The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board) proposes amendments to §4.28, concerning Core Curriculum.

The intent of this amendment is to clarify the requirements for the Component Area Option under §4.28(b)(4)(A), and to allow institutions of higher education that offer the fully-transferrable core curriculum an alternative appropriate for interdisciplinary courses for the Component Area Option under §4.28(b)(4)(B). This alternative would allow an institution to certify that a course or courses used to complete up to three semester credit hours of the Component Area Option meets the definition specified for one or more of the foundational component areas, and include(s) a minimum of three Core Objectives, including Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and one of the remaining Core Objectives of the institution's choice. The amendment to §4.28(b)(4) adds a new subparagraph (C) that states, for the purposes of gaining approval for or reporting a Component Area Option course under the amended provisions in subsection (b)(4)(B), an institution would not be required to notify the Board of the specific foundational component area(s) and Core Objectives associated with the course(s).

Dr. MacGregor M. Stephenson, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Research, has determined that for the first five-year period the section is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the section.

Dr. Stephenson has also determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be to allow institutions of higher education to develop interdisciplinary courses that would otherwise not be allowed in the core curriculum, but that could benefit student persistence and success. There is no effect on small businesses. There are no anticipated economic costs to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. There is no impact on local employment.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted by mail to MacGregor M. Stephenson, Assistant Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, P.O. Box 12788, Austin, Texas 78711 or via email at WAARcomments@thecb.state.tx.us. Comments will be accepted for 30 days following publication of the proposal in the Texas Register.

The amendments are proposed under the Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter S, §61.822, which provides the Coordinating Board with the authority to establish a core curriculum for institutions of higher education that offer academic undergraduate degree programs and §61.827 which provides the Coordinating Board with rulemaking authority to implement the subchapter.

The amendments affect the Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter S.