MINUTES

JOINT COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

GOVERNANCE, EXCELLENCE & TRANSPARENCY

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

*****

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with HCR 63, a public hearing of the Joint Committee on Oversight of Higher Ed Governance, Excellence & Transparency was held on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

*****

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

*****

Senator Judith Zaffirini and Representative Dan Branch, Co-Chairs, called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. The following business was transacted:

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

The Co-Chairs made opening remarks.

The Co-Chairs called the following persons to provide invited testimony to examine excellence, transparency (and) accountability in the governance or administration of the state's universities, health-related institutions of higher education and university systems as it relates to governance in higher education.

· Raymund Paredes, PhD, Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

· Francisco Cigarroa, MD, Chancellor, The University of Texas System

The Co-Chairs called the following persons to provide invited testimony to examine excellence, transparency (and) accountability in the governance or administration of the state's universities, health-related institutions of higher education and university systems as it relates to academics in higher education.

· Elaine Mendoza, Regent, Texas A&M University System

· Sandra Woodley, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives, The University of Texas System

· Stephanie Bond Huie, PhD, Assistant Vice Chancellor, The University of Texas System

· Steven Leslie, PhD, Provost, The University of Texas at Austin

· Eugene J. Bourgeois, PhD, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Texas State University

The Co-Chairs called the following persons to provide invited testimony to examine excellence, transparency (and) accountability in the governance or administration of the state's universities, health-related institutions of higher education and university systems as it relates to research in higher education.

· Gary Johnstone, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Accountability, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

· Barry Burgdorf, Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, The University of Texas System

· Bryan Allinson, Executive Director of Technology Commercialization, The University of Texas System

At 12:59 p.m. the Co-Chairs closed invited testimony and opened the floor for public testimony. There being no public testimony, they closed public testimony at 1:00 p.m.

There being no further business, at 1:00 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

__________________________________________

Isabel Casas, Assistant Clerk

__________________________________________

Dustin Meador, Clerk