1-1     By:  Truan                                            S.C.R. No. 42

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 7, 1997; March 12, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 17, 1997,

 1-4     reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0;

 1-5     April 17, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-7           WHEREAS, With the dawn of the 21st century fast approaching,

 1-8     the State of Texas faces new economic challenges as traditional

 1-9     ways of doing business change in the face of technological advances

1-10     and a rapidly expanding global market; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Texas has begun to reap the financial benefits from

1-12     increased trade with Mexico under the terms of the North American

1-13     Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and is poised to be an innovative

1-14     leader in international markets; and

1-15           WHEREAS, In order for the citizens of Texas to fully

1-16     capitalize on this new era of entrepreneurial opportunity, they

1-17     must be equipped with the tools necessary to succeed in a changing

1-18     commercial environment; the business men and women of this state

1-19     must be educated based on the premise that an increase in diversity

1-20     and a broadening of the economic base are essential to the

1-21     long-term success of Texas in international trade circles; and

1-22           WHEREAS, The courses currently offered by business schools in

1-23     Texas' colleges and universities focus on the traditional

1-24     preparation of students for employment in large corporations, while

1-25     the largest increase in job growth in both Texas and the nation has

1-26     come from small and medium-sized companies; business programs

1-27     throughout the state must reflect this important economic shift and

1-28     prepare our citizens for a new and dynamic marketplace; now,

1-29     therefore, be it

1-30           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-31     hereby encourage all public and private higher education

1-32     institutions throughout the state that offer business programs to

1-33     increase the number of applied courses related to small and

1-34     medium-sized businesses in an international business environment;

1-35     and, be it further

1-36           RESOLVED, That the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,

1-37     in its periodic review of postsecondary degree and certificate

1-38     programs, consider whether the course offerings that constitute an

1-39     institution's business program meet the present and future needs of

1-40     the state and the region in which the institution is located in

1-41     light of the need to encourage and assist small and medium-sized

1-42     business development and to prepare the business men and women

1-43     entering those businesses; and, be it further

1-44           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward official copies

1-45     of this resolution to the commissioner of higher education and to

1-46     the chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

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