S.B. No. 25

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. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Sections 51.400, 51.4033, and 51.4034 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.400. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(2) "General academic teaching institution," "institution of higher education," and "public junior college" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

Sec. 51.4033. REPORT OF NONTRANSFERABLE CREDIT. (a) Not later than March 1 of each year and in the form prescribed by the coordinating board, each general academic teaching institution shall provide to the coordinating board and the legislature a report describing any courses in the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board for which a student who transfers to the institution from another institution of higher education is not granted:

(1) academic credit at the receiving institution; or

(2) if the student has declared a major and has not changed majors, academic credit toward the student's major at the receiving institution.

(b) A report required by this section must indicate:

(1) the course name and type;

(2) which institution of higher education provided academic credit for the course; and

(3) the reason why the receiving institution did not grant academic credit for the course as described by Subsection (a).

Sec. 51.4034. REPORT OF COURSES TAKEN AT JUNIOR COLLEGES. (a) Not later than March 1 of each year and in the form prescribed by the coordinating board, each public junior college shall provide to the coordinating board and the legislature a report on courses taken by students who, during the preceding academic year, transferred to a general academic teaching institution or earned an associate degree at the college.

(b) A report required by this section must include the total number of:

(1) courses attempted and completed at the college, including the total number of semester credit hours for those courses, disaggregated by whether the course is in:

(A) the Workforce Education Course Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board; or

(B) the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board;

(2) courses attempted and completed at the college that are not in the recommended core curriculum developed by the coordinating board under Section 61.822; and

(3) dual credit courses, including courses for joint high school and junior college credit under Section 130.008, attempted and completed at the college.

SECTION 2. Section 51.762, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:

(j) In adopting a form under this section, the board shall ensure that an applicant may indicate on the form the applicant's consent to an institution of higher education to which the applicant submits an application for admission to a particular degree program using the form to, if the institution denies the applicant admission to that degree program, provide the applicant's application to other institutions of higher education that offer the degree program.

SECTION 3. 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 4. Section 51.9685, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (g) and adding Subsection (c-2) to read as follows:

(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (c), each student enrolled in an associate or bachelor's degree program at an institution of higher education shall file a degree plan with the institution after the 12th class day but before [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 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 Subsection (b) [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 after the 12th class day but before [not later than] the end of that [the student's second regular] semester or term [at the institution].

(c-2) A student enrolled in a dual credit course at an institution of higher education and to whom Subsection (b) does not apply shall file a degree plan with the institution not later than:

(1) the end of the second regular semester or term immediately following the semester or term in which the student earned a cumulative total of 15 or more semester credit hours of course credit for dual credit courses successfully completed by the student; or

(2) if the student begins the student's first semester or term at the institution with 15 or more semester credit hours of course credit for dual credit courses successfully completed by the student, the end of 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. In adopting those rules, the coordinating board shall use the negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code.

SECTION 5. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.96852. RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES. (a) In this section:

(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(b) Each institution of higher education shall develop at least one recommended course sequence for each undergraduate certificate or degree program offered by the institution. Each recommended course sequence must:

(1) identify all required lower-division courses for the applicable certificate or degree program;

(2) include for each course, if applicable:

(A) the course number or course equivalent under the common course numbering system approved by the coordinating board under Section 61.832; and

(B) the course equivalent in the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board;

(3) be designed to enable a full-time student to obtain a certificate or degree, as applicable, within:

(A) for a 60-hour degree or certificate program, two years; or

(B) for a 120-hour degree program, four years; and

(4) include a specific sequence in which courses should be completed to ensure completion of the applicable program within the time frame described by Subdivision (3).

(c) Each institution of higher education shall:

(1) include the recommended course sequences developed under this section in the institution's course catalog and on the institution's Internet website; and

(2) submit the recommended course sequences developed under this section to the coordinating board as provided by coordinating board rule.

(d) The coordinating board, in consultation with institutions of higher education, shall adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section. In adopting those rules, the coordinating board shall use the negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code.

Sec. 51.96853. TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM LOWER-DIVISION INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Articulation agreement" means a formal written agreement between a lower-division institution of higher education and a general academic teaching institution identifying courses offered by the lower-division institution that must be accepted for credit toward specific course requirements at the general academic teaching institution.

(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(3) "Lower-division institution of higher education" means a public junior college, public state college, or public technical institute, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003.

(b) Each general academic teaching institution may enter into an articulation agreement with a lower-division institution of higher education for a certificate or degree program for which students transferring from the lower-division institution to the general academic teaching institution receive transfer credit.

(c) An articulation agreement entered into under Subsection (b) on or after September 1, 2019, may use field of study curricula developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 61.823.

(d) A general academic teaching institution may extend an existing articulation agreement entered into under Subsection (b) to another lower-division institution of higher education with respect to the transfer of courses from that lower-division institution of higher education to the general academic teaching institution, on request by that lower-division institution of higher education.

(e) An articulation agreement established under this section may enable a transfer student to receive up to 60 semester credit hours for courses completed at the lower-division institution of higher education.

(f) A general academic teaching institution's participation in an articulation agreement under this section does not affect the institution's admissions policies.

SECTION 6. Section 51.9715, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as follows:

(a-1) An institution of higher education, or a school district that offers international baccalaureate courses, dual credit courses, or any other course for which an institution of higher education may award students enrolled at the district college course credit, including course credit awarded by examination, may release student information to an institution of higher education for purposes of transferring course credit to that institution or enabling the awarding of course credit by that institution, in accordance with federal law regarding the confidentiality of student information, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student information.

(b) An institution of higher education or school district may release student information in accordance with Subsection (a) or (a-1), as applicable, through:

(1) the National Student Clearinghouse; or

(2) a similar [national] electronic data sharing and exchange platform operated by an agent of the institution or district that meets nationally accepted standards, conventions, and practices.

SECTION 7. 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 8. Section 61.821, Education Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows:

(4) "Meta major" means a collection of programs of study or academic disciplines that share common foundational skills.

SECTION 9. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.8221 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.8221. STUDY AND REPORT ON CORE CURRICULUM. (a) The board shall conduct a study and make recommendations to the legislature regarding the feasibility of implementing statewide meta majors for institutions of higher education. The board shall consider meta majors in the following academic disciplines:

(1) arts, humanities, communications, and design;

(2) business;

(3) education;

(4) health sciences;

(5) industry, manufacturing, and construction;

(6) public safety;

(7) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and

(8) social and behavioral sciences and human services.

(b) The board shall establish an advisory committee to assist the board in completing the board's duties under this section and provide the board with subject matter expertise and analysis. The advisory committee consists of the following members appointed by the board in equal numbers:

(1) representatives of public junior colleges designated by the applicable college to represent the college on the advisory committee; and

(2) representatives of general academic teaching institutions designated by the applicable institution to represent the institution on the advisory committee.

(c) A majority of members appointed to the advisory committee under Subsection (b)(2) must be representatives of a general academic teaching institution at which at least 25 percent of students enrolled at the institution for the 2018 fall semester were classified as transfer students.

(d) In appointing members to the advisory committee under Subsection (b), the board shall, to the greatest extent practicable, ensure that the membership of the advisory committee is balanced with respect to:

(1) institutional representation, including:

(A) the regions of the state;

(B) the mission type of the general academic teaching institution or public junior college;

(C) university system affiliation, as applicable;

(D) student enrollment; and

(E) institutional groupings under the board's higher education accountability system;

(2) representation of faculty and administrators at general academic teaching institutions or public junior colleges;

(3) representation of academic disciplines; and

(4) any other factors the board determines relevant.

(e) The advisory committee shall study and make recommendations to the board regarding the effectiveness of the requirements regarding the transfer of course credit between institutions of higher education for courses in the core curriculum under Section 61.822 in supporting more efficient undergraduate transfer between institutions of higher education. The study and recommendations must include an analysis of:

(1) the efficacy of dividing the recommended core curriculum for each meta major into a general academic core curriculum and an academic discipline core curriculum and, if determined to be efficacious, the recommended number of semester credit hours for each component of the recommended core curriculum for each meta major;

(2) methods to ensure that courses completed in the general academic core curriculum and academic discipline core curriculum transfer between institutions of higher education for course credit applied toward a student's major at the receiving institution; and

(3) the potential inclusion of courses in the field of study curricula adopted by the board under Section 61.823 in the recommended core curriculum adopted by the board under Section 61.822.

(f) Each quarter ending before November 1, 2020, the advisory committee shall submit to the chairs of the standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education a report on the advisory committee's progress on the study and recommendations required under Subsection (e).

(g) Not later than November 1, 2020, the board shall submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education a report on the results of the study conducted under Subsection (a) and any recommendations for legislative or other action.

(h) This section expires September 1, 2021.

SECTION 10. Section 61.827, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.827. RULES. (a) The board is authorized to adopt rules implementing the provisions of this subchapter.

(b) In adopting rules regarding the recommended core curriculum developed under Section 61.822, the board shall use the negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code.

SECTION 11. 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 12. Section 51.9685(c-1), Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 13. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year.

(b) Sections 51.96852 and 51.96853, Education Code, as added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year.

SECTION 14. Each public institution of higher education required to submit a report under Section 51.4033 or 51.4034, Education Code, as added by this Act, shall submit the first report not later than March 1, 2021.

SECTION 15. 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.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 25 passed the Senate on April 24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 23, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 25 passed the House, with amendments, on May 21, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, two present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor