By: McClendon, et al. (Senate Sponsor - West) H.B. No. 85
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 2, 2003;
May 6, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on
Education; May 23, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 23, 2003, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of an undergraduate medical academy
at Prairie View A&M University.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 87, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 87.108 to read as follows:
Sec. 87.108. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL
ACADEMY. (a) The Prairie View A&M Undergraduate Medical Academy is
established at Prairie View A&M University.
(b) The organization, control, and management of the
academy is vested in the board of regents of The Texas A&M
University System.
(c) The employment of personnel by and the operating budget
of the institute are subject to the approval of the board of
regents. An employee of the academy is an employee of Prairie View
A&M University.
(d) The primary purpose of the academy is to prepare
students for medical school.
(e) A student is eligible to apply for admission into the
academy if the student:
(1) is enrolled in Prairie View A&M University with a
major that requires completion of the prescribed core of basic
science and mathematics courses needed as a foundation preparation
for gaining admission into medical study at an accredited medical
school in the United States;
(2) has completed at least one year of undergraduate
college-level or university-level courses approved by the academy;
(3) has demonstrated interest in a medical career; and
(4) has met the academic achievement standards
established for the academy by the academy's admissions committee
in the student's undergraduate courses.
(f) The academy shall provide:
(1) academic and career counseling for academy
students;
(2) faculty mentorship for each academy student;
(3) enriched undergraduate courses designed to
strengthen academic preparation, including preparation for the
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), for future medical school
applicants;
(4) preparation for the MCAT and instruction in
standardized testing techniques;
(5) long-distance educational technology to allow
interactive participation with medical schools, as appropriate;
(6) visitation to medical school educational sites;
and
(7) visitation of medical school faculty to the
academy for academic enrichment.
(g) A student admitted to the academy must enter into an
agreement with the university under which the student agrees to:
(1) maintain the student's eligibility for continued
enrollment in the academy; and
(2) repay any scholarship or stipend the student
receives in connection with enrollment in the academy if the
student:
(A) fails to apply to medical school in Texas and
enrolls in a medical school outside of Texas; or
(B) declines an offer to attend medical school in
Texas and enrolls in a medical school outside of Texas.
(h) The academy shall consult with the medical schools in
Texas to ensure that its curriculum and practices are consistent
with current medical school needs and requirements.
(i) The academy shall enter into cooperative programs, as
appropriate, with medical schools in Texas to help achieve the
goals of the academy.
(j) The academy shall incorporate into its curriculum
current medical school educational practices, such as small group
tutorials using problem-based instruction.
(k) The university shall enhance the facilities of the
university as necessary to achieve the purposes of the academy.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
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