We propose that HB 1583 become the “HB5” for higher education and redirect its focus from block scheduling to "Guided Pathways". This national movement provides greater overall structure for each student's career and academic goals, from advising, course sequence and course alignment with our partner universities. Block scheduling is much more limited as it only organizes courses. Block scheduling doesn't comprehensively address the comprehensive strategies necessary to increase student success. Pathways are also more efficient because as the pathway’s student cohort is known, courses/programs and sequences can be planned well in advance allowing for better scheduling and resource management including faculty. Pathways align with our secondary schools (HB5) and university partners reducing the excess courses and minimizing the loss of credits during transfer.

2. • We propose that HB 1583 become the “HB5” for higher education and redirect
its focus from block scheduling to "Guided Pathways".
• This national movement provides greater overall structure for each student's
career and academic goals, from advising, course sequence and course
alignment with our partner universities.
• Block scheduling is much more limited as it only organizes courses.
• Block scheduling doesn't comprehensively address the comprehensive
strategies necessary to increase student success.
• Pathways are also more efficient because as the pathway’s student cohort is
known, courses/programs and sequences can be planned well in advance
allowing for better scheduling and resource management including faculty.
• Pathways align with our secondary schools (HB5) and university partners
reducing the excess courses and minimizing the loss of credits during transfer.

3. 1. TEXAS STUDENTS TAKE 92 HRS TO
COMPLETE A 60 HOUR ASSOCIATE DEGREE
STUDENT COST TO EARN DEGREE (only degree
earners) BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL HOURS:
 FT STUDENT = $52,278
 PT STUDENT = $82,340

4. TAXPAYERS’ AND STUDENTS’ ANNUAL COST:*
THE ALAMO COLLEGES = $43.497 MILLION
THIRD HIGHEST IN TEXAS BEHIND DALLAS AND TARRANT
STATEWIDE = $468 MILLION (1/2 BILLION!)
STATE APPROPRIATIONS = $148 MILLION
LOCAL TAXES = $188 MILLION
TUITION/FEES = $132 MILLION
* HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD DATA

5. 2. EVERY COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY HAS A DIFFERENT
COURSE SEQUENCE, EVEN FOR THE SAME MAJOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE MAJOR
DOESN’T MATCH SO COURSES LOST
BECAUSE OF WIDE VARIETY OF CORE COURSES THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S COURSE MAY NOT MATCH
IT WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR TRANSFER BUT NOT FOR THE MAJOR
THAT CORE COURSE WILL HAVE TO BE RETAKEN TO MEET THE MAJOR
REQUIREMENT AT TIME AND COST TO STUDENT AND TAXPAYER

6. A 2001 THECB study determined that:
Students who took at least 30 hours 83% of credit
hours were transferred, but only 70% were applied to a
degree
Over 75%, one course in five, were rejected for unclear
reasons
51% were designated “technical’ courses
12% had no course equivalents
A recent study (Atwell & Monaghan) found:
The biggest barrier to community college students
achieving a baccalaureate degree is inefficiency in credit
transfer

7. The more community college credits earned, the greater
the likelihood of successful transfer
Students who transferred most of their credits were two-
and-a-half times more likely to earn a baccalaureate degree
Fewer than 60% of students were able to transfer most of
their credits
15% of students had to literally start over!
Minority and low-income students are less likely to transfer
and earn a baccalaureate degree

8. 3. MOST COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS DECLARE
THEIR INTENT TO TRANSFER
AT ALAMO COLLEGES, ONLY 20% OVERALL TRANSFER
THE REMAINING 80% OF THIS COHORT DON’T ACIEVE
THEIR TRANSFER GOAL
BY NOT ACHIEVING THEIR BACCALAUREATE DEGREE
THEY ARE UNDER EMPLOYED
80 % OF AAS STUDENTS AT ALAMO ARE EMPLOYED
40% OF AA AND AS STUDENTS AT ALAMO ARE
EMPLOYED

9. THIS CURTAILS THE EMPLOYER’S ACCESS TO
A WORKFORCE WITH THE APPROPRIATE
EDUCATION
REDUCES THEIR CAPACITY TO COMPETE
AND GROW
IMPACTS THE LOCAL AND STATE
ECONOMY

10. 4. MANY STUDENTS WHO TRANSFER NEVER COMPLETE
LOST CREDITS REQUIRES MORE TIME AND MONEY PREVENTING
COMPLETION
STUDENTS OFTEN LOSE PELL/VETERANS, STATE AND FOUNDATION
FINANCIAL AID
ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE
GENERALLY FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, GENERAL LIFE CHALLENGES
ADD TO THE DIFFICULTY OF FUNDING TIME, LIVING AND TUITION COSTS
THE 6-DROP RULE AND 3-PEAT RULES OFTEN STOP STUDENTS AFTER
THEY TRANSFER AS THEY HAVE TO PAY TRIPLE TUITION

11. 5. SUMMARY
THE TRANSFER POLICIES IN TEXAS WORK AGAINST STUDENT
COMPLETION
STUDENTS TAKE TOO MANY HOURS WHILE AT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
TOO MANY STUDENTS INTENDING TO TRANSFER NEVER DO
TOO MANY HOURS ARE LOST DURING TRANSFER TO UNIVERSITY
THE COST TO STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS IN TEXAS IS ALMOST ½
BILLION DOLLARS!

12. STUDENTS WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED LOSE
PELL/VETERANS/STATE AND FOUNDATION FUNDS BECAUSE
THEY TAKE TOO MANY HOURS
AA AND AS STUDENTS WHO DON’T ACHIEVE THEIR TRANSFER
GOAL ARE UNDERPREPARED FOR THE WORKFORCE AND ARE A
LARGE COHORT UNAVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AT LEAST AT
THE LEVEL SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER WOULD HAVE PROVIDED

13. THIS IMPACTS EMPLOYERS’ COMPETITIVE AND GROWTH
CAPACITY
THIS IMPACTS THE STATE’S ECONOMIC CONDITION

14. 6. PROPOSALS
HB 1583 SHOULD BE THE “HB5 OF HIGHER EDUCATION”
GUIDED PATHWAYS PROVIDE A BETTER WAY THAN A FOCUS ON BLOCK SCHEDULING TO
ORGANIZE COURSE SEQUENCES AND ENSURE EVERY COURSE COUNTS
GUIDED PATHWAYS HAS BECOME A NATIONAL STRATEGY WITH “ALAMOINSTITUTES”
AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
HB61, COMMON COURSE NUMBERING, WILL GREATLY REDUCE LOST COURSES DURING
TRANSFER
ADVISING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AS EVERY UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE USES A DIFFERENT
METHODOLOGY TO DESCRIBE COURSES AND ACCEPT THEM FOR CREDIT
CHANGE CURRENT STATE POLICY OF 45 HOURS BEFORE CONCENTRATION IS DECLARED TO 15
REINFORCES HB5
SETS STUDENT ON RIGHT PATHWAY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE LEAVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ADJUSTMENTS AS STUDENT NARROWS CAREER AND ACADEMIC GOAL

15. REQUIRE COLLABORATIVE ADVISING BETWEEN SECONDARY,
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY/COLLEGES
ENSURE PATHWAYs FROM SECONDARY, THROUGH
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THROUGH UNIVERSITY TO
BACCACALAURATE
ENSURE “PUSH/PULL” PROCESS CREATES SEAMLESS
TRANSITION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS
FIELDS OF STUDY AND TUNING APPROACHES SHOULD BE
PURSUED
CONCERN IS THE YEARS IT WILL TAKE TO ALIGN ALL
PROGRAMS

16. THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?