(a) In determining whether a public junior college may offer baccalaureate degree programs and what degree programs may be offered, the coordinating board shall:

1. (1) apply the same criteria and standards the coordinating board uses to approve baccalaureate degree programs at general academic teaching institutions and medical and dental units; and

2. (2) consider the following factors:

   1. (A) the workforce need for the degree programs in the region served by the junior college;
   2. (B) how those degree programs would complement the other programs and course offerings of the junior college and whether the associate degree program offered by the junior college in the same field has been successful;
   3. (C) whether those degree programs would unnecessarily duplicate the degree programs offered by other institutions of higher education; and
   4. (D) the ability of the junior college to support the degree programs with student enrollment and the adequacy of the junior college's facilities, faculty, administration, libraries, and other resources.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), a public junior college may offer a baccalaureate degree program under this subchapter only if its junior college district:

1. (1) had a taxable property valuation amount of not less than $6 billion in the preceding year; and
2. (2) received a positive assessment of the overall financial health of the district as reported by the coordinating board.

(b-1) The requirement of Subsection (b)(1) does not apply to a public junior college for the purpose of offering a baccalaureate degree program in nursing approved under Section 130.308 if its junior college district:

1. (1) has a taxable property valuation amount of not less than $4 billion in the preceding year; and
2. (2) does not have a four-year institution of higher education located in a county in which the district is located.

(c) Before a public junior college may be authorized to offer a baccalaureate degree program under this subchapter, the public junior college must submit a report to the coordinating board that includes:

1. (1) a long-term financial plan for receiving accreditation from a recognized accrediting agency;

2. (2) a long-term plan for faculty recruitment that:

   1. (A) indicates the ability to pay the increased salaries of doctoral faculty;
   2. (B) identifies recruitment strategies for new faculty; and
   3. (C) ensures the program would not draw faculty employed by a neighboring institution offering a similar program;
3. (3) detailed information on the manner of program and course delivery; and

4. (4) detailed information regarding existing articulation agreements and dual enrollment agreements indicating:

   1. (A) that at least three articulation agreements have been established with general academic teaching institutions or medical and dental units, or the reasons why no articulation agreements have been established; and
   2. (B) that, with the agreement of the applicable general academic teaching institution or medical and dental unit, established articulation agreements are at capacity.

(d) The coordinating board may not authorize a public junior college to offer a baccalaureate degree in a field if articulation agreements with general academic teaching institutions or medical and dental units are sufficient to meet the needs of that field.

Transferred, redesignated and amended from Education Code, Section 130.0012(e) by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 766 (S.B. 2118), Sec. 8, eff. June 12, 2017.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 640 (H.B. 885), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2021.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 530), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2025.