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TTEC to review ‘legacy’ fields of study in spring; committee votes to take item up again
Summary
Committee members agreed unanimously to revisit several low-enrollment ‘legacy’ fields of study — including architecture, engineering specializations, Mexican American studies and music — at a spring meeting and to request additional data before deciding whether to extend or let them expire.
The Texas Transfer Advisory Committee agreed to take up a follow-up review of several legacy fields of study at its spring meeting, voting unanimously to add the set of items to the spring agenda and to request additional data for consideration.
Staff presented an inventory of "legacy" fields of study that are scheduled to expire under the normal cycle if not renewed: architecture; chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering tracks; Mexican American studies; and music. THECB staff also provided spreadsheets showing the number of bachelor's degree graduates and community-college transfers with at least 30 semester credit hours for those program areas and noted that some of the fields have small enrollments or few programs in the state.
"If we do nothing for none of them, then, all of these will expire on August 31, 2025," Elizabeth Mayer said while noting that the committee could decide to pursue a subset of fields for further development or to explore a "meta-major" approach that might group related areas (for instance, an engineering meta-major).
Committee members asked for additional, non-disclosive statewide data where cell-size protections prevented publication of small counts, and staff agreed to supply statewide roll-ups and program counts for the spring meeting. The group also discussed pragmatic rationales for retaining some fields even if enrollments are small in order to preserve transfer pathways for students at institutions that offer them.
On a roll-call vote, members unanimously agreed to place the legacy-fields review on the spring agenda and to ask THECB staff to provide additional data and options (including whether to pursue subcommittees or a meta-major approach). Staff clarified that any change to extend or rewrite fields would require rulemaking and public notice and that timelines depend on how many fields the committee asks to examine.
Ending: THECB staff will prepare additional data and bring options for committee consideration at the spring meeting; no fields were extended or rescinded at this session, only the committee's decision to review them further was recorded.
