The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board) adopts amendments §§15.42 - 15.44, concerning National Research University Fund, without changes to the proposed text as published in the September 16, 2011, issue of the Texas Register (36 TexReg 6105).

The amendments are based on House Bill 1000, passed by the 82nd Texas Legislature, Regular Session. The amendments to §15.43(b) clarify the timeframe in which criteria need to be met for distribution. The amendments to §15.44(b) revise the Coordinating Board reporting requirements on eligibility from every even-numbered year to every year and add the comptroller to the list of report recipients. The amendments to §15.44(c) stipulate a mandatory audit of eligible institutions and also give the Coordinating Board authority to request additional audits as deemed necessary. Other amendments to §15.42 and §15.43 concerning the National Research University Fund include the deletion of the time to degree definition at §15.42(12) since this measure is proposed to be removed and the revision of §15.43(b)(3)(F) to remove the GRE measure due to insufficient national norms data on enrolled students. The amendment to §15.43(b)(3)(F) also removes the time to degree measure due to the inability for emerging institutions to replicate the measure as calculated by National Science Foundation and makes the comprehensive review of five doctoral programs a required component.

No comments were received concerning the amendments.

The amendments are adopted under the Texas Education Code, §62.145 and §62.146, which give the Coordinating Board the authority to develop and implement the provisions of the National Research University Fund.