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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a multidisciplinary studies |
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associate degree program at each public junior college. |
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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 130.0104 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 130.0104. MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES ASSOCIATE DEGREE |
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PROGRAM. (a) The governing board of each public junior college |
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district shall establish a multidisciplinary studies associate |
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degree program at each junior college in the district. |
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(b) A multidisciplinary studies associate degree program |
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established at a junior college under this section must require a |
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student to successfully complete: |
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(1) the junior college's core curriculum adopted under |
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Section 61.822(b); and |
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(2) after completion of the core curriculum under |
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Subdivision (1), the courses selected by the student in the |
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student's degree plan completed under Subsection (c). |
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 51.9685, before the beginning |
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of the regular semester or term immediately following the semester |
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or term in which a student successfully completes a cumulative |
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total of 30 or more semester credit hours for coursework in a |
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multidisciplinary studies associate degree program established |
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under this section, the student must meet with an academic advisor |
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to complete a degree plan, as defined by Section 51.9685(a)(1), |
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that: |
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(1) accounts for all remaining credit hours required |
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for the completion of the degree program; and |
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(2) emphasizes: |
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(A) the student's transition to a particular |
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four-year college or university that the student chooses; and |
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(B) preparations for the student's intended |
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field of study or major at the four-year college or university. |
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(d) The coordinating board shall adopt rules as necessary |
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for the administration of this section, including rules ensuring |
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that: |
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(1) a multidisciplinary studies associate degree |
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program is established at each public junior college; and |
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(2) the common application form adopted under Section |
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51.762 contains a description of multidisciplinary studies |
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associate degree programs established under this section. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 130.0104, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the |
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effective date of this Act. For that purpose, the coordinating |
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board may adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for |
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emergency rules. |
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(b) The governing board of each public junior college |
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district shall offer a multidisciplinary studies associate degree |
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program at each junior college in the district as required by |
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Section 130.0104, Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning |
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with the 2016 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, 2015. |