BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 502
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Common Application Advisory Committee, convened by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) in accordance with Section 51.762 (Common Admission Application Forms), Education Code, has successfully created and launched a common admissions application that is accepted by all public universities. Through this single form, a student may apply to up to six different universities, rather than complete unique applications for each institution. The form has significantly simplified the admission application process for Texas students.
Although the process of applying for admission to public universities has been greatly simplified through the development of the statewide common application, the majority of students enrolling during the next two decades are expected to begin their studies at community colleges. Currently, each of those institutions has its own unique form.
S.B. 502 requires the board to collaborate with community college representatives to develop a common application for the state's fifty community college districts.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 51.762, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 51.761, Education Code, to define "public technical institute."
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 51.762(a), (b), and (f), Education Code, as follows:
(a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board), with the assistance of an advisory committee composed of representatives of general academic teaching institutions, junior college districts, and public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all institutions of higher education that admit freshman-level students, rather than only affected general academic teaching institutions, to adopt by rule a common admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to an institution of higher education. Makes conforming changes.
(b) Requires the board, with the assistance of an advisory committee composed of representatives of general academic teaching institutions, junior college districts, and public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all institutions of higher education that admit undergraduate transfer students, to adopt by rule a common admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to an institution of higher education. Makes conforming changes.
(f) Authorizes an applicant to file, and requires each institution of higher education to accept, an application for admission as an entering freshman or undergraduate transfer student that uses a form adopted under this section. Authorizes the form used for the application to be in either an electronic or printed format. Provides that an institution of higher education is not prohibited from requiring an applicant to submit additional information within a reasonable time after the institution has received an application using a form adopted under this section. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 3. Requires the board to adopt a common freshman admission application form under Section 51.762, Education Code, as amended by this Act, not later than September 1, 2006. Requires an institution of higher education to accept freshman applications using that common admission application form beginning with applicants for admission for the 2007-2008 academic year.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2005.