By:  Truan                                            S.C.R. No. 42

                            SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, With the dawn of the 21st century fast approaching,

 1-2     the State of Texas faces new economic challenges as traditional

 1-3     ways of doing business change in the face of technological advances

 1-4     and a rapidly expanding global market; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Texas has begun to reap the financial benefits from

 1-6     increased trade with Mexico under the terms of the North American

 1-7     Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and is poised to be an innovative

 1-8     leader in international markets; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, In order for the citizens of Texas to fully

1-10     capitalize on this new era of entrepreneurial opportunity, they

1-11     must be equipped with the tools necessary to succeed in a changing

1-12     commercial environment; the business men and women of this state

1-13     must be educated based on the premise that an increase in diversity

1-14     and a broadening of the economic base are essential to the

1-15     long-term success of Texas in international trade circles; and

1-16           WHEREAS, The courses currently offered by business schools in

1-17     Texas' colleges and universities focus on the traditional

1-18     preparation of students for employment in large corporations, while

1-19     the largest increase in job growth in both Texas and the nation has

1-20     come from small and medium-sized companies; business programs

1-21     throughout the state must reflect this important economic shift and

1-22     prepare our citizens for a new and dynamic marketplace; now,

1-23     therefore, be it

 2-1           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-2     hereby encourage all public and private higher education

 2-3     institutions throughout the state that offer business programs to

 2-4     increase the number of applied courses related to small and

 2-5     medium-sized businesses in an international business environment;

 2-6     and, be it further

 2-7           RESOLVED, That the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,

 2-8     in its periodic review of postsecondary degree and certificate

 2-9     programs, consider whether the course offerings that constitute an

2-10     institution's business program meet the present and future needs of

2-11     the state and the region in which the institution is located in

2-12     light of the need to encourage and assist small and medium-sized

2-13     business development and to prepare the business men and women

2-14     entering those businesses; and, be it further

2-15           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward official copies

2-16     of this resolution to the commissioner of higher education and to

2-17     the chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.