Tennessee SB 1240: Education, Higher - As introduced, requires each governing board of a state institution of higher education to perform a cost-benefit analysis for each institution under the governing board's authority; requires each governing board to report the results of each cost-benefit analysis performed to the education committee of the senate and the education committee of the house of representatives by October 1 of each year. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7.

Bill Text

SB1240
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HOUSE BILL 638
By Coley

SENATE BILL 1240
By Gresham

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 7, relative to higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section, "governing board" means the board of trustees of the
University of Tennessee, the board of regents of the state university and community
college system, or a local governing board of trustees of a state university.
(b) Each governing board shall perform, for each state institution of higher
education under the governing board's authority, a cost-benefit analysis that shows the
costs and benefits to the institution of enrolling, retaining, and graduating students from
each of the programs offered by the institution compared to the costs and benefits to the
students of receiving a degree, diploma, or certificate from the institution. Each cost-
benefit analysis performed under this subsection (b) must assess the number of
students graduating from the institution each year who are able to secure employment in
the area of the student's degree, diploma, or certificate and the average length of time
that the institution's students were unemployed or underemployed after graduation.
(c) Each cost-benefit analysis required under subsection (b) must include
information from each of the five (5) academic years immediately preceding the date on
which each governing board's report is due to the general assembly under subsection
(d). A governing board must utilize existing offices and resources to track students
receiving a degree, diploma, or certificate for purposes of conducting a cost-benefit
analysis.

SB1240
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(d) Each governing board shall report, for each state institution of higher
education under the governing board's authority, the results of each cost-benefit analysis
performed by the governing board to the education committee of the senate and the
education committee of the house of representatives by October 1 of each year.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring
it.