Sec. 56.079. WORK-STUDY STUDENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(2) "Eligible institution" means:

(A) an institution of higher education; or

(B) a private or independent institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003(15), other than a private or independent institution of higher education offering only professional or graduate degrees.

(3) "Participating entity" means an eligible institution, a school district, or a nonprofit organization that has filed a memorandum of understanding with the coordinating board under this section to participate in the work-study student mentorship program established under this section.

(b) In accordance with this section and coordinating board rules, the coordinating board shall administer a work-study student mentorship program under which students who are enrolled at participating eligible institutions and who meet the eligibility requirements for employment in the Texas college work-study program under Section 56.075 may be employed by participating entities under the Texas college work-study program to:

(1) mentor students at participating eligible institutions or high school students in participating school districts;

(2) counsel high school students at GO Centers or similar high school-based recruiting centers designed to improve student access to higher education; or

(3) support student interventions at participating eligible institutions that are focused on increasing completion of degrees or certificates, such as interventions occurring through advising or supplemental instruction.

(c) To participate in the work-study student mentorship program under Subsection (b)(1) or (2), an eligible institution and one or more school districts or nonprofit organizations interested in jointly participating in the program shall file with the coordinating board a joint memorandum of understanding detailing the roles and responsibilities of the participating entities.

(d) The coordinating board shall develop, when applicable and in consultation with eligible institutions, school districts, and nonprofit organizations that express interest in participating in the work-study student mentorship program, a standard contract establishing the roles and responsibilities of participating entities to be used as a model for a memorandum of understanding entered into by participating entities under Subsection (c).

(e) The coordinating board:

(1) shall establish criteria to ensure that the participating eligible institution's contribution toward the wages and benefits of a student employed under the work-study student mentorship program as provided by Subsection (b)(1) or (2) is matched by funds provided by the participating entity benefiting from the services of the employed student in an amount that is at least equal to the amount of the participating eligible institution's contribution;

(2) may accept appropriate in-kind contributions from participating nonprofit organizations to satisfy the matching funds requirement of this subsection; and

(3) may waive the matching funds requirement of this subsection for a participating entity that meets criteria established by the coordinating board for a waiver.

(f) The coordinating board may partner with participating nonprofit organizations to establish additional GO Centers or similar high school-based recruiting centers designed to improve student access to and success in higher education in this state.

(g) The coordinating board shall ensure that each student employed under the work-study student mentorship program:

(1) receives appropriate training and supervision; and

(2) is paid at least at the minimum wage required by law.

(h) The coordinating board may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this section.

(i) An eligible institution participating in the work-study student mentorship program under this section may require students who are on academic probation at the institution to be matched with a student mentor or advisor employed under the program.

(j) Expired.

(k) Each eligible institution participating in the work-study student mentorship program under this section shall set aside a portion of the institution's Texas college work-study program funds to pay for the state's contribution toward the costs of the program.

(l) Notwithstanding Section 56.076(a), a participating entity that employs a student mentor under the work-study student mentorship program shall provide from sources other than federal college work-study funds:

(1) not less than 10 percent of the employed student's wages; and

(2) 100 percent of other employee benefits for the employed student.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 1172), Sec. 5, eff. June 18, 2005.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 804 (S.B. 1050), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1049 (S.B. 5), Sec. 9.01(b)(6), eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1216 (S.B. 1750), Sec. 2, eff. June 19, 2015.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 187 (S.B. 2082), Sec. 1, eff. May 26, 2017.