April 3, 2025 Update on the Crucial Work of Texas AAUP and Texas AFT in the Texas Legislature

Friends,

I can't say enough about the excellent leadership we have in Texas fighting the good fight for higher education, meaning the right to learn, teach, and conduct research. C'mon folks it's not hard to see why we need this freedom in Texas higher education.

It is shady, by the way, that the legislature didn't livestream their voucher hearing today in the Texas State Legislature as they always do. It's crazy that folks watched the hearing on Twitter instead of the full light of day. Glad that the Twitter work-around allowed it to get covered regardless.

In any case, take a few minutes to listen to this April 3rd update on various bills under consideration at the Texas State Capitol. Thanks to Patty Quinzi, Amanda Garcia, and Brian Evans for all their incredible advocacy this session. AAUP and Texas AFT together constitute a formidable partnership. If your any one you know needs academic freedom and protection, please join AAUP here: https://connect.aft.org/app/memberforms/8041A/JoinTheFight

Happy to share.

-Angela Valenzuela

Danza Mexica Ceremony on April 8, 2025 at 12 Noon in the Outdoor Rotunda, Texas State Capitol

***PLEASE SHARE WIDELY***

Friends,

Next Tuesday, April 8th at noon, please join Texas State Rep. Christina Morales (Houston, Dist. 145) in celebrating her birthday—which is actually on Thursday, but Tuesday is what's going to work out. The ceremony will be conducted by Abuela Rosa Tupina and Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyollotl.

A great showing by members from her district in Houston would be really nice.

Boy, do we need prayer and ceremony at the Texas Capitol. Let's also get Rep. Morales' Social Studies bill, House Bill 178, heard. It desperately needs a hearing. I know that's what I'm praying for right now.

All are welcome.

-Angela Valenzuela

Let's Not Weaken Higher Education Standards: HB 1705 and Companion Bill SB 530 Could Turn Texas Higher Ed into "Diploma Mills"

Friends:

Time sensitive. HB 1705 is getting heard shortly. There are STRONG reasons why we should not weaken education standards as HB 1705 seeks to accomplish. It's companion bill in the senate is SB 530. We don't want to become a "diploma mill," my friends. Nor do we want to deprive students of a quality, legally recognized education. Here is how you can help by either attending and participating in today's hearing or submit online testimony at the link provided below.

Bill Hearings

HB 1705 on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 8am-until, Texas House Committee on Higher Ed. Agenda. Oral testimony. Submit online testimony.

SB 530 on Thursday, April 3, 2025, 9am-until, Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16. Agenda. Same as HB 1705. Oral testimony only.

If there is an issue with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), no problem. Let's address this head-on with SACS. Dismantling it and subjecting accreditation to "whoever" is reckless. Minimally, go to this link and tell whoever represents you in the Texas House that this would be a very harmful policy should it become law. 

-Angela Valenzuela


HB 1705 Weakens Education Standards at Colleges and Universities

March 31, 2025|  Texas AAUP Blog




Last Revised: April 1, 2025

Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

Contact: aaup.texas@gmail.com and agarcia@texasaft.org

Social: X @TexasAaup and Bluesky @texasaaup.bsky.social

Join: Join Texas AAUP with several reasons for joining

Texas Faculty Association (TFA)

Contact: tfa.president@texasfacultyassociation.org

Join: Enrollment form and several reasons for joining

Concerns About HB 1705

HB 1705 seeks to remove the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) as the sole statutorily-mandated accrediting agency for Texas public colleges, universities, and health institutions, excluding law schools and medical schools.[1]

About SACS

SACS is one of seven regional accrediting agencies recognized by the federal government. It is an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education. SACS is the common denominator of shared values and practices among its members in the U.S. and internationally, approved by the SACS Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Executive Council, Board of Trustees, and Appeals Committee of the College Delegate Assembly.[2]

About Institutional Accreditation

The United States has no Federal Ministry of Education or other centralized authority exercising national control over postsecondary educational institutions. To ensure a basic level of quality, the practice of accreditation arose in the U.S. as a means of conducting non-governmental, peer evaluations of educational institutions and programs.

Institutional accreditation applies to an entire institution, indicating that each part of the institution is contributing to the achievement of its objectives. The various commissions of the regional accrediting associations (like SACS) perform institutional accreditation.[3]

In Texas, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has the authority to recognize accrediting agencies. The list includes general accrediting and specialized accrediting entities. Under current law, institutions in Texas may choose from the list so long as the accrediting entity is appropriate to the mission and content of the institution’s activities. Current law specifically names SACS as an accrediting entity and allows the THECB to designate additional accrediting entities.[4]

Why SACS Needs to Remain Statutorily Included as an Accreditor

If a public college, university, or health institution is not accredited by an agency federally recognized like SACS, its students will no longer be eligible for federal student financial aid, its degrees will not be recognized at other institutions or corporations, and it will be ineligible for federal research grants and certain private grants.

The Texas Equalization Grant provides up to $5,810/year in income-based financial aid per qualifying student who is attending private and independent Texas colleges, universities, and health institutions.[5] Eligible institutions either qualify under Texas Government Code Section 61.003 or “are located within this state and meet the same program standards and accreditation as public institutions of higher education as determined by the board”.[6]

Removing SACS as the sole accreditor for public institutions of higher education could expand the number of private and independent colleges, universities, and health institutions eligible for a Texas Equalization Grant, resulting in either a significant budget increase for the Texas Equalization Grant program or significant loss of funding for the Texas Equalization Grants at the institutions current eligible for it. In Fall 2023, 131,674 students were enrolled in private and independent colleges, universities, and health institutions.[7]

Some employers, institutions, and licensing boards only recognize degrees earned from institutions accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the federal government. In some states, it can be illegal to use a degree from an institution that is not accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, unless approved by the state licensing agency.

SACS assesses the quality of different components of the institution as well as the overall quality of the institution. For example, SACS ensures that instructors have appropriate expertise in the courses they teach, as evidenced by their degrees earned and other relevant experience. SACS also ensures that the institution implements policies and procedures to guarantee that instructors have the freedom to teach, so students have the freedom to learn.[8] Further, SACS requires that “the institution (a) publishes and implements policies on the authority of faculty in academic and governance matters, (b) demonstrates that educational programs for which academic credit is awarded are approved consistent with institutional policy, and (c) places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of the curriculum with its faculty.”[9]

Verified accrediting bodies like SACS protect students from “diploma mills.” The federal government's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has been involved with keeping diploma mill degrees from the federal workplace. "OPM has provided ongoing guidance to federal departments and agencies... making it clear that so-called 'degrees' from diploma mills will not be accepted for purposes of qualifying for federal positions, for student loan repayment, and for purposes of paying for employees to obtain college degrees." [10]

Removing SACS as the sole accrediting body can strip current and future students from having access to a quality and legally recognized education. We urge you to vote against HB 1705.

References

[1] https://reportcenter.highered.texas.gov/agency-publication/miscellaneous/texas-higher-education-coordinating-board-recognized-accreditors/

[2] https://sacscoc.org/

[3] https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation

[4] Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Recognized Accreditors | Report Center

[5] https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/education/msp/funding/aid/state-programs/txteg.php

[6] https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.61.htm#61.222

[7] https://reportcenter.highered.texas.gov/reports/data/texas-higher-education-enrollments-2024/

[8] 2024 SACSCOC Resource Manual for Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, Sec. 6.4, Page 54.

[9] 2024 SACSCOC Resource Manual for Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, Sec. 10.4, Page 96.

[10] https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation/diploma-mills-and-accreditation