Bill Text: TX SB25 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Relating to measures to facilitate the transfer, academic progress, and timely graduation of students in public higher education.

Sponsorship: Broadly Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - Effective immediately [SB25 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB25-Enrolled.html

---

S.B. No. 25

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. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 51.400, 51.4033, and 51.4034 to read as
follows:
Sec. 51.400. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(2) "General academic teaching institution,"
"institution of higher education," and "public junior college" have
the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
Sec. 51.4033. REPORT OF NONTRANSFERABLE CREDIT. (a) Not
later than March 1 of each year and in the form prescribed by the
coordinating board, each general academic teaching institution
shall provide to the coordinating board and the legislature a
report describing any courses in the Lower-Division Academic Course
Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board for
which a student who transfers to the institution from another
institution of higher education is not granted:
(1) academic credit at the receiving institution; or
(2) if the student has declared a major and has not
changed majors, academic credit toward the student's major at the
receiving institution.
(b) A report required by this section must indicate:
(1) the course name and type;
(2) which institution of higher education provided
academic credit for the course; and
(3) the reason why the receiving institution did not
grant academic credit for the course as described by Subsection
(a).
Sec. 51.4034. REPORT OF COURSES TAKEN AT JUNIOR COLLEGES.
(a) Not later than March 1 of each year and in the form prescribed
by the coordinating board, each public junior college shall provide
to the coordinating board and the legislature a report on courses
taken by students who, during the preceding academic year,
transferred to a general academic teaching institution or earned an
associate degree at the college.
(b) A report required by this section must include the total
number of:
(1) courses attempted and completed at the college,
including the total number of semester credit hours for those
courses, disaggregated by whether the course is in:
(A) the Workforce Education Course Manual or its
successor adopted by the coordinating board; or
(B) the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide
Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board;
(2) courses attempted and completed at the college
that are not in the recommended core curriculum developed by the
coordinating board under Section 61.822; and
(3) dual credit courses, including courses for joint
high school and junior college credit under Section 130.008,
attempted and completed at the college.
SECTION 2. Section 51.762, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
(j) In adopting a form under this section, the board shall
ensure that an applicant may indicate on the form the applicant's
consent to an institution of higher education to which the
applicant submits an application for admission to a particular
degree program using the form to, if the institution denies the
applicant admission to that degree program, provide the applicant's
application to other institutions of higher education that offer
the degree program.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 [not later than] 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 Subsection (b) [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 after the 12th class day but before
[not later than] the end of that [the student's second regular]
semester or term [at the institution].
(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 [may]
adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section,
including rules to ensure compliance with this section. In
adopting those rules, the coordinating board shall use the
negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government
Code.
SECTION 5. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853 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:
(A) the course number or course equivalent under
the common course numbering system approved by the coordinating
board under Section 61.832; and
(B) the course equivalent in the Lower-Division
Academic Course Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the
coordinating board;
(3) be designed to enable a full-time student to
obtain a certificate or degree, as applicable, within:
(A) for a 60-hour degree or certificate program,
two years; or
(B) for a 120-hour 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) The 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.
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) on or after September 1, 2019, may use field 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.
SECTION 6. Section 51.9715, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as
follows:
(a-1) An institution of higher education, or a school
district that offers international baccalaureate courses, dual
credit courses, or any other course for which an institution of
higher education may award students enrolled at the district
college course credit, including course credit awarded by
examination, may release student information to an institution of
higher education for purposes of transferring course credit to that
institution or enabling the awarding of course credit by that
institution, in accordance with federal law regarding the
confidentiality of student information, including the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section
1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student
information.
(b) An institution of higher education or school district
may release student information in accordance with Subsection (a)
or (a-1), as applicable, through:
(1) the National Student Clearinghouse; or
(2) a similar [national] electronic data sharing and
exchange platform operated by an agent of the institution or
district that meets nationally accepted standards, conventions,
and practices.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.8221 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.8221. STUDY AND REPORT ON CORE CURRICULUM.
(a) The board shall conduct a study and make recommendations to
the legislature regarding the feasibility of implementing
statewide meta majors for institutions of higher education. The
board shall consider meta majors in the following academic
disciplines:
(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) The board shall establish an advisory committee to
assist the board in completing the board's duties under this
section and provide the board with subject matter expertise and
analysis. The advisory committee consists of the following members
appointed by the board in equal numbers:
(1) representatives of public junior colleges
designated by the applicable college to represent the college on
the advisory committee; and
(2) representatives of general academic teaching
institutions designated by the applicable institution to represent
the institution on the advisory committee.
(c) A majority of members appointed to the advisory
committee under Subsection (b)(2) must be representatives of a
general academic teaching institution at which at least 25 percent
of students enrolled at the institution for the 2018 fall semester
were classified as transfer students.
(d) In appointing members to the advisory committee under
Subsection (b), the board shall, to the greatest extent
practicable, ensure that the membership of the advisory committee
is balanced with respect to:
(1) institutional representation, including:
(A) the regions of the state;
(B) the mission type of the general academic
teaching institution or public junior college;
(C) university system affiliation, as
applicable;
(D) student enrollment; and
(E) institutional groupings under the board's
higher education accountability system;
(2) representation of faculty and administrators at
general academic teaching institutions or public junior colleges;
(3) representation of academic disciplines; and
(4) any other factors the board determines relevant.
(e) The advisory committee shall study and make
recommendations to the board regarding the effectiveness of the
requirements regarding the transfer of course credit between
institutions of higher education for courses in the core curriculum
under Section 61.822 in supporting more efficient undergraduate
transfer between institutions of higher education. The study and
recommendations must include an analysis of:
(1) the efficacy of dividing the recommended core
curriculum for each meta major into a general academic core
curriculum and an academic discipline core curriculum and, if
determined to be efficacious, the recommended number of semester
credit hours for each component of the recommended core curriculum
for each meta major;
(2) methods to ensure that courses completed in the
general academic core curriculum and academic discipline core
curriculum transfer between institutions of higher education for
course credit applied toward a student's major at the receiving
institution; and
(3) the potential inclusion of courses in the field of
study curricula adopted by the board under Section 61.823 in the
recommended core curriculum adopted by the board under Section
61.822.
(f) Each quarter ending before November 1, 2020, the
advisory committee shall submit to the chairs of the standing
legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher
education a report on the advisory committee's progress on the
study and recommendations required under Subsection (e).
(g) Not later than November 1, 2020, the board shall submit
to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the standing legislative committees with
primary jurisdiction over higher education a report on the results
of the study conducted under Subsection (a) and any recommendations
for legislative or other action.
(h) This section expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 10. 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 11. 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 12. Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 13. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
academic year.
(b) Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853, Education Code, as
added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2021-2022 academic
year.
SECTION 14. Each public institution of higher education
required to submit a report under Section 51.4033 or 51.4034,
Education Code, as added by this Act, shall submit the first report
not later than March 1, 2021.
SECTION 15. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 25 passed the Senate on
April 24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 23, 2019, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 25 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 21, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 142,
Nays 0, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor