BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1800

By: Zaffirini

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law there is no formal assessment system for academic advisors at institutions of higher education. Anecdotal evidence regarding poor academic advising suggests that it is important to develop an objective system that can fairly assess and evaluate academic advising. 

C.S.S.B. 1800 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish a method for assessing the quality and effectiveness of academic advising services available to students at each institution of higher education.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1800 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish a method for assessing the quality and effectiveness of academic advising services available to students at each institution of higher education. The bill requires the coordinating board, in establishing the method of assessment, to consult with representatives from institutions of higher education, including academic advisors and other professionals the board considers appropriate, and requires the method of assessment to include the use of student surveys and identify objective, quantifiable measures for determining the quality and effectiveness of academic advising services. The bill adds a temporary provision, set to expire October 1, 2010, to require the coordinating board to establish a method of assessment as required not later than September 1, 2010.

C.S.S.B. 1800 adds a temporary provision, set to expire September 1, 2011, to require the coordinating board to establish and direct a committee of representatives from two-year and four-year institutions of higher education and degree-granting career schools or colleges to study and make recommendations regarding the transferability of courses in the core curriculum between degree-granting career schools or colleges and institutions of higher education. The bill requires the coordinating board to report the recommendations to the chair of each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education not later than January 1, 2011.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.B. 1800 removes language in the original specifying that the two-year and four-year institutions of higher education from which representatives are to serve on the committee established and directed by the coordinating board, and the core curriculum courses of which the committee is required to study and make recommendations regarding the transferability of such courses with degree-granting career schools or colleges, are public and private institutions.