Relating to requiring foreign language credit opportunities for students enrolled in study abroad components or programs offered by certain institutions of higher education in this state.

Contracts

• Third-Party Vendors: Review MSAs with study abroad providers (e.g., CIEE, IES, local NGOs). You must add addenda requiring them to facilitate language instruction or provide certified proficiency assessments compatible with Texas transfer standards.
• Foreign Exchange MOUs: Renegotiate Memoranda of Understanding with partner universities to ensure visiting Texas students have access to language courses that meet your institution's specific credit hour requirements.

Hiring/Training

• Faculty Credentials: If the credit is faculty-led rather than transfer credit, the accompanying faculty member must meet SACSCOC credentialing standards for foreign language instruction, or a qualified local instructor must be hired.
• Academic Advising: Advisors must be retrained to affirmatively offer this credit option during the study abroad registration process.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Student Election Forms: Implement a mandatory "Election of Credit" form for every student traveling to a non-English speaking destination. The student must explicitly opt-in or waive the foreign language credit. This is your primary defense against compliance audits.
• Curriculum Audit: Maintain a master list of all study abroad programs mapped to their corresponding foreign language course codes.

Fees & Costs

• Curriculum Development: Budget for faculty time to map foreign experiences to existing language course outcomes.
• Assessment Fees: If using proficiency exams (e.g., CLEP, OPI) to award credit post-trip, determine if the institution or the student absorbs the testing fees.