H.B. No. 3851

AN ACT

relating to the admission of high school graduates and undergraduate transfer students to certain institutions of higher education, the computation of a student's high school grade point average for purposes of determining eligibility for admission, and policies to promote the admission of undergraduate transfer students.

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

SECTION 1. Section 28.0252(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) If the commissioner develops a standard method under this section, a school district shall use the standard method to compute a student's high school grade point average, except that to the extent of a conflict between that method and the method adopted under Section 51.807, [and] the student's grade point average computed in accordance with the method established under Section 51.807 [that manner] shall be used in determining the student's eligibility for university [automatic college] admission under Subchapter U, Chapter 51 [Section 51.803].

SECTION 2. Section 51.807, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 51.807. RULEMAKING. (a) To ensure a uniform standard for admissions under this subchapter, the [The] Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules establishing a standard method for computing a student's high school grade point average. The method established under this subsection:

(1) must:

(A) be based on a four-point scale; and

(B) assign additional weight for each honors course, advanced placement course, international baccalaureate course, or dual credit course completed by the student as the board considers appropriate, taking into consideration the academic rigor of each course completed by the student; and

(2) may result in a student having a grade point average higher than 4.0 on a four-point scale as a result of the assignment of additional weight for one or more courses completed by a student under Subdivision (1)(B).

(b) The board may adopt other rules relating to the operation of admissions programs under this subchapter, including rules relating to the identification of eligible students [and the reporting requirements of Section 51.806].

(c) The standard method established under Subsection (a) for computing a student's high school grade point average applies to computing the grade point average of a student applying as a first-time freshman for admission to a general academic teaching institution beginning with admissions for the 2009 fall semester. This subsection expires January 1, 2010.

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. Not later than December 1 [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 and shall publish on the institution's website a report describing the composition of the institution's entering class of students. The report must include a demographic breakdown of the class, including a breakdown by race, ethnicity, [and] economic status, and high school class standing. A report submitted by a general academic teaching institution or medical and dental unit as defined in Section 61.003 must include separate demographic breakdowns of the students admitted under Sections 51.803, 51.804, and 51.805 and a description of any plans, policies, or programs developed or implemented by the institution to recruit and retain students from underrepresented groups such as racial or ethnic minority groups.

SECTION 4. Section 51.808, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 51.808. APPLICATION OF ADMISSION CRITERIA TO OTHER PROGRAMS. (a) Each general academic teaching institution or medical and dental unit that offers admissions to undergraduate transfer students or admissions to a graduate, postgraduate, or professional program shall [also] adopt a written admission policy applicable to those programs.

(b) Each general academic teaching institution shall adopt a written admission policy to promote the admission of undergraduate transfer students to the institution. The policy must provide for outreach and recruiting efforts directed at junior colleges and other lower-division institutions of higher education and may include incentives to encourage transfer applications and to retain and promote transfer students.

(c) A [The] policy adopted under this section shall be published in the institution's or unit's catalog and made available to the public.

SECTION 5. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules as required by Section 51.807, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 6. 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.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3851 was passed by the House on May 9, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3851 on May 25, 2007, and requested the appointment of a conference committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 3851 on May 27, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 2, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3851 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 3851 on May 27, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor