy any remaining [ |
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curriculum of the receiving institution. | ||
(f) Each institution of higher education shall: | ||
(1) identify in the institution's course catalog and | ||
on the institution's Internet website: | ||
(A) each course offered by the institution that | ||
fulfills a course requirement in the institution's general core | ||
curriculum or academic discipline core curriculum and the specific | ||
course requirement that the course fulfills; and | ||
(B) the meta major with which each degree or | ||
certificate program offered by the institution is associated; | ||
(2) provide to the board in accordance with board rule | ||
the institution's general core curriculum and academic discipline | ||
core curriculum and the information described by Subdivision | ||
(1)(A); and | ||
(3) advise each student enrolled at the institution | ||
regarding the importance of taking coherent sequences of courses in | ||
the core curriculum that are aligned with the student's academic | ||
and career goals. | ||
(g) To assist in advising a student regarding the selection | ||
of coherent sequences of courses in the core curriculum that are | ||
aligned with the student's academic and career goals, the board | ||
shall make available to each institution of higher education and to | ||
school counselors and other postsecondary advisors employed by a | ||
school district or open-enrollment charter school information | ||
regarding: | ||
(1) the general core curriculum and academic | ||
discipline core curriculum required under Subsection (b); and | ||
(2) the transferability of course credit between | ||
institutions of higher education for courses in the core curriculum | ||
as provided by this section. | ||
SECTION 6. Section 61.827, Education Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 61.827. RULES. (a) The board is authorized to adopt | ||
rules implementing the provisions of this subchapter. | ||
(b) In adopting rules regarding the recommended core | ||
curriculum developed under Section 61.822, the board shall use the | ||
negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government | ||
Code. | ||
SECTION 7. Sections 130.0104(b) and (c), Education Code, | ||
are amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) A multidisciplinary studies associate degree program | ||
established at a junior college under this section must require a | ||
student to successfully complete: | ||
(1) the junior college's core curriculum adopted under | ||
Section 61.822 [ |
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(2) after completion of the core curriculum under | ||
Subdivision (1), the courses selected by the student in the | ||
student's degree plan completed under Subsection (c). | ||
(c) In complying with the requirements regarding the filing | ||
of a degree plan under [ |
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program established under this section [ |
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with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan [ |
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(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 8. Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is | ||
repealed. | ||
SECTION 9. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this | ||
section, this Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 academic | ||
year. | ||
(b) Sections 51.96852, 51.96853, and 51.96854, Education | ||
Code, as added by this Act, and Section 61.822, Education Code, as | ||
amended by this Act, apply beginning with the 2021-2022 academic | ||
year. | ||
SECTION 10. Not later than May 31, 2021, the Texas Higher | ||
Education Coordinating Board shall develop a recommended core | ||
curriculum that conforms to the requirements of Section 61.822, | ||
Education Code, as amended by this Act. | ||
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. |