Texas Statutes
Subchapter Z. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 51.974. Internet Access to Course Information

Sec. 51.974. INTERNET ACCESS TO COURSE INFORMATION. (a) Each institution of higher education, other than a medical and dental unit, as defined by Section 61.003, shall make available to the public on the institution's Internet website the following information for each undergraduate classroom course offered for credit by the institution:
(1) a syllabus that:
(A) satisfies any standards adopted by the institution;
(B) provides a brief description of each major course requirement, including each major assignment and examination;
(C) lists any required or recommended reading; and
(D) provides a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion;
(2) a curriculum vitae of each regular instructor that lists the instructor's:
(A) postsecondary education;
(B) teaching experience; and
(C) significant professional publications; and
(3) if available, a departmental budget report of the department under which the course is offered, from the most recent semester or other academic term during which the institution offered the course.
(a-1) A curriculum vitae made available on the institution's Internet website under Subsection (a) may not include any personal information, including the instructor's home address or home telephone number.
(b) The information required by Subsection (a) must be:
(1) accessible from the institution's Internet website home page by use of not more than three links;
(2) searchable by keywords and phrases; and
(3) accessible to the public without requiring registration or use of a user name, a password, or another user identification.
(c) The institution shall make the information required by Subsection (a) available not later than the seventh day after the first day of classes for the semester or other academic term during which the course is offered. The institution shall continue to make the information available on the institution's Internet website until at least the second anniversary of the date on which the institution initially posted the information.
(d) The institution shall update the information required by Subsection (a) as soon as practicable after the information changes.
(e) The governing body of the institution shall designate an administrator to be responsible for ensuring implementation of this section. The administrator may assign duties under this section to one or more administrative employees.
(f) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, each institution of higher education shall submit a written report regarding the institution's compliance with this section to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education.
(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules necessary to administer this section.
(h) Institutions of higher education included in this section shall conduct end-of-course student evaluations of faculty and develop a plan to make evaluations available on the institution's website.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 681 (H.B. 2504), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.

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