Texas advisory panel fails to approve revised biology field-of-study after community college objections

The Texas Transfer Advisory Committee, a Higher Education Coordinating Board advisory panel, failed to approve a proposed revised biology field of study after community college representatives withheld a majority approval on a roll-call vote.

The proposal, developed by a TTEC subgroup and adopted earlier through rulemaking at the agency level, would allow students to complete 30 semester hours of core curriculum (rather than the full 42) and expand discipline foundation course allowances from up to 12 semester credit hours to up to 24, with directed electives up to 12 hours. Proponents said the change gives students more discipline-specific preparation before transfer to a four-year institution.

The committee heard presentations from co-chairs and subcommittee members. Chantae Gullet, Lone Star College, and Catherine ("Cathy") Ryan, Texas A&M University, described the field-of-study curriculum and said the subcommittee unanimously approved the discipline proposal at the subgroup level. "We brought this committee back together. And you have your two co-chairs here, who are going to present," Elizabeth Mayer, assistant commissioner for academic…