AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

C.S.H.B. 3025 amends current law relating to the filing of a degree plan by undergraduate students at public institutions of higher education. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.9685, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.9685, as follows:

 

Sec. 51.9685.  REQUIRED FILING OF DEGREE PLAN.  (a) Defines, in this section, "degree plan" and "institution of higher education."

 

(b)  Requires each student enrolled in an associate or bachelor's degree program at an institution of higher education, except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), to file a degree plan with the institution not later than the end of the second regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term in which the student earned a cumulative total of 45 or more semester credit hours for coursework successfully completed by the student, including transfer courses, international baccalaureate courses, dual credit courses, and any other course for which the institution the student attends has awarded the student college course credit, including by examination.

 

(c)  Requires a student to whom this section applies who begins the student's first semester or term at an institution of higher education with 45 or more semester credit hours of course credit for courses described by Subsection (b) to file a degree plan with the institution not later than the end of the student's second regular semester or term at the institution.

 

(d)  Requires an institution of higher education to provide to students to whom this section applies information regarding the degree plan filing requirement under this section and options for consulting with an academic advisory for that purpose, which may include consultation through electronic communication.

 

(e)  Requires a student who is required to have filed a degree plan under this section, at each registration for a semester or term, before that semester or term to verify to the institution that the student has filed a degree plan with the institution, and the courses for which the student is registering are consistent with that degree plan.

 

(f) Requires the institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled, if a student to whom this section applies does not timely file a degree plan, to notify the student that the degree plan is required by law and require the student to consult with an academic advisor for that purpose in accordance with consulting options under Subsection (d) during the semester or term in which the student receives the notice.  Prohibits the student from obtaining an official transcript from the institution until the student has filed a degree plan with the institution.

 

(g)  Authorizes THECB, in consultation with institutions of higher education, to adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section.

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that Section 51.9685, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with undergraduate students who initially enroll in a general academic teaching institution for the 2012 fall semester.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.