MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Monday, April 26, 2010

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher Education was held on Monday, April 26, 2010, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair Senator Dan Patrick, Vice Chair Senator Royce West		Senator Robert Duncan

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

Senator Patrick moved that the minutes of the March 25, 2010, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. 

 

The Chair explained that the purpose of the hearing was to address Interim Charge One: Study and make recommendations regarding more cost-effective funding of financial aid, including ways to restructure financial aid programs to promote student success and the efficacy of the current $365 million in current exemptions and waivers offered to students at institutions of higher education. Examine the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and determine the impact on eligibility for existing Texas financial aid programs and on data availability resulting from the simplification. Include recommendations on how to expand the TEXAS Grant and B-on-Time programs.

 

The following invited witnesses testified regarding financial aid:

 

Panel 1. Provide a forecast of financial aid needs and an overview of how state and federal financial aid programs work in Texas.

 

a.       Dr. Steve Murdock, Professor of Social and Applied Demography, Rice University

b.      Rick Renshaw, Executive District Director of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs, Dallas County Community College District

c.       Joseph Pettibon II, Assistant Provost for Student Financial Aid, Texas A&M University

d.      Dr. Raymund Paredes, Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

 

Panel 2. Study and make recommendations regarding more cost-effective funding of financial aid.

 

a.       Sue McMillin, Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, President and CEO

b.      Becky Wilson, Director of Student Financial Aid, Texas Tech University

c.       Rob Sheridan, Executive Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid, University of Houston Downtown, authorized to speak for Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

d.      Angelica Del Rosal, Graduate Student, Texas Women's University

 

Panel 3. Restructure financial aid programs to promote student success.

 

a.       Dr. Raymund Paredes, Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

b.      Fred W. Heldenfels, IV, Vice Chair, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

c.       Luis Figueroa, Legislative Staff Attorney, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

d.      Dr. Laurie Fluker, Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Texas State University System

e.       Gary Bledsoe, President, Texas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Regent, Texas Southern University

 

Panel 4. The efficacy of the current $365 million in current exemptions and waivers offered to students at institutions of higher education.

 

a.       Jane Caldwell, Director, Grants & Special Programs, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

b.      Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, The University of Texas at Austin

c.       Patrick Graves, Analyst, Legislative Budget Board

d.      Natalie Butler, Student, The University of Texas at Austin

 

Panel 5. Examine the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and determine the impact on eligibility for existing Texas financial aid programs and on data availability resulting from the simplification.

 

a.       Lois Hollis, Special Assistant to Deputy Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

b.      Drew Scheberle, Vice President of Education and Workforce, Austin Chamber of Commerce

 

Panel 6. Include recommendations on how to expand the TEXAS Grant and B-on-Time programs.

 

a.       Dr. Arturo Alonzo, Deputy Commissioner, Business & Finance, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

b.      Dr. Lisa Blazer, Assistant Vice President, The University of Texas at San Antonio

c.       Jackie Diaz, Director of Financial Aid, Baylor University

 

The following witness provided oral public testimony regarding financial aid:

 

a.       James M. Douglas, Executive Vice President, Texas Southern University

 

The following witnesses provided written public testimony regarding financial aid:

 

a.       Patty Quinzi, Legislative Counsel, Texas American Federation of Teachers

b.      Dr. Minita Ramirez, Dean of Student Success, Texas A&M International University.

 

The following witnesses registered but did not testify:

 

a.       Hasan Jamil, Assistant Vice President, Texas Southern University

b.      George Torres, Senior Advisor to the CEO, Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation.

 

There being no further business, at 2:47 p.m. the Chair announced that the Committee would stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair.

                                         

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Senator Judith Zaffirini , Chair

 

 

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Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk