MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Thursday, July 22, 2010

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

*****

 

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 Thursday, July 22, 2010, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair Senator Joan Huffman, Vice Chair Senator Brian Birdwell Senator Royce West		Senator Robert Duncan Senator Chris Harris Senator Kirk Watson

 

*****

 

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

 

The Chair presented Senator Joan Huffman with a gavel and sound block, recognizing her appointment as Vice Chair of the committee. The Chair also invited Senator Huffman to introduce her staff. Senator Huffman recognized Johanna Sheffield, Higher Education Policy Analyst.

 

The Chair introduced newly appointed committee member Senator Brian Birdwell and invited him to introduce his staff. Senator Birdwell recognized Liz Young, Higher Education Policy Analyst.

 

Senator West moved that the minutes of the June 24, 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 four.

 

Interim Charge Four: Study and make recommendations regarding the current accountability system and ways to measure student progress, faculty workload, and student advising; and to improve time-to-degree. Examine the quality of academic advising services to ensure that students are taking courses relevant to their degree program and are on path for graduation. Study and make recommendations to eliminate unnecessary or duplicative reporting requirements.

 

The following invited witnesses testified regarding community colleges:

 

Panel 1. Provide an overview of the state's accountability system.

 

a.       David Gardner, PhD, Deputy Commissioner, Academic Planning and Policy, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

b.      Sandra K. Woodley, DBA, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives, The University of Texas System

c.       Jeremy Thomas, President, Texas Academic Advising Network and Director, Admissions and Enrollment Services, Angelina College

 

Panel 2. Study and make recommendations regarding the current accountability system and ways to measure student progress, and to improve time-to-degree. 

 

a.       Valerie Paton, PhD, Vice Provost for Planning and Assessment and Director of Texas Tech University Strategic Planning

b.      Kevin Lemoine, PhD, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Academic Affairs and Research, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

c.       Diana Natalicio, PhD, President, The University of Texas at El Paso

 

Panel 3. Study and make recommendations regarding the current accountability system and ways to measure faculty workload.

 

a.       Frank Ashley, EdD, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Texas A&M University System

b.      Peter Hugill, PhD, President, Local Chapter, American Association of University Professors and Professor, Geography, Texas A&M University

c.       Danita L. McAnally, Dean of Academic Assessment and Development, Amarillo College

 

Panel 4. Study and make recommendations regarding the current accountability system and ways to measure student advising. Examine the quality of academic advising services to ensure that students are taking courses relevant to their degree program and are on path for graduation.

 

a.       Simon Bott, PhD, Instructional Professor and Academic Chair, University of Houston

b.      Bill Fleming, PhD, Executive Director of SAM Center and Professor, Department of English, Sam Houston State University

c.       Monica Saunders, Undergraduate student, University of North Texas

 

Panel 5. Study and make recommendations to eliminate unnecessary or duplicate reporting requirements.

 

a.       Susan Brown, Assistant Commissioner, Planning and Accountability, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

b.      Joe Meyer, Director, Office of Institutional Research, Texas State University

 

There being no further business, at 12:46 p.m. the Chair announced that the Committee would stand in recess, subject to the call of the Chair.

                                         

____________________________

Senator Judith Zaffirini , Chair

 

 

 

____________________________

Gonzalo Serrano, Clerk