BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 502
By: West, Royce
Committee Report (Substituted)
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.
C.S.S.B. 502 requires the board to collaborate with community college representatives to develop a common application form for junior college districts, public state colleges, and public technical institutes.
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 state college" and "public technical institute."
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 51.762(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i), 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, public state colleges, 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 certain admission application forms. Deletes existing text related to certain applicant information. 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, public state colleges, and public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all institutions of higher education that admit undergraduate transfer students, to adopt by rule certain admission application forms. Makes conforming changes.
(c) Requires the board, in addition to information required to determine the residency status of the applicant and information relating to the use of the form at each institution, to include on each application form adopted under this section information that the board considers appropriate.
(d) Requires the board to attempt to ensure as much uniformity in the forms adopted under this section as possible, regardless of the category of institution for which the forms are adopted.
(e) Redesignated from existing Subsection (c). Makes conforming changes. Deletes existing text relating to electronic and printed form formats.
(f) Redesignated from existing Subsection (d). Makes conforming changes.
(g) Redesignated from existing Subsection (e). No change to existing text.
(h) Redesignated from existing Subsection (f). Authorizes an applicant to file, and requires each institution of higher education, rather than general academic teaching, to accept, an application for admission as an entering freshman or undergraduate transfer student that uses the appropriate form adopted under this section. Authorizes the form used to apply to a general academic teaching institution to be filed in either electronic or printed format. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
(i) Redesignated from existing Subsection (g). Makes nonsubstantive 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.