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  H.B. No. 736
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to online information and resources regarding public
  institutions of higher education and career schools and colleges.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.9745 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.9745.  INTERNET ACCESS TO FACULTY INFORMATION. (a)  
  Each general academic teaching institution, as defined by Section
  61.003, shall make available to the public on the institution's
  Internet website the following information for the institution:
               (1)  the student/faculty ratio;
               (2)  the percentage of all full-time equivalent faculty
  members with teaching responsibility who are tenured or tenure
  track;
               (3)  the percentage of semester credit hours taken by
  students classified as freshmen or sophomores that are taught by
  tenured and tenure track faculty members;
               (4)  the number of faculty members in each of the
  following faculty ranks, including a breakdown for each rank
  showing the numbers of faculty members by race, ethnicity, and
  gender:
                     (A)  professor;
                     (B)  associate professor;
                     (C)  assistant professor;
                     (D)  instructor;
                     (E)  nontenured or nontenure track; and
                     (F)  teaching assistant;
               (5)  average faculty salaries by rank;
               (6)  the amount of money appropriated by the
  legislature per full-time equivalent faculty member and full-time
  equivalent student;
               (7)  the total revenue the institution spent per
  full-time equivalent faculty member and full-time equivalent
  student;
               (8)  the amount of federal and private research
  expenditures per tenured or tenure track full-time equivalent
  faculty member;
               (9)  the number and percentage of faculty members
  holding extramural research grants;
               (10)  the number and names of awards to faculty members
  from nationally recognized entities, including those identified by
  The Center for Measuring University Performance; and
               (11)  the number of endowed professorships or chairs.
         (b)  Each institution to which this section applies shall
  update the information required by Subsection (a) for the preceding
  academic or fiscal year, as applicable, not later than December 31
  of each year.
         (c)  The administrator designated under Section 51.974 by an
  institution to which this section applies is responsible for
  ensuring implementation of this section. The administrator may
  assign duties under this section to one or more administrative
  employees.
         (d)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
  rules necessary to administer this section, including rules to
  ensure the consistency of information made available under this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 51A.002, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  The coordinating board shall:
               (1)  request from each institution of higher education
  to which this chapter applies any information the coordinating
  board considers necessary for the coordinating board to include
  information or calculate data required to be included in the
  institution's resume;
               (2)  establish for each institution of higher education
  to which this chapter applies a list of representative in-state and
  out-of-state peer institutions and maintain that list on the
  coordinating board's Internet website;
               (3)  ensure that each of an institution of higher
  education's online resumes:
                     (A)  is available to the public on the
  coordinating board's Internet website, in a one-page format if
  possible, and is accessible through a link that appears [in a
  prominent place] on the first frame of the coordinating board's
  Internet website home page in a font that is larger than the font of
  the majority of the text on the home page;
                     (B)  uses enhanced, user-friendly search
  capabilities to ensure that the information required to be included
  in the resume is easily accessible to the persons for whom the
  resume is designed; and
                     (C)  includes a clearly identifiable link to
  information on the coordinating board's Internet website regarding
  the coordinating board's higher education accountability system;
  and
               (4)  ensure that the information provided in each
  resume is accurate and up to date and includes the most recent data
  available for out-of-state peer institutions.
         (e)  The data relating to student loans, grants, or
  scholarships included by the coordinating board on an institution's
  resume under this subchapter must be the same as that published in
  regard to the institution by the United States Department of
  Education on its "College Navigator" website, or a successor or
  related website maintained by the United States Department of
  Education.
         SECTION 3.  Section 51A.003, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 51A.003.  DUTIES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
  RELATING TO INSTITUTION RESUMES.  Each institution of higher
  education to which this chapter applies shall:
               (1)  submit to the coordinating board any information
  requested by the coordinating board as necessary for the
  coordinating board to include information or calculate data
  required to be included in the institution's resumes; and
               (2)  ensure that the first frame of the institution's
  Internet website home page includes, in a font that is larger than
  the font of the majority of the text on the home page [prominent
  place], an accessible link to the institution's online resumes
  maintained on the coordinating board's Internet website.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter A, Chapter 51A, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51A.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51A.004.  LINK TO FEDERAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
  INFORMATION.  An institution may satisfy a requirement of this
  chapter relating to student loan, grant, or scholarship information
  by linking the online resume of the institution to that information
  as it appears on the website known as "College Navigator," or a
  successor or related website, maintained by the National Center for
  Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education.
         SECTION 5.  Section 51A.052, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
  follows:
         (d)  The resume must include the following information
  relating to the institution for the most recent state fiscal year
  for which the information is available and compare that information
  to the same information for the state fiscal year preceding the most
  recent state fiscal year for which the information is available and
  the state fiscal year preceding the most recent state fiscal year
  for which the information is available by five years:
               (1)  under the heading "ENROLLMENT":
                     (A)  ["ENROLLMENT,"] the total number of students
  enrolled in the institution during the fall semester that ended in
  the fiscal year covered by the resume; and
                     (B)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  enrolled in the institution for the first time during the fall
  semester that ended in the fiscal year covered by the resume who are
  transfer students;
               (2)  under the heading "COSTS":
                     (A)  ["COSTS,"] the average annual total academic
  costs for a resident undergraduate student enrolled in 30 semester
  credit hours:
                           (i) [(A)]  at the institution; and
                           (ii) [(B)]  at the institution's in-state
  and out-of-state peer institutions;
                     (B)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  receiving student loans:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state and
  out-of-state peer institutions;
                     (C)  the average annual amount of an undergraduate
  student's student loans:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state and
  out-of-state peer institutions;
                     (D)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  receiving federal or state grants:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state and
  out-of-state peer institutions; and
                     (E)  the average annual amount of federal and
  state grants received by an undergraduate student:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state and
  out-of-state peer institutions;
               (3)  under the heading "STUDENT SUCCESS":
                     (A)  the retention rate of first-time, full-time,
  degree-seeking entering undergraduate students:
                           (i)  enrolled in the institution after one
  academic year and after two academic years; and
                           (ii)  enrolled in the institution's in-state
  peer institutions after two academic years;
                     (B)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  requiring developmental education who, after six years from
  entering the institution, graduated from or are still enrolled in:
                           (i)  the institution; and
                           (ii)  the institution's in-state peer
  institutions;
                     (C)  the four-year, five-year, and six-year
  graduation rates of full-time bachelor's degree-seeking students:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state and
  out-of-state peer institutions; and
                     (D)  the average number of fall and spring
  semesters of enrollment attempted by a student to obtain a
  bachelor's degree:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state peer
  institutions; and
               (4)  under the heading "FUNDING":
                     (A)  the total amount of money appropriated by the
  legislature to the institution, including money appropriated for
  faculty and staff health coverage and retirement benefits, for that
  state fiscal year and the corresponding percentage of the
  institution's operating budget for that state fiscal year that the
  total amount of money appropriated by the legislature represents;
  [and]
                     (B)  the total amount of federal funds from all
  federal sources, including grants and research funds, received by
  the institution in that state fiscal year and the corresponding
  percentage of the institution's operating budget for that state
  fiscal year that the total amount of federal funds represents;
                     (C)  the total academic costs charged to students
  by the institution in that state fiscal year and the corresponding
  percentage of the institution's operating budget for that state
  fiscal year that the total academic costs represent; and
                     (D)  the total amount of money from any source
  available to the institution in that state fiscal year.
         (e)  In addition to the information required by Subsection
  (d)(2), the resume must include under the heading "COSTS" the
  average annual amount and percentage by which the total academic
  costs charged to a resident undergraduate student enrolled in 30
  semester credit hours have increased in each of the five most recent
  state fiscal years for which the information is available:
               (1)  at the institution; and
               (2)  at the institution's in-state and out-of-state
  peer institutions.
         SECTION 6.  Section 51A.053, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  Except as otherwise provided by the coordinating board
  under Subsection (a), the resume must include the following
  information relating to the most recent state fiscal year for which
  the information is available:
               (1)  under the heading "ENROLLMENT":
                     (A)  the total number of students enrolled in the
  institution during the fall semester that ended in the fiscal year
  covered by the resume; [and]
                     (B)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  enrolled in the institution for the first time during the fall
  semester that ended in the fiscal year covered by the resume who are
  transfer students; and
                     (C)  a clearly identifiable link to the
  information described by Paragraph (A) disaggregated by student
  ethnicity;
               (2)  under the heading "DEGREES AWARDED":
                     (A)  the number of bachelor's degrees, number of
  master's degrees, number of doctoral degrees, and number of
  professional degrees awarded by the institution; and
                     (B)  a clearly identifiable link to the
  information described by Paragraph (A) disaggregated by student
  ethnicity;
               (3)  under the heading "COSTS":
                     (A)  the average annual total academic costs for a
  resident undergraduate student enrolled in 30 semester credit hours
  at the institution;
                     (B)  clearly identifiable links to information
  regarding:
                           (i)  the rate or rates of tuition per
  semester credit hour charged by the institution; and
                           (ii)  any mandatory fees, as defined by the
  coordinating board, imposed by the institution; [and
                           [(iii)     the amount and percentage by which
  the institution has increased tuition for a degree program or
  course level during the state fiscal year covered by the resume;]
                     (C)  the average cost of on-campus room and board
  per student; and
                     (D)  the average cost to a resident undergraduate
  student enrolled in 30 semester credit hours for total academic
  costs and on-campus room and board, excluding the cost of books,
  supplies, transportation, or other expenses;
               (4)  under the heading "FINANCIAL AID":
                     (A)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  enrolled in the institution who receive need-based grants or
  scholarships;
                     (B)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  enrolled in the institution who receive need-based grants,
  scholarships, loans, or work-study funds;
                     (C)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  enrolled in the institution who receive student loans; 
                     (D)  the average amount of an undergraduate
  student's need-based grant and scholarship package; [and]
                     (E) [(D)]  the average amount of an undergraduate
  student's need-based grant, scholarship, loan, and work-study
  package; and
                     (F)  the average amount of an undergraduate
  student's student loans;
               (5)  under the heading "ADMISSIONS":
                     (A)  the middle 50 percent test score range of
  first-time undergraduate students at the institution whose
  Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores were in the 25th to 75th
  percentile of students' scores at that institution;
                     (B)  the middle 50 percent test score range of
  first-time undergraduate students at the institution whose
  American College Test (ACT) scores were in the 25th to 75th
  percentile of students' scores at that institution; and
                     (C)  the percentage of the students who applied
  for first-time undergraduate admission to the institution who were
  offered admission to the institution;
               (6)  under the heading "INSTRUCTION":
                     (A)  the student/faculty ratio at the
  institution;
                     (B)  the percentage of organized undergraduate
  classes offered by the institution in which fewer than 20 students
  are enrolled;
                     (C)  the percentage of organized undergraduate
  classes offered by the institution in which more than 50 students
  are enrolled; and
                     (D)  the percentage of teaching faculty members of
  the institution who are tenured or tenure-track;
               (7)  under the heading "BACCALAUREATE SUCCESS":
                     (A)  four-year, five-year, and six-year
  graduation rates for full-time bachelor's degree-seeking students
  at the institution, and links to that information disaggregated by
  student ethnicity; [and]
                     (B)  the average number of fall and spring
  semesters of enrollment attempted by a student to obtain a
  bachelor's degree; and
                     (C)  the retention rate of first-time, full-time,
  degree-seeking entering undergraduate students  enrolled in the
  institution after one academic year and after two academic years;
               (8)  under the heading "FIRST-TIME LICENSURE OR
  CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION PASS RATES," the first-time licensure or
  certification examination pass rates in the fields of education,
  law, pharmacy, nursing, and engineering of students enrolled in the
  institution or who have graduated from the institution; and
               (9)  under the heading "FUNDING":
                     (A)  the total amount of money appropriated by the
  legislature to the institution, including money appropriated for
  faculty and staff health coverage and retirement benefits, for that
  state fiscal year and the corresponding percentage of the
  institution's operating budget for that state fiscal year that the
  total amount of money appropriated by the legislature represents;
                     (B)  the total amount of federal funds from all
  federal sources, including grants and research funds, received by
  the institution in that state fiscal year and the corresponding
  percentage of the institution's operating budget for that state
  fiscal year that the total amount of federal funds represents;
                     (C)  the total academic costs charged to students
  by the institution in that state fiscal year and the corresponding
  percentage of the institution's operating budget for that state
  fiscal year that the total academic costs represent; and
                     (D)  the total amount of money from any source
  available to the institution in that state fiscal year.
         (d)  In addition to the information required by Subsection
  (c)(3), the resume must include under the heading "COSTS" the
  average annual amount and percentage by which the total academic
  costs charged to a resident undergraduate student enrolled in 30
  semester credit hours have increased in each of the five most recent
  state fiscal years for which the information is available:
               (1)  at the institution; and
               (2)  at the institution's in-state peer institutions.
         SECTION 7.  Section 51A.102, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
  follows:
         (d)  The resume must include the following information
  relating to the institution for the most recent state fiscal year
  for which the information is available and compare that information
  to the same information for the state fiscal year preceding the most
  recent state fiscal year for which the information is available and
  the state fiscal year preceding the most recent state fiscal year
  for which the information is available by five years:
               (1)  under the heading "ENROLLMENT":
                     (A)  ["ENROLLMENT,"] the total number of students
  enrolled in the institution for course credit during the fall
  semester that ended in the fiscal year covered by the resume;
                     (B)  the percentage of students enrolled in the
  institution who are enrolled in one or more developmental education
  courses; and
                     (C)  the percentage of students enrolled in the
  institution who are enrolled in one or more dual credit courses;
               (2)  under the heading "COSTS":
                     (A)  ["COSTS,"] the average annual total academic
  costs, which for a junior college must include those costs for an
  in-district and an out-of-district student, for a student enrolled
  in 30 semester credit hours toward a two-year degree or
  certificate:
                           (i) [(A)]  at the institution; and
                           (ii) [(B)]  at the institution's in-state
  peer institutions;
                     (B)  the percentage of students receiving student
  loans:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state peer
  institutions;
                     (C)  the average annual amount of student loans
  received by a student:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state peer
  institutions;
                     (D)  the percentage of students receiving federal
  or state grants:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state peer
  institutions; and
                     (E)  the average annual amount of federal and
  state grants received by a student:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state peer
  institutions;
               (3)  under the heading "STUDENT SUCCESS":
                     (A)  the retention rate of first-time, full-time,
  credential-seeking entering undergraduate students:
                           (i)  enrolled in the institution after two
  academic years; and
                           (ii)  enrolled in the institution's in-state
  peer institutions after two academic years;
                     (B)  the percentage of undergraduate students
  requiring developmental education who, after three years from
  entering the institution, graduated from or are still enrolled in:
                           (i)  the institution; and
                           (ii)  the institution's in-state peer
  institutions;
                     (C)  the three-year, four-year, and six-year
  graduation rates of full-time credential-seeking students:
                           (i)  at the institution; and
                           (ii)  at the institution's in-state peer
  institutions;
                     (D)  the percentage of students who transferred to
  a general academic teaching institution or equivalent institution
  of higher education, as determined using the accountability system
  definition of a transfer student:
                           (i)  from the institution; and
                           (ii)  from the institution's in-state peer
  institutions; and
                     (E)  the percentage of graduates from the
  preceding academic year who, as of the fall semester that ended in
  the fiscal year covered by the resume, were either employed or
  enrolled in a general academic teaching institution or equivalent
  institution of higher education for:
                           (i)  the institution; and
                           (ii)  the institution's in-state peer
  institutions; and
               (4)  under the heading "FUNDING":
                     (A)  the total amount of money appropriated by the
  legislature to the institution [for that state fiscal year],
  including money appropriated for faculty and staff health coverage
  and retirement benefits, for that state fiscal year and the
  corresponding percentage of the institution's operating budget for
  that state fiscal year that the total amount of money appropriated
  by the legislature represents;
                     (B)  the total amount of money from any source
  available to the institution in that state fiscal year; [and]
                     (C)  the total amount of federal funds from all
  federal sources, including grants and research funds, received by
  the institution in that state fiscal year and the corresponding
  percentage of the institution's operating budget for that state
  fiscal year that the total amount of federal funds represents;
                     (D)  the total academic costs charged to students
  by the institution in that state fiscal year and the corresponding
  percentage of the institution's operating budget for that state
  fiscal year that the total academic costs represent; and
                     (E)  the tax rate per $100 valuation of taxable
  property imposed by the junior college district, if the institution
  is a public junior college.
         (e)  In addition to the information required by Subsection
  (d)(2), the resume must include under the heading "COSTS" the
  average annual amount and percentage by which the total academic
  costs charged to a student enrolled in 30 semester credit hours
  toward a two-year degree or certificate have increased in each of
  the five most recent state fiscal years for which the information is
  available:
               (1)  at the institution; and
               (2)  at the institution's in-state peer institutions.
         SECTION 8.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.0778 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.0778.  ONLINE INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN CAREER
  EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES. (a)  In this section, "commission" means the
  Texas Workforce Commission.
         (b)  The board and commission jointly shall develop a
  comprehensive strategy to improve and coordinate the dissemination
  of online information regarding the operation and performance of
  career schools or colleges that the board or commission identifies
  as doing business in this state. As part of the comprehensive
  strategy, the board and the commission shall compile, share, and
  compare existing data and other applicable information under the
  control of each agency and shall organize that information as
  nearly as possible according to the categories of information
  required for the online resumes of lower-division public
  institutions under Section 51A.103. The websites must present
  information regarding those institutions, schools, and colleges in
  a manner that is:
               (1)  to the extent practicable, consistent among the
  institutions, schools, and colleges; and
               (2)  easily accessible and readily understandable to
  the public.
         SECTION 9.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.09021 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.09021.  COMPARISON TOOL.  (a)  The board shall make
  available to the public on the board's Internet website a search
  tool that allows a person to compare general academic teaching
  institutions that meet certain criteria selected by the person,
  including offering a particular major or program of study.
         (b)  The comparison tool required under this section must:
               (1)  be accessible from the board's Internet website;
               (2)  allow a user to identify general academic teaching
  institutions according to selection criteria as determined by the
  board; and
               (3)  be accessible to the public without requiring
  registration or use of a user name, password, or other user
  identification.
         (c)  The comparison tool required under this section must
  generate a comparison chart in a grid format that:
               (1)  lists the general academic teaching institutions
  that match a user's search criteria; and
               (2)  provides information for each institution listed
  that the board has determined would aid a prospective student in
  evaluating the institution.
         (d)  The Internet page displaying the comparison chart must
  include a link to the Internet website of the Texas Workforce
  Commission.
         (e)  To the extent practicable, the information provided
  under Subsection (c) must consist of information that a general
  academic teaching institution is required to report to the board
  under another provision of law, including board rule.
         (f)  Each general academic teaching institution shall
  provide to the board the information to be provided under
  Subsection (c) not later than October 1, or a date determined by the
  board, of each year.  The board shall update the comparison tool as
  soon as practicable after receiving information from each
  institution.
         SECTION 10.  Section 51.9745, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies beginning with the 2012 fall semester.
         SECTION 11.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  and public institutions of higher education shall comply with the
  changes made by this Act to Chapter 51A, Education Code, as soon as
  practicable following the effective date of this Act, but not later
  than February 1, 2012.
         SECTION 12.  Not later than February 1, 2013, the Texas
  Higher Education Coordinating Board shall create and post on the
  board's Internet website the comparison tool required by Section
  61.09021, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 13.  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, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 736 was passed by the House on April
  27, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 1, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 736 on May 27, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 0, 2
  present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 736 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 24, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor