By Barrientos S.B. No. 1274
77R7677 QS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the establishment of the Texas first-generation
1-3 scholars program.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-6 Subchapter X to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER X. TEXAS FIRST-GENERATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM
1-8 Sec. 61.951. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-9 (1) "First-generation college student" means a student
1-10 neither of whose natural or adoptive parents received a
1-11 baccalaureate degree.
1-12 (2) "Graduate education" means studies beyond the
1-13 baccalaureate degree leading to a post-baccalaureate degree.
1-14 (3) "Groups underrepresented in graduate education"
1-15 means groups determined to be underrepresented by the board's
1-16 review of representation in Texas graduate enrollment.
1-17 (4) "Low-income individual" means an individual whose
1-18 family's taxable income did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty
1-19 level in the calendar year preceding the year in which the
1-20 individual applies to participate in a project under this
1-21 subchapter. Poverty level income is determined by the criteria
1-22 established by the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of
1-23 Commerce.
1-24 (5) "Program" means the Texas first-generation
2-1 scholars program.
2-2 (6) "Project" means a Texas first-generation scholars
2-3 project at a public, private, or independent institution of higher
2-4 education that has received a grant under the Texas
2-5 first-generation scholars program.
2-6 (7) "Summer internship" means an educational
2-7 experience during the summer term in which participants, under the
2-8 guidance and direction of experienced faculty researchers, are
2-9 provided an opportunity to engage in research or other scholarly
2-10 activities.
2-11 Sec. 61.952. TEXAS FIRST-GENERATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM. The
2-12 Texas first-generation scholars program is a program administered
2-13 by the board to award grants to public, private, or independent
2-14 institutions of higher education for the development and operation
2-15 of mentoring projects for undergraduate minority students who
2-16 desire to enter the faculty and professional staff ranks of public,
2-17 private, or independent institutions of higher education in this
2-18 state.
2-19 Sec. 61.953. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. Any public, private, or
2-20 independent institution of higher education in the state that
2-21 grants baccalaureate degrees is eligible to receive a grant under
2-22 this subchapter.
2-23 Sec. 61.954. ELIGIBLE STUDENTS. (a) A student is eligible
2-24 to participate in a project if the student:
2-25 (1) is a United States citizen or permanent resident
2-26 of the United States;
2-27 (2) is a resident of this state;
3-1 (3) is currently enrolled in a baccalaureate degree
3-2 program at a public, private, or independent institution of higher
3-3 education that participates in student financial assistance
3-4 programs authorized by federal or state law;
3-5 (4) is a low-income individual who is a
3-6 first-generation college student or is a member of a group
3-7 underrepresented in graduate education;
3-8 (5) has a minimum overall grade point average of at
3-9 least 3.0; and
3-10 (6) has completed or will have completed the sophomore
3-11 year of enrollment by the time the student begins participation in
3-12 the project.
3-13 (b) A student who has enrolled in doctoral level coursework
3-14 is not eligible to participate in a project.
3-15 Sec. 61.955. SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS. (a)
3-16 The board shall administer a competitive application process.
3-17 (b) The board shall evaluate grant applications for a
3-18 project from public, private, or independent institutions of higher
3-19 education on a 100-point basis, based on:
3-20 (1) the demonstrated need for the project at the
3-21 institution;
3-22 (2) the qualifications of key project personnel;
3-23 (3) the quality of research and other scholarly
3-24 activities in which students will be involved;
3-25 (4) the level of faculty involvement in the project;
3-26 (5) the institution's plans for identifying and
3-27 recruiting participants;
4-1 (6) a plan of operation submitted to the board by the
4-2 institution that:
4-3 (A) addresses the activities and services to be
4-4 provided by the institution; and
4-5 (B) provides measurable process and outcome
4-6 objectives that address the needs of the eligible population; and
4-7 (7) the adequacy of the applicant's resources and
4-8 budget in relation to the project's objectives.
4-9 Sec. 61.956. PROJECT DIRECTOR. Each institution
4-10 participating in the program shall designate a project director to
4-11 administer the project, including the selection of participants. A
4-12 project director must have the appropriate professional
4-13 qualifications, experience, and administrative skills to administer
4-14 the project. Each project director shall adopt a written policy
4-15 relating to the establishment and operation of the project.
4-16 Sec. 61.957. PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES. A public,
4-17 private, or independent institution of higher education
4-18 administering a project under this subchapter shall provide:
4-19 (1) opportunities for research or other scholarly
4-20 activity at the institution or at graduate centers designed to
4-21 provide participants with effective preparation for doctoral study;
4-22 (2) summer internships;
4-23 (3) seminars and other educational activities designed
4-24 to prepare participants for doctoral study;
4-25 (4) tutoring;
4-26 (5) academic counseling;
4-27 (6) assistance to participants in securing admission
5-1 to and financial assistance for enrollment in graduate programs;
5-2 and
5-3 (7) mentoring programs matching students with faculty
5-4 members in their field of interest.
5-5 Sec. 61.958. PROJECT DURATION. A student admitted to a
5-6 project is eligible to participate until the expiration of four
5-7 years from the date of admission or until the student obtains a
5-8 baccalaureate degree from the institution, whichever occurs first.
5-9 Sec. 61.959. PROJECT LIMITATION. To expand opportunities for
5-10 the target population, an eligible student may not participate in
5-11 both:
5-12 (1) the Texas first-generation scholars program
5-13 established under this subchapter; and
5-14 (2) the federal Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate
5-15 Achievement Program established under 20 U.S.C. Section 1070a-15.
5-16 Sec. 61.960. GRANTS AND STIPENDS. (a) The board shall award
5-17 project grants of not less than $150,000.
5-18 (b) Participating institutions may provide research stipends
5-19 of $1,000 to students participating in the project.
5-20 Sec. 61.961. RECORD-KEEPING REQUIREMENT. Each institution
5-21 that participates in the program shall maintain a record for each
5-22 participating student that includes:
5-23 (1) the basis for the student's eligibility;
5-24 (2) an individual needs assessment;
5-25 (3) the services provided by the institution; and
5-26 (4) the specific educational progress made by the
5-27 student during and after participation in the project.
6-1 Sec. 61.962. REPORT. Each participating institution shall
6-2 prepare and deliver a report on its project to the board not later
6-3 than December 31 of each even-numbered year.
6-4 Sec. 61.963. FUNDING. The board may use any available
6-5 revenue, including legislative appropriations, to administer the
6-6 program under this subchapter.
6-7 Sec. 61.964. RULES. The board shall adopt rules as necessary
6-8 to administer this subchapter.
6-9 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
6-10 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
6-11 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
6-12 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
6-13 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.