MINUTES 
          
             SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON FUNDING ISSUES IN EDUCATION 
                           Wednesday, November 5, 1997 
                                     9:30 am 
                         Capitol Extension, Room E1.036 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate  Interim Committee on  
         Funding Issues in Education was held on Wednesday, November 5,  
         1997 in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Teel Bivins                     Senator Judith  
         Zaffirini 
         Senator Bill Ratliff                    Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Gregory Luna                     
         Senator David Sibley                     
         Senator Royce West                       
          
                                      ***** 
          
         [Co-Chairmen Bivins and Ratliff decided that Senator Bivins  
         would Chair this hearing.  Hereinafter "Chair" refers to  
         Senator Bivins, or to whomever he has handed the gavel.] 
           
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:42 am.  The  
         following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         none. 
          
         The Chair laid out the proposed committee rules for discussion  
         and adoption.  Senator Ratliff moved that the rules be  
         adopted, there being no objection, the motion prevailed. 
          
         The Chair outlined the committee charges and the committee  
         discussed its objectives for the interim. 
          
         The Chair called for the introduction of committee staff. 
          
         The Chair called the following witnesses to testify before the  
         committee: 
          
         Steve H. Murdock, Dept. of Rural Sociology, Texas Agricultural  
         Experiment Station, Texas A&M University on Demographic  
         Issues. 
          
         Mike Moses, Commissioner of Education, Texas Education Agency  
         on Public Education Issues Related to Enrollment in Colleges  
         and Universities. 
  
         Criss Cloudt, Associate Commissioner, Texas Education Agency  
         on Public Education Issues Related to Enrollment in Colleges  
         and Universities. 
          
         Felipe Alanis, Deputy Commissioner, Texas Education Agency on  
         Public Education Issues Related to Enrollment in Colleges and  
         Universities. 
          
         Don Brown, Commissioner of Higher Education, Texas Higher  
         Education Coordinating Board on Retention Rates in Colleges  
         and Universities and Related Issues. 
          
         Don Brown and Sharon Cobb, Texas Higher Education Coordinating  
         Board on Overview of Financial Aid Programs and Policy  
         Considerations Related to Those Programs. 
          
         Claire (Mickey) Romer, District Director of Financial Aid,  
         Tarrant County Community College on the Role of Financial Aid  
         in Improving Enrollment and Retention Rates. 
          
         Max Castillo, President, University of Houston- Downtown on  
         Issues Relating to Financial Aid, Enrollment and Retention  
         from an Institutional Perspective  
          
         Albert Cortez, Director, Institute of Policy and Leadership,  
         Intercultural Development Association on Issues Relating to  
         Financial Aid, Enrollment and Retention. 
          
         John Stevens, Executive Director, Texas Business and Education  
         Coalition on Higher Education Accountability for Retention and  
         Graduation. 
          
         Closing remarks from the Chair and committee members. 
          
         There being no further business, at 1:55 pm Senator Bivins  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ________________________                 
         ________________________ 
         Senator Teel Bivins, Co-Chair                Senator Bill  
         Ratliff, Co-Chair 
          
         ________________________                 
         ________________________ 
         Krissy Lilljedahl, Clerk                     Patricia Hicks,  
         Clerk