1. (a) State funding shall be provided for lower-division level general academic courses in public community colleges and other appropriate public institutions offering lower-division general academic courses if such courses:

   1. (1) are listed in the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual; or
   2. (2) have been reviewed by the Board staff and have been approved in accordance with the unique need provision; and
   3. (3) are consistent with the Texas Common Course Numbering System.
2. (b) A standing advisory committee composed of representatives from public community colleges and other appropriate public institutions offering lower-division general academic courses will meet at least annually to recommend to the Coordinating Board staff appropriate courses to be added to, revised, or deleted from the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual, as well as their proper assignment of Texas Common Course Numbers. The Coordinating Board staff shall provide the committee data regarding course enrollments and transferability for the purpose of considering revisions to the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual.

3. (c) Criteria used to revise the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual shall include the following:

   1. (1) Courses offered by three or fewer community colleges and other appropriate institutions offering lower-division general academic courses during the previous academic year will be reviewed by the committee for deletion unless other factors indicate a need to retain such courses.
   2. (2) Unique need courses which have been offered at several public community colleges and other appropriate institutions offering lower-division general academic courses in different geographic regions of the state may be recommended for addition to the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual upon request of a sponsoring institution.
   3. (3) Revisions in course content may be considered upon request of a sponsoring institution.
   4. (4) Courses included in the lower-division portion of an academic core curriculum at any public institution of higher education may be considered by the committee for inclusion in the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual.
   5. (5) Courses in a Board-approved field of study curriculum as outlined under §4.32 of Board rules (relating to Field of Study Curricula) shall automatically be added to the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual.

Source Note:The provisions of this §9.73 adopted to be effective May 25, 2004, 29 TexReg 5067.