80R7266 KEL-D

By: Dukes H.B. No. 1635

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to agreements for the automatic admission to public institutions of higher education of certain undergraduate transfer students and to reports by those institutions of information relating to the transfer students.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 51.801, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 51.801. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "general academic teaching institution," "governing board," "medical and dental unit," "public junior college," "public state college," "public technical institute," and "university system" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

SECTION 2. Subchapter U, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.806 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.806. AUTOMATIC ADMISSION AGREEMENTS: UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER STUDENTS FROM TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS. (a) The governing board of a general academic teaching institution shall enter into a written agreement with at least one public junior college, public state college, or public technical institute under which the general academic teaching institution is required to admit as an undergraduate transfer student each applicant for admission to the institution:

(1) who, in the academic year for which the applicant is applying for admission under this section or in the preceding academic year, was enrolled at that public junior college, public state college, or public technical institute; and

(2) who has completed, exclusively at that college or institute or at that college or institute and one or more other colleges or institutes each of which is a party to an agreement with the same governing board under this section, not fewer than 24 semester credit hours in the core curriculum with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent.

(b) In an agreement under this section, the governing board of the general academic teaching institution may limit the admission of applicants under this section to a particular program or school within the institution.

(c) An agreement under this section may be modified annually on the request of either party to the agreement. The modification may take effect only for an academic year occurring after the second anniversary of the date the agreement is modified.

(d) To qualify for admission under this section, an applicant to a general academic teaching institution must submit an application before the expiration of any application filing deadline established by the institution.

(e) After admitting an applicant under this section, the general academic teaching institution may review the applicant's record and any other factor the institution considers appropriate to determine whether the applicant may require additional preparation for college-level work or would benefit from inclusion in a retention program. The institution may require a student so identified to enroll during the summer immediately after the student is admitted under this section to participate in appropriate enrichment courses and orientation programs. This section does not prohibit a student who is not determined to need additional preparation for college-level work from enrolling, if the student chooses, during the summer immediately after the student is admitted under this section.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, admission to a specific general academic teaching institution is contingent on the availability of space within the institution for the admission of additional students. The governing board of the general academic teaching institution shall make a good faith effort to provide the necessary space for students admitted under this section.

SECTION 3. Section 51.4032, Education Code, as added by Chapter 694, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 51.4032. ANNUAL REPORT OF PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) Not later than July 31 of each year and in the form prescribed by the coordinating board, each general academic teaching institution and medical and dental unit as defined in Section 61.003 shall provide to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board a report describing the composition of the institution's entering class of students, including transfer students. The report must include a demographic breakdown of the class, including a breakdown by race, ethnicity, and economic status. A report submitted by a general academic teaching institution or medical and dental unit as defined by [in] Section 61.003 must include separate demographic breakdowns of the students admitted under Sections 51.803, 51.804, [and] 51.805, and 51.806.

(b) At the time the institution or unit provides the report to the coordinating board, the institution or unit shall provide to the Legislative Budget Board the information in the report relating to the transfer students admitted under Section 51.806.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.