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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring public junior colleges to offer an academic |
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associate degree program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 130.0013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 130.0013. ACADEMIC ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM. (a) |
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Each public junior college shall offer one or more academic |
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associate degree programs designed to transfer in their entirety |
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for course credit in a baccalaureate degree program at a general |
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academic teaching institution. |
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(b) An academic associate degree program must consist of at |
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least 60 semester credit hours, but not exceed 66 semester credit |
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hours. |
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(c) An academic associate degree program curriculum must |
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incorporate: |
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(1) a core curriculum established under Section |
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61.821; |
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(2) a statewide articulated transfer curriculum |
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approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that |
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aligns with the lower-division requirements of one or more specific |
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baccalaureate degree programs; or |
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(3) a specified curriculum covered by an articulation |
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agreement between the junior college district and one or more other |
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institutions of higher education. |
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(d) An academic associate degree program offered under this |
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section must meet all applicable accreditation requirements of the |
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Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on |
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Colleges. |
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(e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules the board |
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considers appropriate for the administration of this section. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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and the governing board of each junior college district shall adopt |
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rules or policies relating to the academic associate degree program |
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under Section 130.0013, Education Code, as added by this Act, not |
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later than February 1, 2012. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies |
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beginning with the 2012 fall semester. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |