81R2854 JRJ-D

By: Rose H.B. No. 708

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to coordination of postsecondary curricula and to an academic planning Internet website to support academic progress by students enrolled at public institutions of higher education.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Sections 61.0764 and 61.0765 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.0764. COORDINATION OF CURRICULA AT TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS AND GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS. (a) In this section, "two-year institution of higher education" means a public junior college, public state college, or public technical institute.

(b) The board shall collaborate with general academic teaching institutions and two-year institutions of higher education to:

(1) compare the curricula of the general academic teaching institutions with the curricula of the two-year institutions of higher education to determine if the curricula of the two-year institutions of higher education satisfy the goals of:

(A) providing the prerequisite courses needed for students to enroll in courses at general academic teaching institutions;

(B) providing courses that will be generally accepted for course credit by general academic teaching institutions; and

(C) preparing students for academic success at general academic teaching institutions; and

(2) ensure that the curricula of two-year institutions of higher education satisfy the goals described by Subdivision (1), and adopt any standards necessary for curricula and instruction at two-year institutions of higher education and any plans necessary to implement the standards.

(c) Each two-year institution of higher education shall designate in the institution's student course catalog each course that is not generally accepted for course credit by general academic teaching institutions.

Sec. 61.0765. ACADEMIC PLANNING WEBSITE. (a) In this section, "two-year institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.0764.

(b) The board shall maintain an Internet website that includes:

(1) an enrollment guide for use by a student enrolled in a two-year institution of higher education or general academic teaching institution for planning and tracking the student's progress toward completion of the student's degree or certificate program;

(2) information concerning the recommended core curriculum developed under Section 61.822, including information describing courses included in the recommended core curriculum and describing the core curriculum transfer provisions provided by that section;

(3) information concerning major and minor areas of study available at institutions of higher education; and

(4) any other information the board determines would serve students enrolled at institutions of higher education in developing and implementing academic plans and making academic progress.

(c) Each institution of higher education shall, on the primary admissions information page on the institution's Internet website, provide a link to the board's Internet website maintained under Subsection (b).

SECTION 2. The student course catalog of each two-year institution of higher education must satisfy the requirements of Section 61.0764(c), Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2011 fall semester.

SECTION 3. 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, 2009.