Draft Legislative Recommendations to the 85th Texas Legislature

Coordinating Board Role and Responsibilities Program Expansion and Off Campus Sites: Institutions offer instruction in a number of off-campus settings, including Multi-Institution Centers (MITCs), branch campuses and other sites. As new sites are being considered, it is important to define the Coordinating Board role in ensuring that such sites do not create unneeded duplication. Recommend clarifying statutory definitions of MITCs, branch campuses and other sites. Recommend enhanced authority to ensure that institutions obtain Coordinating Board approval for new schools or colleges and programs in a timely manner. Recommend the Coordinating Board be provided limited authority to review and approve new physical locations outside of existing main campuses. 2

Coordinating Board Role and Responsibilities Oversight of Career Schools and Colleges: Career colleges are an important component of 60x30TX goals for attainment and completion. Recommend clarifying the agency’s authority regarding requiring compliance with accrediting bodies, federal financial rules, and state statutes and rules, and ability to revoke Certificates of Authority and Authorization for cause. Recommend establishing the agency as the repository for student records of closed institutions, contingent on sufficient funding. 3

Student Financial Aid Programs TEXAS Grants: As the state’s primary grant programs for students at public universities (TEXAS Grant) TEXAS Grant will play an important role in meeting the attainment, completion and student debt goals of 60x30TX. Recommend limiting grant recipients to 135 semester credit hours (down from 150 SCH currently) to incent timely completion and use savings to serve additional eligible students. Recommend requiring recipients to complete 30 SCH per year, through any combination of fall, spring and summer sessions. Recommend accommodating more middle-income families by limiting grant award amounts to the cost of tuition, fees and a book stipend. Recommend removing institutional “matching” requirements if the student does not meet the priority EFC level. 4

Student Financial Aid Programs TEOG: The state’s primary grant programs for students at public community, state and technical colleges, TEOG is important to meeting the attainment, completion and student debt goals of 60x30TX. Recommend accommodate more middle-income families by limiting grant award amounts to the cost of tuition, fees and a book stipend, minus Pell. Recommend requiring recipients to complete 30 SCH per year, through any combination of fall, spring and summer sessions. Recommend expanding the number of SCH that a recipient enrolled in a community college baccalaureate program may receive the grant to 135 SCH (currently 75 SCH). 5

Student Financial Aid Programs Financial Aid Award Notifications Meeting the 60x30TX debt goal will require students to be informed consumers regarding their student loans. Recommend requiring institutions to provide students annually specific information regarding their indebtedness including amount borrowed to date and estimated future loan payments. Work Study Mentorship Program Work-Study Student Mentorship Programs provide funding for college students to mentor or counsel students in higher education or in high school to improve student access to higher education. Recommend expanding the allowable use of funds to include not just programs that improve access, but also student success programs such as tutoring and advising. 6

Higher Education Funding Policies Outcomes Based Funding: Providing a strong financial incentive for institutions to focus on helping students quickly earn their certificate or degree is critical to achieving the attainment and completion goals of 60x30TX. Recommend implementing the “Graduation Bonus” framework for public universities developed by the General Academic Institution Formula Advisory Committee. Recommend supporting increased funding for community college success points. Course Restrictions on Returning Adult Students Helping adult students who wish to return and complete their education will assist with 60x30TX goals for attainment and completion. Consider waiving certain restrictions on funding SCH, such as the “three- peat” and “six-drop” rule, only for adults returning to higher education after “stopping out” for five years. 7

Additional Recommendations for Consideration Community College Baccalaureate Programs: Meeting 60x30TX goals for attainment and completion will require creating new pathways for students to achieve a relevant degree. Recommend a measured, deliberative process for gradually expanding the authority for some community colleges to offer baccalaureate programs in certain fields. Prioritizing Graduate Medical Education Recommend seeking a resolution from the Legislature that resources should be committed first to increasing the availability of residency positions before creating additional medical schools. Healthcare Workforce Study Recommend mandating a study of the healthcare workforce in Texas to better align resources with need. 8

Statutory Updates and Clarifications Common Admission Application Recommend updating statute to add ICUT and K-12 to advisory committee and reflect the systems’ current capabilities. Statewide Preceptorship Program Recommend updating statute to include family medicine. Student Loan Program Statute Recommend updating statute to align with previous Constitutional amendments and current practices. Higher Education Assistance Plans Recommend eliminating a duplicative section in statute that requires two different lists to be generated of low college-going high schools. 9