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By: Zaffirini |
S.B. No. 1801 |
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(In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2009; March 20, 2009, read |
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first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; |
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April 20, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee |
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Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 20, 2009, |
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sent to printer.) |
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1801 |
By: Zaffirini |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to orientation programs for new students at public |
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institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.978 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.978. ORIENTATION PROGRAM. (a) In this section, |
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"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 61.003. |
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(b) An institution of higher education shall provide an |
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orientation program for each student, including a student |
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transferring to the institution, before or during the first |
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semester or other academic term in which the student is enrolled at |
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the institution. |
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(c) Each institution of higher education may determine the |
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format and length of and attendance requirements for the |
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orientation program that the institution provides under this |
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section, except that the program must include advising regarding: |
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(1) the degree and professional programs offered by |
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the institution; |
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(2) the student's postgraduation goals, including |
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career planning and graduate school; and |
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(3) transferring to a four-year institution, if the |
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institution offers only lower-division courses. |
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(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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provide online resources to assist an institution of higher |
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education in the development and implementation of an orientation |
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program. The resources must focus on programs that have proven |
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successful in improving the retention of students at institutions |
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of higher education. |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.978, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies beginning with students admitted to an institution of |
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higher education for the 2010 fall semester. |
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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. |
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* * * * * |