Exchange agreements between the campuses of The University of Texas System and foreign universities are governed by the Texas Education Code and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules.
The authority for exchange programs is established in the Texas Education Code § 54.060(d), which provides that “[t]he coordinating board by rule shall establish a program with the United Mexican States and with Canada for the exchange of students and shall establish programs with other nations for the exchange of students to the extent practicable."
The rules regulating exchange programs are found in Chapter 21, Subchapter AA of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules. The rules spell out
(a) Authority. Authority for this subchapter is provided in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 54, Subchapter B, Tuition Rates. These rules establish procedures to administer the subchapter as prescribed in the Texas Education Code, §54.060(c) and (d), Resident of Bordering State or Nation or Participant in Student Exchange Program: Tuition.
(b) The purpose of the reciprocal educational exchange program is to enable Texas students of participating institutions to afford to participate in exchange programs with foreign institutions in order to help them better understand the culture, language, needs, and expectations of other nations of the world.
(a) If a reciprocal exchange program requires a tuition payment, the tuition rate to be paid by participants will be either the relevant rate normally paid at Texas institutions or the rate normally charged nationals or residents of other nations by their institutions. Tuition rates paid by participants will be defined by the agreements entered into by the participating institutions. The method of charging and collecting tuition is to be negotiated between the two institutions involved in the exchange. The tuition rate and payment may be any of the following methods:
- pay the relevant tuition rate of receiving institution, paid to the receiving institution,
- pay the relevant tuition rate of the originating institution, paid to the receiving institution, or
- pay the relevant tuition rate of the originating institution, paid at the originating institution.
(b) A participant no longer participating in the exchange program, but continuing to enroll in the receiving institution will be expected to pay the rate charged other nonresident students beginning with the first enrollment period after the participant discontinues his/her participation in the exchange program.
The number of units of instruction exchanged would ideally be equal in any given year. If balance is not attained in any one year and more students from other nations are participating in the program than are students from Texas, parity is to be established within a five-year period.
Each participating institution must maintain records in the appropriate office which would include
- proof of each participant's eligibility and
- formally-executed exchange agreements with each exchange partner institution
When a Reciprocal Educational Exchange Program exchange takes place, the Texas institution may request formula funding for the hours taken by foreign students attending classes in Texas. They may not request formula funding for their students who go abroad under this reciprocal exchange program.
It is recommended that any course taken by a Texas student through study abroad be noted as such on the transcript, so that students participating in exchange programs will be given full credit for this unique experience when they apply for transfers, for admission to graduate school and/or for employment.
By October 31 of each year each participating Texas institution shall provide a program report to the Board on a form provided by the Board. The report shall include such things as the number of students who have participated in the exchange program, and the names and locations of the institutions with which the exchanges have taken place. Each institution is to define, demonstrate and report the basis on which their student exchanges are reciprocal.
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