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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to coordination of postsecondary curricula and to the |
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publication of transfer guidelines for academic planning to support |
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academic progress by students enrolled at public institutions of |
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higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.830, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.830. PUBLICATION OF TRANSFER GUIDELINES; |
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[ADDRESSING] TRANSFER PRACTICES. (a) In its course catalogs and |
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on its website, each institution of higher education shall publish: |
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(1) guidelines addressing the practices of the |
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institution regarding the transfer of course credit, under which |
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courses are identified[. In the guidelines, the institution must
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identify a course by] using the common course numbering system |
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approved by the board; and |
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(2) in a format designated by the commissioner, all |
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institutional and statewide articulation agreements concerning the |
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transfer of courses. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education shall post on the |
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institution's website the dates for which each published |
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articulation agreement is valid and shall remove an expired |
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articulation agreement from the website not later than the 30th day |
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after the date of its expiration. |
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(c) The board shall adopt a standard format for the |
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publication of articulation agreements under this section. The |
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format must provide students with access to the requirements of |
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each articulation agreement to allow students enrolled in public |
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junior colleges, public state colleges, and public technical |
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institutes to plan and coordinate course schedules to meet those |
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requirements. |
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(d) The board shall provide links to each website described |
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under Subsection (a) in a prominent, easily accessible, and |
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identifiable location on the board's college information website. |
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(e) Not later than September 30 of each even-numbered year, |
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the commissioner shall make recommendations to each standing |
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committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher |
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education to improve: |
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(1) the publication of transfer policies and |
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articulation agreements for the benefit of transfer students; and |
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(2) the level of participation of institutions of |
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higher education in articulation agreements for the purpose of |
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facilitating the transfer of students between institutions. |
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(f) A student who enrolls in a public junior college, public |
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state college, or public technical institute under an articulation |
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agreement is entitled to transfer to the general academic teaching |
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institution that is a party to the agreement not later than the |
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fourth anniversary of the date the student first enrolled in the |
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public junior college, public state college, or public technical |
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institute. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Each public institution of higher education |
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must satisfy the requirements of Section 61.830, Education Code, as |
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amended by this Act, not later than September 30, 2010. |
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(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt the standard publication format required by Section |
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61.830(c), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
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December 31, 2009. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |