BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center
79R819 JRJ-D S.B. 302
By: Ellis
S/C on Higher Education
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Texas universities and colleges have continued to experience persistent minority under-representation problems. As proposed, S.B. 302, will enable the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to better monitor universities' minority outreach efforts. By requiring universities and colleges to provide information on their efforts/strategies to increase minority enrollment, the minority under-representation dilemma will be better understood.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H. GUIDELINES FOR ACADEMIC AND OTHER REPORTS BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.4032, as follows:
Sec. 51.4032. ANNUAL REPORT OF MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) Sets forth that a racial or ethnic group is underrepresented in the undergraduate or graduate student body of an institution of higher education if the percentage of that student body consisting of members of the racial or ethnic group is less than the percentage of the population of this state consisting of members of that racial or ethnic group.
(b) Requires each institution of higher education, not later than July 1 of each year, to submit a report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) detailing its strategies for increasing the number of undergraduate and graduate students who enroll in the institution from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the institution's undergraduate or graduate student body. Requires the report to include certain information.
(c) Requires the report to be in the form prescribed by the board in consultation with the institution. Requires the board to specify the racial and ethnic groups that must be included in the report.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 61.080(a), Education Code, to require the board to collect data relating to the enrollment strategies reported to the board by institutions of higher education.
SECTION 4. Requires, not later than July 1, 2006, each public institution of higher education in this state to submit the first report required by Section 51.4032.
SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.