MINUTES

JOINT COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

GOVERNANCE, EXCELLENCE & TRANSPARENCY

Monday, October 17, 2011

10:00 AM

Captiol Extension, Room E1.030

*****

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with HCR 63, a public hearing of the Joint Committee on Oversight of Higher Education Governance, Excellence & Transparency was held on Monday, October 17, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in the Capitol Extension E1.030, at Austin, Texas.

*****

MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Co-Chair	Representative Dennis Bonnen
Representative Dan Branch, Co-Chair	Senator Robert Duncan
Senator John Carona	Representative Eric Johnson
Representative Joaquín Castro
Senator Rodney Ellis	OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT:
Representative Lois Kolkhorst	Senator Brian Birdwell
Representative Jim Pitts	Representative Donna Howard
Senator Kel Seliger	Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Kirk Watson

*****

Senator Judith Zaffirini and Representative Dan Branch, Co-Chairs, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

Co-Chair Branch recognized the House clerk to call roll. Co-Chair Zaffirini recognized the Senate clerk to call roll.

Co-Chair Zaffirini invited Senate committee members to make opening remarks and to introduce their respective Joint Committee staff members. Accordingly, Senator Kel Seliger introduced Ginger Averitt; and Senator Rodney Ellis, Jeremy Warren.

Co-Chair Zaffirini introduced the newest member of the Senate Joint Committee staff for the 82^nd Ad Interim, Tracy Ballysingh, Policy Analyst.

The Co-Chairs made opening remarks.

Co-Chair Branch invited the House committee members to provide opening remarks and to introduce their respective Joint Committee staff. Accordingly, Representative Donna Howard introduced Eleanor D’Ambrosio.

There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Co-Chair Zaffirini laid out the proposed minutes from the September 21^st hearing. Co-Chair Branch moved their approval. There being no objection, the motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

Co-Chair Branch called the following persons to provide invited testimony about best practices relating to governing boards and administrators:

· Don Evans, Former Chair, The University of Texas System Board of Regents

· John Mobley, Former Regent, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents

Co-Chair Zaffirini called Raymund Paredes, PhD, Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to respond to questions raised by the testimony of the invited witnesses.

Co-Chair Zaffirini called the following persons to provide invited testimony about the manner in which the governing boards and administrators of public universities develop and implement major policy decisions:

· Nelda Luce Blair, Chair, University of Houston System Board of Regents

· Jack A. Wall, Chair, University of North Texas System Board of Regents

· Jerry Turner, Chair, Texas Tech University System Board of Regents

· Charlie Amato, Chair, Texas State University System Board of Regents

Co-Chair Branch called the following persons to provide invited testimony about the manner in which the governing boards and administrators of public universities develop and implement major policy decisions:

· Wm. Eugene Powell, Chair, The University of Texas System Board of Regents

· Richard A. Box, DDS, Chair, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents

At the request of Chairman Powell, Co-Chair Zaffirini called Barry Burgdorf, Vice Chancellor and General Counsel for The University of Texas System, to assist him in answering questions.

At the request of Chairman Powell, at 3:42 p.m. the Co-Chairs announced that the Joint Committee would stand recessed for 10 minutes.

At 3:52 p.m. the Co-Chairs reconvened the hearing.

At 4:47 p.m. Co-Chair Zaffirini closed invited testimony and opened the floor for public testimony.

Names of witnesses who provided public testimony are shown on the attached list. Co-Chair Zaffirini closed public testimony at 5:48 p.m.

There being no further business, at 5:50 p.m., the Co-Chairs announced that the Joint Committee would stand recessed, subject to the call of the Co-Chairs.

__________________________________________

Senator Judith Zaffirini, Co-Chair

__________________________________________

Representative Dan Branch, Co-Chair

__________________________________________

Ashlee Peña, Clerk

__________________________________________

Dustin Meador, Clerk