86R13351 KJE-F

By: Turner of Tarrant H.B. No. 4019

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to measures to facilitate the transfer, academic progress, and timely graduation of students in public higher education.

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

SECTION 1. Section 51.9685(a)(2), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(2) "Institution of higher education" has [and "public junior college" have] the meaning [meanings] assigned by Section 61.003.

SECTION 2. Sections 51.9685(b), (c), and (g), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), each student enrolled at an institution of higher education in an associate or bachelor's degree program or a course for joint high school and junior college credit under Section 130.008 [at an institution of higher education] shall file a degree plan with the institution not later than the first day of the [end of the second] regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term in which the student earned a cumulative total of 30 [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 course credit awarded by examination.

(c) A student to whom this section applies who begins the student's first semester or term at an institution of higher education with 30 [45] or more semester credit hours of course credit for courses described by Subsection (b) shall file a degree plan with the institution not later than the 12th class day [end] of that [the student's second regular] semester or term [at the institution].

(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with institutions of higher education, shall [may] adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section, including rules to ensure compliance with this section.

SECTION 3. Section 61.059(p), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(p) In its instruction and operations formula applicable to an institution of higher education, the board may not include any semester credit hours earned for dual course credit by a high school student for high school and college credit at the institution unless those credit hours are earned through any of the following:

(1) a course in the core curriculum of the institution providing course credit;

(2) a course offered by the institution providing course credit in:

(A) a field of study curriculum developed by the board under Section 61.823; or

(B) a program of study curriculum established by the board under Section 61.8235;

(3) a career and technical education course that applies to any certificate or associate's degree offered by the institution providing course credit; or

(4) [(3)] a foreign language course.

SECTION 4. Section 61.821(1), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(1) "Core curriculum" means the lower division curriculum in liberal arts, humanities, and sciences and political, social, and cultural history that provides the knowledge and academic competencies foundational for all future learning and that all undergraduate students of an institution of higher education are required to complete before receiving an academic undergraduate degree.

SECTION 5. Sections 61.822(b) and (c), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core curriculum of no less than 42 semester credit hours, including specific courses comprising the curriculum. The core curriculum must:

(1) consist of general education courses that:

(A) are selected for inclusion in the core curriculum based on a coherent rationale; and

(B) ensure a breadth of knowledge rather than being narrowly focused on knowledge or competencies specific to a certain profession or discipline;

(2) [shall] be consistent with the common course numbering system approved by the board; and

(3) be approved by the board in accordance with the statement, recommendations, and rules issued by the board. [An institution may have a core curriculum of other than 42 semester credit hours only if approved by the board.]

(c) If a student successfully completes the 42-hour core curriculum at an institution of higher education, that block of courses may be transferred to any other institution of higher education and must be substituted for the receiving institution's core curriculum. A student shall receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred and may not be required to take additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution [unless the board has approved a larger core curriculum at the institution].

SECTION 6. Section 61.823, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:

(f) A public junior college or public technical institute shall adopt in whole or in part each field of study curriculum developed by the board under this section for an academic area in which the college or institute offers courses.

SECTION 7. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Sections 61.8231 and 61.8232 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.8231. META-MAJOR ACADEMIC PATHWAYS. (a) To assist in advising students regarding the selection of courses aligned with the student's academic and career goals, the board shall develop a meta-major academic pathway for each broad academic discipline that consists of a set of courses commonly required by institutions of higher education for that discipline that are:

(1) in the core curriculum recommended by the board under Section 61.822; or

(2) the applicable field of study curriculum developed by the board under Section 61.823.

(b) The board shall make the meta-major academic pathways available to each institution of higher education for use in advising students enrolled at the institution.

Sec. 61.8232. STUDY ON TRANSFER ADMISSION GUARANTEE. (a) The board shall conduct a study on the feasibility of guaranteeing transfer admission to an institution of higher education for students who complete certain courses in the core curriculum or a field of study curriculum at another institution of higher education.

(b) Not later than September 1, 2020, the board shall submit to the members of the legislature a report on the results of the study and recommendations for legislative or other action. The report must include recommendations regarding eligibility criteria for a student to receive or an institution of higher education to participate in the transfer admission guarantee.

(c) This section expires September 1, 2021.

SECTION 8. Section 130.0104(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) In complying with the requirements regarding the filing of a degree plan under [Notwithstanding] Section 51.9685, [before the beginning of the regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term in which] a student enrolled [successfully completes a cumulative total of 30 or more semester credit hours for coursework] in a multidisciplinary studies associate degree program established under this section [, the student] must meet with an academic advisor to complete a degree plan [, as defined by Section 51.9685(a)(1),] that:

(1) accounts for all remaining credit hours required for the completion of the degree program; and

(2) emphasizes:

(A) the student's transition to a particular four-year college or university that the student chooses; and

(B) preparations for the student's intended field of study or major at the four-year college or university.

SECTION 9. Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 10. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year.

SECTION 11. 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, 2019.