MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Monday, May 24, 2010

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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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, May 24, 2010, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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

 

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A joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher Education and the Senate Committee on Education was held. Senator Zaffirini and Senator Shapiro shared presiding duties:

 

Senator Zaffirini called the Higher Education Committee to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

Senator Shapiro called the Education Committee to order at 9:01 a.m.

 

There being a quorum of the Senate Higher Education Committee, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Patrick moved that the minutes of the April 26, 2010, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

 

Senator Zaffirini explained that the purpose of the hearing was to address Interim Charge Eight: Review dual credit courses, including the cost of delivery, funding mechanisms, and possibility of a statewide dual credit system. This review should also include an examination of the rigor, quality and consistency of dual credit courses. (Joint charge with Senate Education Committee)

 

The following invited witnesses testified regarding dual credit:

 

 

Panel 1.     Provide an overview of the structure of dual credit from a state and national level.

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

b.      Lizzette Reynolds, Senior Advisor for Statewide Initiatives, Texas Education Agency

c.       Dr. Joel Vargas, Program Director, Jobs for the Future

Panel 2.     Review dual credit courses, including the cost of delivery.

a.       Anita Givens, Deputy Associate Commissioner for Standards and Alignment, Texas Education Agency

b.      Dr. Rey Garcia, President, Texas Association of Community Colleges

c.       Missy Bender, Trustee, Plano Independent School District

d.      Ed Apodaca, Vice President, Student Services and Enrollment Management, The University of Houston Downtown

Panel 3.     Review dual credit funding mechanisms.

a.       David Anderson, General Counsel, Texas Education Agency

b.      Dr. MacGregor Stephenson, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Research, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

c.       Dr. Karen Garza, Superintendent, Lubbock Independent School District

d.      Dr. Lori Taylor, Education Research Center, Texas A&M University

Panel 4.     This review should also include an examination of the rigor, quality, and                                                 consistency of dual credit courses.  (Panel one of two).

a.       Dr. Cary Israel, President, Collin College

b.      Dr. MacGregor Stephenson, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Research, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

c.       Dr. Steve Kinslow, President, Austin Community College and Chair, Texas Association of Community Colleges P-16 Council

d.      Dr. James Wilcox, Superintendent, Longview Independent School District, authorized to speak on behalf of the Texas Association of School Administrators

Panel 5.     This review should also include an examination of the rigor, quality, and                                     consistency of dual credit courses. (Panel two of two).

a.       Dr. Ray Keck, President, Texas A&M International University

b.      Dr. Paula Nichols, Executive Director, Division of Distance Learning, Lamar University

c.       Salem Abraham, President, Abraham Trading Company and Member, Canadian Independent School District

Panel 6.     Review the possibility of a statewide dual credit system.

a.       Dr. Richard Rhodes, President, El Paso Community College

b.      Dr. David Prior, Executive Vice Chancellor, The University of Texas System

c.       John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Texas High School Project

The following witness provided oral public testimony regarding dual credit:

a.       Dr. Reece Blincoe, Superintendent, Brownwood Independent School District

The following witness registered but did not testify:

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

There being no further business, at 1:53 p.m. Senator Zaffirini announced that the Higher Education Committee would stand in recess, subject to the call of the chair.

There being no further business, at 1:53 p.m. Senator Shapiro announced that the Education 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