Sec. 87.108.  PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL ACADEMY.  (a)  The Prairie View A&M Undergraduate Medical Academy is established at Prairie View A&M University.
(b)  The organization, control, and management of the academy is vested in the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System.
(c)  The employment of personnel by and the operating budget of the institute are subject to the approval of the board of regents.  An employee of the academy is an employee of Prairie View A&M University.
(d)  The primary purpose of the academy is to prepare students for medical school.
(e)  A student is eligible to apply for admission into the academy if the student:
(1)  is enrolled in Prairie View A&M University with a major that requires completion of the prescribed core of basic science and mathematics courses needed as a foundation preparation for gaining admission into medical study at an accredited medical school in the United States;
(2)  has completed at least one year of undergraduate college-level or university-level courses approved by the academy;
(3)  has demonstrated interest in a medical career;  and
(4)  has met the academic achievement standards established for the academy by the academy's admissions committee in the student's undergraduate courses.
(f)  The academy shall provide:
(1)  academic and career counseling for academy students;
(2)  faculty mentorship for each academy student;
(3)  enriched undergraduate courses designed to strengthen academic preparation, including preparation for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), for future medical school applicants;
(4)  preparation for the MCAT and instruction in standardized testing techniques;
(5)  long-distance educational technology to allow interactive participation with medical schools, as appropriate;
(6)  visitation to medical school educational sites;  and
(7)  visitation of medical school faculty to the academy for academic enrichment.
(g)  A student admitted to the academy must enter into an agreement with the university under which the student agrees to:
(1)  maintain the student's eligibility for continued enrollment in the academy;  and
(2)  repay any scholarship or stipend the student receives in connection with enrollment in the academy if the student:
(A)  fails to apply to medical school in Texas and enrolls in a medical school outside of Texas;  or
(B)  declines an offer to attend medical school in Texas and enrolls in a medical school outside of Texas.
(h)  The academy shall consult with the medical schools in Texas to ensure that its curriculum and practices are consistent with current medical school needs and requirements.
(i)  The academy shall enter into cooperative programs, as appropriate, with medical schools in Texas to help achieve the goals of the academy.
(j)  The academy shall incorporate into its curriculum current medical school educational practices, such as small group tutorials using problem-based instruction.
(k)  The university shall enhance the facilities of the university as necessary to achieve the purposes of the academy.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 394, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.