HB1705 - Relating to the accreditation of certain postsecondary educational institutions in this state or of certain programs offered by those institutions.

  89R23544 CXP-F     By: Shofner, et al. H.B. No. 1705     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1705:     By:  Wilson C.S.H.B. No. 1705       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the accreditation of certain postsecondary educational   institutions in this state or of certain programs offered by those   institutions.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 61.003(13), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:                (13)  "Recognized accrediting agency" means [ the   Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and ] any [ other ]   association or organization so designated by the board.          SECTION 2.  Section 61.051(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The board represents the highest authority in the state   in matters of public higher education and is charged with the duty   to take an active part in promoting quality education throughout   the state by:                (1)  providing a statewide perspective to ensure the   efficient and effective use of higher education resources and to   eliminate unnecessary duplication;                (2)  developing and evaluating progress toward a   long-range master plan for higher education and providing analysis   and recommendations to link state spending for higher education   with the goals of the long-range master plan;                (3)  collecting and making accessible data on higher   education in the state and aggregating and analyzing that data to   support policy recommendations;                (4)  making recommendations to improve the efficiency   and effectiveness of transitions, including between high school and   postsecondary education, between institutions of higher education   for transfer purposes, and between postsecondary education and the   workforce; [ and ]                (5)  administering programs and trusteed funds for   financial aid and other grants as necessary to achieve the state's   long-range goals and as directed by the legislature ; and                 (6)     adopting rules or taking other action necessary to   ensure that each institution of higher education is properly   accredited as required to participate in the federal financial aid   program under 20 U.S.C. Section 1070a and other federal student   financial assistance programs .          SECTION 3.  Section 61.0515(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  To earn a baccalaureate degree, a student may not be   required by a general academic teaching institution to complete   more than the minimum number of semester credit hours required for   the degree by the institution's recognized accrediting agency   [ Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its successor ]   unless the institution determines that there is a compelling   academic reason for requiring completion of additional semester   credit hours for the degree.          SECTION 4.  Section 61.05151(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  To earn an associate degree, a student may not be   required by an institution of higher education to complete more   than the minimum number of semester credit hours required for the   degree by the institution's recognized accrediting agency   [ Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its successor ]   unless the institution determines that there is a compelling   academic reason for requiring completion of additional semester   credit hours for the degree.          SECTION 5.  Section 61.8235(f), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (f)  A student enrolled in a board-established program of   study who transfers from a public junior college, public state   college, or public technical institute to another public junior   college, public state college, or public technical institute that   offers a similar program, regardless of whether the institution has   adopted the board-established program of study, shall receive   academic credit from the institution to which the student   transferred for each of the courses that the student has   successfully completed in the program of study curriculum. Unless   otherwise required by the institution's recognized accrediting   agency [ Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of   Colleges and Schools ], the student may complete the program of   study at the institution to which the student transferred by   completing only the remaining number of semester credit hours the   student would need to complete the program of study at the   institution from which the student transferred.          SECTION 6.  Section 107.151(c), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,   the university may operate as a general academic teaching   institution only after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board certifies that the university is accredited by a recognized   accrediting agency, as defined by Section 61.003, [ the Southern   Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ] and has   been approved by the coordinating board to offer one or more degree   programs. Until the coordinating board certifies that the   conditions of this subsection have been met, the board of regents   may operate a branch campus of Texas Woman's University in the city   of Dallas.          SECTION 7.  Section 107.201(c), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,   the university may operate as a general academic teaching   institution only after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board certifies that the university is accredited by a recognized   accrediting agency, as defined by Section 61.003, [ the Southern   Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ] and has   been approved by the coordinating board to offer one or more degree   programs. Until the coordinating board certifies that the   conditions of this subsection have been met, the board of regents   may operate a branch campus of Texas Woman's University in the city   of Houston.          SECTION 8.  Section 130.301, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:                 (3)     "Recognized accrediting agency" has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003.          SECTION 9.  Section 130.305, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 130.305.  ACCREDITATION. A public junior college   offering a baccalaureate degree program under this subchapter must   meet all applicable accreditation requirements of a recognized   accrediting agency [ the Commission on Colleges of the Southern   Association of Colleges and Schools ].          SECTION 10.  Section 130.307(c), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  Before a public junior college may be authorized to   offer a baccalaureate degree program under this subchapter, the   public junior college must submit a report to the coordinating   board that includes:                (1)  a long-term financial plan for receiving   accreditation from a recognized accrediting agency [ the Commission   on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ];                (2)  a long-term plan for faculty recruitment that:                      (A)  indicates the ability to pay the increased   salaries of doctoral faculty;                      (B)  identifies recruitment strategies for new   faculty; and                      (C)  ensures the program would not draw faculty   employed by a neighboring institution offering a similar program;                (3)  detailed information on the manner of program and   course delivery; and                (4)  detailed information regarding existing   articulation agreements and dual enrollment agreements indicating:                      (A)  that at least three articulation agreements   have been established with general academic teaching institutions   or medical and dental units, or the reasons why no articulation   agreements have been established; and                      (B)  that, with the agreement of the applicable   general academic teaching institution or medical and dental unit,   established articulation agreements are at capacity.          SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.