SECTION 13.501. Definitions

In addition to the words and terms defined in §13.1 of this chapter (relating to Definitions) the following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the event of conflict, the definitions in this subchapter shall control.

(1) Career and Technical Education Course--A workforce or continuing education college course offered by an institution of higher education for which a student may earn credit toward satisfaction of a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or associate degree.

(A) A career and technical education course is listed in the Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM).

(B) For the purpose of this subchapter, this definition excludes:

(i) an avocational course;

(ii) a continuing education course that is ineligible for conversion as articulated college credit; and

(iii) a continuing education course that does not meet the institution's program or instructor accreditation standards.

(2) Charter School--A public charter school authorized to operate under Texas Education Code, Chapter 12.

(3) Credit--College credit earned through the successful completion of a college career and technical education or academic course that fulfills specific requirements necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, associate degree, or other academic degree.

(4) Dual Credit Course--A course that meets the following requirements:

(A) The course is offered pursuant to an agreement under §4.84 of this subchapter (relating to Institutional Agreements).

(B) A course for which the student may earn one or more of the following types of credit:

(i) joint high school and junior college credit under Texas Education Code, §130.008, or

(ii) another course offered by an institution of higher education, for which a high school student may earn semester credit hours or equivalent of semester credit hours toward satisfaction of:

(I) a course defined in paragraph (1) of this section that satisfies a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or an associate degree;

(II) a foreign language requirement at an institution of higher education;

(III) a requirement in the core curriculum, as that term is defined by Texas Education Code, §61.821, at an institution of higher education; or

(IV) a requirement in a field of study curriculum developed by the Coordinating Board under Texas Education Code, §61.823.

(5) Educationally disadvantaged--As defined in Texas Education Code, §5.001(4), eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-price lunch program.

(6) Equivalent of a semester credit hour--A unit of measurement for a continuing education course, determined as a ratio of one continuing education unit to 10 contact hours of instruction, which may be expressed as a decimal. 1.6 continuing education units of instruction equals one semester credit hour of instruction. In a continuing education course, not fewer than 16 contact hours are equivalent to one semester credit hour.

(7) Program--The Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) Program.

(8) School Year--The twelve month-period of high school enrollment starting in August.

(9) Semester Credit Hour--A unit of measure of instruction, represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement, that reasonably approximates one hour of classroom instruction or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work for each week over a 15-week period in a semester system or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. An institution is responsible for determining the appropriate number of semester credit hours awarded for its programs in accordance with Federal definitions, requirements of the institution's accreditor, and commonly accepted practices in higher education.

Source Note: The provisions of this §13.501 adopted to be effective February 15, 2024, 49 TexReg 674