The Senate Committee on Education met on March 15th to take up the following bills:
- SB 412 (Paxton) Relating to protections for pregnant and parenting students enrolled in public institutions of higher education.
- SB 459 (Paxton) Relating to early registration for parenting students at public institutions of higher education.
- SB 462 (Parker) Relating to the establishment of the Texas Competency-Based Education Grant Program for certain students enrolled in competency-based baccalaureate degree programs and to formula funding and dropped and repeated course restrictions for students enrolled in those degree programs at public institutions of higher education.
- SB 902 (West) Relating to the establishment of the Texas Leadership Scholars Program to serve as a merit-based scholarship and leadership opportunity for high-achieving, emerging leaders with financial need.
- SB 1055 (Nichols) Relating to the creation of a new university in Nacogdoches, Texas, within The University of Texas System; abolishing Stephen F. Austin State University.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
SB 412 (Paxton) Relating to protections for pregnant and parenting students enrolled in public institutions of higher education.
Bill author laid out bill
- Improves awareness of rights, empowers pregnant and parenting students to stay in school
- Bill codifies rights into state law, requires higher education to adopt policy and post online
- Menendez – does it provide same protections for parent fathers?
- Pregnant or parenting student
- Menendez – what about identifying a staff liaison
- Bill does not stipulate how that could happen, left up to colleges and universities to determine how to implement
SB 459 (Paxton) Relating to early registration for parenting students at public institutions of higher education.
- Requires institutions that have early registration access to include student parents
- Menendez – do you know the statistics? What data is there available?
- FAFSA indicates as many as 25%, open up to exploring more options for data
Public and Invited Testimony
Rebecca Parmer, Texas Right to Life – For
- Safeguard rights of parenting and pregnant college students
- Appreciated making information easily accessible on student websites
- Menendez – agrees this population should not be excluded form higher education, do you think having an identifiable staff liaison be helpful?
- There is a Title 9 coordinator on many campuses but students don’t know who that is, helpful to get students with coordinator
Samantha Farnsworth, Texas Right to Life – For
- Schedule of parent is demanding and have little choice on their schedule but early registration would help
- Does not require a new mechanism to be established if schools don’t have it yet, simply those that already have it
- Includes fathers if they are parents
- Parker – when you say already have early registration set up, recalls when they could as student athletes and said this makes sense for parenting and pregnant students
Katherine Beard, Student – For
- Discusses experience as a St. Mary’s student and providing supportive policies is important
- Menendez – confirms supportive of both bills
Monica Palma, Student – For
- Discusses St. Mary’s experience and being a parent while being a student
- Menendez – thanks witness for her work and perseverance, these things like pumping stations need to be considered in higher education and the Capitol
- West – thought they passed a bill last session
- Members and witness discuss pumping rooms locations; discussion of availability vs easier access
Catherine Pritcher, Student – For
- Being pregnant in law school can be overwhelming, protections in the bill are vital and offers a lifeline for pregnant students
- Discusses her experience
Jennifer Cobb, Student – For
- At an electrical academy, supports this bill
West – has a question for Sen. Paxton, notes testimony points out concerns with professors, would like to consider language that “requires” institutions of higher education to have access to materials
- Paxton – delighted to work on that with him
Menendez – thanked the witnesses, bringing bill language to life
Closing
- Economy of Texas benefits as well as helping these Texans
- Personal story of her mom who was in college
- Thanks members for support and encouragement while working on this bill
- Bills left pending
SB 462 (Parker) Relating to the establishment of the Texas Competency-Based Education Grant Program for certain students enrolled in competency-based baccalaureate degree programs and to formula funding and dropped and repeated course restrictions for students enrolled in those degree programs at public institutions of higher education.
Bill author laid out bill
- Establishment of the Texas Competency-Based Education Grant Program
- Under current statute there are no grants for these students which is why this is necessary
- Will be under Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
- West – wants clarity on attainment of a competency
Public and Invited Testimony
Linda Battles, WGU Texas – For
- Offers competency- based bachelor and master degrees in IT, business, education and health care
- This model focuses on learning not seat time
- Avg salary for a graduate is about $18k increased and after four years $25k increase
- No board needs based financial support option for these learners
- At least 10 programs in State of Texas offering competency based education
- Attention to this issue will help address workforce shortage for State of Texas
Juan Longoria, self – For
- Graduate of WGU, tells story of challenges he faced
- Believes this education can be key to breaking cycle of poverty
Closing
- SB 462 left pending
SB 1055 (Nichols) Relating to the creation of a new university in Nacogdoches, Texas, within The University of Texas System; abolishing Stephen F. Austin State University.
Bill author laid out bill
- 4 systems sent in proposal to affiliate and SFA regents voted to join UT, so bill recreates University in UT system
- University will maintain its name
- Committee substitute laid out – makes technical changes to ensure employee benefits transfer
Public and Invited Testimony
Steve Westbrook, President of SFA
- Outlined process they went through
- Had to determine if system affiliation would be beneficial and reviewed options
- Will be 14th member of UT system but will retain name, colors, mascot
Regent Kevin Eltife, University of Texas System
- Thanks members for open and transparent process
- Commitment to build on University system and culture at SFA
Closing
- Decision not taken lightly, never seen something so thoroughly researched
- Springer moved adoption of Committee Substitute – CS adopted
- CSSB 1055 left pending
SB 902 (West) Relating to the establishment of the Texas Leadership Scholars Program to serve as a merit-based scholarship and leadership opportunity for high-achieving, emerging leaders with financial need.
Springer laid out bill
- 21 Texas public universities with THECB have launched the Texas Leadership Scholars Program
- Seeking to move beyond a pilot to something more permanent
- Committee substitute is adopted
Harrison Keller, Commissioner of Higher Education
- The foundational ideas for this pilot came from discussions with the Senate Higher Education Committee last session
- Merit based scholarship program that has benefited 251 students
- Scholars revive tuition and fees and additional support for room and board
- Chair Creighton and Keller discuss students this would impact and institutions that participated
- Keller confirms 18 institutions participating originally, 21 are participating now and next year adding 4 more institutions and commitments from 3 others
- Springer – wants to know if evenly spread or where do students go across the state?
- Strong participation across the state and spotlights UNT which is the HUB
- A benefit of the program is an annual convening which will be hosted by UNT
- Have good participation from across the state but will defer to UNT for specifics
Closing
- CSSB 902 left pending
Bill stands in recess