Austin, TX

In 2011, the Higher Education Coordinating Board ruled to require that undergraduate degree programs must graduate at least 25 students over a five year period or face elimination of that particular program. Many public universities across Texas have been put under significant strain due to this requirement. More specifically, public universities in rural areas who might not have the same enrollment numbers as those in urban areas are in great stress over how to save their programs from being phased out. Amidst the debate over what would be the best solution to ensuring Texas students have the opportunity to attend the degree or certificate programs of their choice, Representative Nevárez filed House Bill 1351 to address this complex issue. H.B. 1351 removes the ability of the Higher Education Coordinating Board to consolidate or eliminate degree or certificate programs and leaves that decision to the particular institution. However, the Higher Education Coordinating Board still has the authority to make recommendations to these higher education institutions regarding the consolidation and elimination of programs and can still authorize the initiation of a program. "This bill will allow for more discretion on behalf of the institutions to determine whether programs are viable. It will most certainly afford opportunities to continue courses of study that seem to dwindle for our students that attend institutions of higher learning in traditionally underserved areas," states Nevárez.