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AN ACT
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relating to measures to increase degree completion rates and |
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support students enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and |
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mathematics at institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0905 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0905. AGREEMENTS AND GRANTS TO INCREASE DEGREE |
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COMPLETION RATES. (a) The board may, in partnership with |
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institutions of higher education, enter into an agreement with |
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nonprofit organizations to assist the board in identifying and |
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implementing effective methods for increasing degree completion |
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rates at institutions of higher education, including by: |
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(1) identifying and promoting innovative models, |
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emerging technology platforms, and best practices for increasing |
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degree completion rates in areas including: |
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(A) developmental education; |
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(B) financial assistance; |
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(C) student support services; and |
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(D) transfer or articulation agreements; |
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(2) providing data, research, and evaluation support |
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to assist the board in assessing the effectiveness of pilot |
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programs in increasing degree completion rates; |
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(3) coordinating ongoing local, state, federal, and |
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philanthropic initiatives to increase degree completion rates; and |
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(4) determining the extent of implementation of degree |
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completion rate improvement models across a region or the state and |
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the effectiveness of the models as student population increases. |
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(b) The board by rule may establish a grant program to fund |
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projects, including the award of a grant to a nonprofit |
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organization that enters into an agreement with the board under |
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this section, related to the improvement of degree completion |
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rates. If the board establishes a grant program under this section, |
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the board by rule shall prescribe the application procedure and |
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criteria for awarding a grant. |
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(c) Grants awarded by the board under this section may be |
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funded by: |
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(1) appropriations; and |
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(2) gifts, grants, or other donations. |
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(d) Not later than January 1, 2012, the board shall report |
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to the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, |
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Excellence, and Transparency a description of: |
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(1) the types of nonprofit organizations eligible for |
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a grant under this section; |
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(2) grants awarded under this section; and |
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(3) a survey of partnerships between other states and |
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nonprofit organizations to increase degree completion rates, |
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including identification of best practices. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter GG to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER GG. TEXAS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND |
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MATHEMATICS (T-STEM) CHALLENGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
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Sec. 61.9791. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "STEM |
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program" means a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics |
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program. |
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Sec. 61.9792. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. The board shall |
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establish and administer, in accordance with this subchapter and |
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board rules, the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and |
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Mathematics (T-STEM) Challenge Scholarship program under which the |
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board provides a scholarship to a student who meets the eligibility |
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criteria prescribed by Section 61.9793. |
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Sec. 61.9793. ELIGIBLE STUDENT. (a) To receive an initial |
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scholarship under this subchapter, a student must: |
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(1) graduate from high school with a grade point |
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average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale in mathematics and |
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science courses; |
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(2) enroll in a STEM program at an eligible |
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institution; and |
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(3) agree to work no more than 15 hours a week for a |
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business participating in the STEM program. |
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(b) To continue to qualify for a scholarship under this |
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subchapter, a student must: |
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(1) remain enrolled in a STEM program at an eligible |
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institution; |
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(2) maintain an overall grade point average of at |
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least 3.0 on a four-point scale; |
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(3) complete at least 80 percent of all semester |
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credit hours attempted for each semester; |
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(4) complete at least 30 semester credit hours per |
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academic year; and |
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(5) work no more than 15 hours a week for a business |
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participating in the STEM program. |
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Sec. 61.9794. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION. (a) To qualify as an |
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eligible institution under this subchapter, an institution must: |
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(1) be a public junior college or public technical |
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institute; |
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(2) admit at least 50 students into a STEM program each |
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academic year; and |
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(3) develop partnerships with business and industry |
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to: |
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(A) identify local employment needs in Science, |
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Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields; and |
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(B) provide part-time employment for students |
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enrolled in a STEM program. |
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(b) To maintain eligibility, beginning with the second year |
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following implementation of a scholarship program under this |
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subchapter, an institution must demonstrate to the board that at |
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least 70 percent of the institution's T-STEM Challenge Scholarship |
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graduates, within three months after graduation, are: |
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(1) employed by a business in a Science, Technology, |
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Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) field; or |
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(2) enrolled in upper-division courses leading to a |
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baccalaureate degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and |
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Mathematics (STEM) field. |
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Sec. 61.9795. AMOUNT; FUNDING. (a) Subject to available |
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funding, the board shall award scholarships, with at least 50 |
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percent of the amount awarded from private funds. |
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(b) An eligible student may receive a scholarship awarded |
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under this subchapter for not more than two academic years. |
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(c) The board may use any available revenue, including |
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legislative appropriations, and may solicit and accept gifts and |
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grants for purposes of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall award scholarships under Subchapter GG, Chapter 61, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2011-2012 academic |
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year. The coordinating board shall adopt the rules required by that |
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subchapter as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2910 was passed by the House on April |
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21, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 1, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2910 on May 28, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2910 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |