09 LC
25 5569
House
Bill 647
By:
Representatives Smith of the
113th
and Hembree of the
67th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to the University System of Georgia, so as to
require units of the university system to report certain information regarding
institutional profile, student and faculty engagement, student achievement, and
institutional efficiency; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws;
and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Higher Education Accountability
Act."
SECTION
2.
Part
2 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to the University System of Georgia, is amended by adding a
new Code section to read as follows:
"20-3-88.
To
expand access to public information and be accountable to the taxpayers of this
state, each unit of the university system shall report annually in writing to
the General Assembly and in a prominent consumer friendly location on the
institution's website the following information on institutional profile,
student and faculty engagement, student achievement, and institutional
efficiency:
(1)
Institutional and student profile:
(A)
Institutional purpose and mission;
(B)
Admissions standards;
(C)
Clear, accurate, comprehensive, and annually updated description of the student
body profile, including but not limited to:
(i)
Number and percentage of students enrolled by residency; and
(ii)
Incoming students' average ACT or SAT score;
(D)
Tuition, fees, and total cost of attendance information;
(E)
Affordability factors to include average student loans, percentage of students
receiving financial aid, and average financial aid dollars awarded;
and
(F)
Crime statistics;
(2)
Measures of student and faculty engagement:
(A)
Percentage of lower division classes taught by full-time faculty;
(B)
Average teaching load by discipline, in credit hours taught per
student;
(C)
Amount and type of general education courses required for each degree
program;
(D)
Criteria for transfer to institution;
(E)
Process for evaluating the effectiveness of each program and the desired student
outcomes;
(F)
Clear explanation of student outcomes expected by each program and how they are
measured;
(G)
Definition of what constitutes satisfactory academic progress for the
institution; and
(H)
Percentage of faculty with terminal degrees;
(3)
Measures of student achievement:
(A)
Freshman to sophomore student retention rates;
(B)
Four, five, and six year graduation rates. For purposes of this subparagraph,
graduation rates shall be based on the percentage of freshmen who entered during
a given academic year and graduated within four, five, and six
years;
(C)
Transfer rates;
(D)
Percentage of students taking remedial courses;
(E)
Average time to degree;
(F)
Average scores on externally validated, nationally benchmarked outcome
assessments in core areas, including writing, mathematics, and general
education, if applicable;
(G)
Measures of student satisfaction;
(H)
Measures of employer satisfaction;
(I)
Average scores on graduate school admission tests, including but not limited to
the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and LSAT and licensure exams, including but not limited to
nursing, CPA, and teaching certification exams;
(J)
Admission rates for baccalaureate degree recipients into graduate programs;
and
(K)
Job placement rates by discipline; and
(4)
Measures of institutional efficiency and fiscal condition:
(A)
Percentage of budget spent on instruction and academic support;
(B)
Percentage of budget spent on research and public service;
(C)
Percentage of budget spent on student services;
(D)
Percentage of budget spent on administrative support;
(E)
Percentage of budget spent on operation and maintenance of
facilities;
(F)
Ratio of administrative staff to total staff;
(G)
Measures of classroom and laboratory space utilization;
(H)
General fund appropriations per in-state full-time equivalent student;
and
(I)
Total expenditures per full-time equivalent
student."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.