78R7401 JSA-F

By:  West                                                         S.B. No. 1009



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 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;
		(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 for future medical school 
applicants;
		(4)  long-distance educational technology to allow 
interactive participation with medical schools, as appropriate;
		(5)  visitation to medical school educational sites; 
and             
		(6)  visitation of medical school faculty to the 
academy for academic enrichment.
	(g)  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.
	(h)  The academy shall enter into cooperative programs, as 
appropriate, with medical schools in Texas to help achieve the 
goals of the academy.
	(i)  The academy shall incorporate into its curriculum 
current medical school educational practices, such as small group 
tutorials using problem-based instruction.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.