80R6858 CME-D
 
  By: Watson S.C.R. No. 27
 
 
 
   
 
 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
       WHEREAS, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is
required by statute to develop, review, and revise a master plan to
identify and analyze the continuing higher education needs of the
state; and
       WHEREAS, Recognizing that Texas' economic prosperity and
competitiveness are directly impacted by the caliber of the state's
system of higher education, the board's plan, Closing the Gaps,
includes four specific goals designed to ensure that the state's
higher education programs reach their full potential; and
       WHEREAS, Among these objectives are an increase in
participation by adding 500,000 students and an increase in the
federal science and engineering research funding to Texas
institutions by 50 percent to $1.3 billion, each to be achieved by
2015; and
       WHEREAS, Current circumstances make these goals difficult to
attain; although Texas' higher education system includes numerous
universities, colleges, community colleges, technical colleges,
independent colleges and universities, and health-related
institutions, the state features only two flagship universities:
The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University at
College Station; and
       WHEREAS, While the student population of these two
institutions represents nearly 10 percent of the state's total
enrollment, the universities have warned the legislature that their
campuses are at or near capacity; in addition, these schools also
represent the state's only comprehensive graduate research
universities, complicating the board's goal for increased research
funding; and
       WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M
University at College Station are among the nation's elite
institutions of higher learning and, as such, require the
legislature's diligent support to maintain their competitiveness
with other flagship universities; even so, Texas must also be
prepared for the educational demand of the state's growing
population and take whatever steps are necessary to sustain the
state's burgeoning economy; now, therefore, be it
       RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study
issues relating to the higher education system in Texas and
recommend a long-range plan for higher education that will meet the
demands of a global economy and a growing and diverse population;
and, be it further
       RESOLVED, That the study include consideration of the
following issues:
             (1)  incentives and requirements for seamless student
transitions between and among high schools, community and technical
colleges, universities, and health-related institutions, including
concurrent enrollment and dual credit;
             (2)  a method for better communication and coordination
between universities and the business community to create
career-oriented pathways and to enhance curriculums that will
benefit students and businesses and the overall economy of the
state;
             (3)  the current and projected capacity concerns of The
University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University in College
Station;
             (4)  the creation of additional flagship public
research universities, including a method for determining where
such universities should be located and ensuring that such
universities admit a qualified and diverse student body;
             (5)  a bidding process from Texas communities,
including proposals from existing public or private universities or
colleges, businesses, and other local entities, to determine where
a new premier research, or flagship, university should be located;
             (6)  a method to identify the state universities'
missions and areas of expertise and uniqueness and how universities
can better coordinate with each other to further develop and
enhance their respective missions;
             (7)  alternative methods of funding universities and
community colleges, in particular whether and how research
universities should be funded;
             (8)  review of the Texas Grant, Texas Educational
Opportunity Grant, and Texas Equalization Grant programs and
recommendations for a more efficient and effective system to ensure
that the maximum number of eligible students receive financial aid
and a minimal number of students are burdened with debt when they
leave higher education; and
             (9)  a new component of the Texas Grant program to
target students at the middle school level and ensure they commit to
and succeed in a higher education program, including student
contributions through work study; and, be it further
       RESOLVED, That the committee's membership include:
             (1)  one member appointed by the chancellor of The
University of Texas System;
             (2)  one member appointed by the chancellor of The
Texas A&M University System;
             (3)  one member appointed by the chancellor of the
University of Houston System;
             (4)  one member appointed by the chancellor of the
University of North Texas System;
             (5)  one member appointed by the chancellor of the
Texas Tech University System;
             (6)  one member appointed by the chancellor of the
Texas State University System;
             (7)  one member appointed by the chancellor of the
Texas State Technical College System;
             (8)  one member appointed by the chair of the Texas
Association of Community Colleges;
             (9)  one member appointed by the chair of the
Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas;
             (10)  two members appointed by the governor who are not
affiliated with a university system, at least one of whom has
demonstrated leadership and success in business, with
consideration for ethnic, racial, gender, and geographic
diversity;
             (11)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor
who are not affiliated with a university system, at least one of
whom has demonstrated leadership and success in business, with
consideration for ethnic, racial, gender, and geographic
diversity; and
             (12)  two members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives who are not affiliated with a university system,
at least one of whom has demonstrated leadership and success in
business, with consideration for ethnic, racial, gender, and
geographic diversity; and, be it further
       RESOLVED, That the committee also include the following
ex-officio, nonvoting members:
             (1)  the commissioner of higher education or the
commissioner's designee;
             (2)  the commissioner of education or the
commissioner's designee; and
             (3)  the Texas state demographer; and, be it further
       RESOLVED, That the governor designate as the chair of the
committee one of the committee members who is not affiliated with a
university system, community college, or technical college; and, be
it further
       RESOLVED, That the committee be staffed by the Higher
Education Coordinating Board; and, be it further
       RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be
governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim
committees as the 80th Legislature may adopt and that such rules and
policies supersede the provisions of this resolution to the extent
of any conflict; and, be it further
       RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including
findings, recommendations, and possible legislation, to the 81st
Texas Legislature when it convenes in January 2009.