HB771 - Relating to a single common course numbering system for and the transfer of course credit among public institutions of higher education in this state.

  89R3643 CXP-D     By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 771       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a single common course numbering system for and the   transfer of course credit among public institutions of higher   education in this state.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 61.822, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read   as follows:          (a)  The board shall develop and implement a policy regarding   [ encourage ] the transferability of [ lower division ] course credit   among institutions of higher education.          (b)  Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core   curriculum of not [ no ] less than 42 semester credit hours,   including specific courses composing  [ comprising ] the curriculum.   The core curriculum shall be consistent with the single common   course numbering system approved by the board under Section   61.832(a) and 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.  The   board by rule may approve a core curriculum of fewer than 42   semester credit hours for an associate degree program if the board   determines that the approval would facilitate the award of a degree   or transfer of credit consistent with this subchapter.           (f)     If a student successfully completes a course at an   institution of higher education for which a common number   designation and course description are included in the single   common course numbering system described by Section 61.832, that   course may be transferred to any other institution of higher   education that offers a course with the same common course number   and must be substituted for the receiving institution's course.          SECTION 2.  Section 61.826(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The board by rule shall adopt procedures to be followed   by:                (1)  institutions of higher education in resolving   disputes concerning the transfer of [ lower division ] course credit;   and                (2)  the commissioner of higher education or the   commissioner's designee in making a final determination concerning   transfer of the course credit if the transfer is in dispute.          SECTION 3.  Section 61.830, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 61.830.  PUBLICATION OF GUIDELINES ADDRESSING TRANSFER   PRACTICES. In its course catalogs and on its website, each   institution of higher education shall publish guidelines   addressing the practices of the institution regarding the transfer   of course credit. In the guidelines, the institution must use     [ identify a course by using ] the single common course numbering   system as required by Section 61.832 to identify each of its offered   courses for which a common number designation and course   description are included by the board in that system  [ approved by   the board ].          SECTION 4.  Section 61.832, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 61.832.  COMMON COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM. (a) The board   shall approve a single common course numbering system for   [ lower-division ] courses to facilitate the transfer of [ those ]   courses among institutions of higher education by promoting   consistency in course designation and identification.           (a-1)     The following types of courses are exempt from the   single common course numbering system approved under Subsection   (a):                 (1)     courses in career and technical education, except   as provided by Section 61.8235;                 (2)  courses in applied performing arts;                 (3)     clinical coursework in health-related subject   areas;                 (4)     skill-related courses in criminal justice-related   subject areas;                 (5)  graduate courses; and                 (6)     special topics courses, including course credit   received for completing an internship, an apprenticeship, a   practicum, a thesis, a dissertation, or a course offered by a study   abroad program.          (b)   The board shall solicit input from institutions of   higher education regarding the development of the single common   course numbering system.           (c)  Each institution of higher education shall:                 (1)     use the approved common course numbering system in   the institution's guidelines regarding the transfer of course   credit for each course for which a common number designation and   course description are included by the board in that system; and                 (2)     include the applicable course numbers from the   approved common course numbering system in its course catalogs and   other course listings.           (d)   The board may approve only a common course numbering   system already in common use in this state by one or more   institutions of higher education.           (e)  [ (c) ]  The board shall cooperate with institutions of   higher education in any additional development or alteration of the   common course numbering system approved under Subsection (a) ,   including the taxonomy to be used, and in the development of rules   for the administration and applicability of the system.           (f)     Each institution of higher education must certify   annually to the board the accuracy of the institution's   identification, in its course catalogs and other course listings,   of each course offered by the institution for which a common number   designation and course description are included by the board in the   common course numbering system. As part of the certification   required by this subsection, the institution shall specify each of   its offered courses for which a common number designation and   course description are included in that system and each of its   offered courses for which a common number designation and course   description are not included in that system. The institution also   shall include with its certification a current, publicly accessible   Internet website address at which the institution publishes its   guidelines regarding the transfer of course credit.           (g)     The board may, based on the board's review of the   information certified under Subsection (f), recommend corrective   action to an institution's governing board if the institution fails   to comply with the requirements of this section. In its next   legislative appropriations request made to the legislature, the   board shall identify each institution that fails to comply with the   board's recommended corrective action.           (h)  Not later than June 1, 2026, the board shall:                 (1)     approve a single common course numbering system as   required by Subsection (a); and                 (2)     establish a timetable that requires institutions   of higher education to phase in the inclusion of the applicable   course numbers from the approved common course numbering system in   their individual guidelines regarding the transfer of course credit   and in their individual course numbering systems as required by   this section so that each institution fully complies with this   section for each course that is offered during the 2030-2031   academic year or a subsequent academic year and for which a common   number designation and course description are included by the board   in that system.           (h-1)     Subsection (h) and this subsection expire January 1,   2032.          [ (d)     An institution of higher education shall include in its   course listings the applicable course numbers from the common   course numbering system approved by the board under this section.   For good cause, the board may grant to an institution of higher   education an exemption from the requirements of this subsection. ]          SECTION 5.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this   section, the change in law made by this Act applies beginning with   the 2026-2027 academic year.          (b)  The change in law made by this Act in adding Sections   61.832(f) and (g), Education Code, applies beginning with the   2030-2031 academic year.          SECTION 6.  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, 2025.