Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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EDUCATION/Higher
77 th Texas Legislature
University of North Texas System - S.B. 576
by Senator West, et al.
House Sponsors: Representative Jesse Jones, et al.
In 1999, the 76 th Legislature established the University of North Texas System comprised of the University
of North Texas, located in Denton, and the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.
In addition, the current University of North Texas System Center at Dallas offers junior, senior, and
graduate courses. However, to meet the needs of the diverse population of the city of Dallas, a full
undergraduate university is under consideration.
Establishes the University of North Texas at Dallas as a four-year institution of higher education (IHE) as
part of the University of North Texas System. This institution was formerly established as the North Texas
System Center at Dallas.
Expands the programs offered by the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Forth Worth and
makes it a coeducational IHE. Prohibits the center from awarding an M.D. degree.
Texas Grant II, the Sequel - S.B. 1596
by Senator Bivins, et al.
House Sponsors: Representatives Rangel and Jesse Jones
Establishes the Toward Excellence, Access, & Success (TEXAS) grant II program for use by eligible
students to earn a two-year degree at junior and state colleges or public technical institutes.
Authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules necessary to operate a grant
program that gives the highest priority to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need.
Requires a student in each semester to meet eligibility criteria including maintaining a 2.5 grade point
average and earning credit for 75 percent of course work attempted.
Establishes the grant amount to be the average cost of tuition and fees for a full-time student in an
associate or certificate program in state institutions.
Prohibits an eligible institution from charging a Texas grant II recipient more than the grant amount for
tuition and fees or selecting applicants based on Texas grant II status.
Increasing College Enrollment - H.B. 400
by Representative Giddings
Senate Sponsor: Senator Van de Putte
Requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and institutions of higher education (IHE) to cooperate to
increase the number of students who attend college from high schools that have a low rate of graduates
who attend college.
Requires TEA to collaborate with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to identify school districts
that have the lowest percent of students attending college and to link those high schools with a nearby IHE
to develop a plan with clear measurable attainable goals to send more graduates to college.
Senate Research Center 81