June 26

Several higher education associations and university administrators testified Tuesday, June 25 before the Interim Committee on Higher Education regarding the 1997 statute requiring post-tenure review in Texas. TACT's contributions were offered by Drs. Dennis R. Longmire and Debra P. Price of Sam Houston State University, who were part of a research team funded by a grant from the American Association of Higher Education. They reported that of the 13 campuses they surveyed, all but one were already conducting annual reviews. An interesting finding was that the more extensive peer reviews lead to a greater understanding and appeciation of colleagues' work. The Longmire/Price panel presentation initiated the discussion and was followed by nine individuals who agreed the law wa working as intended and was much better than the original bill as filed before it was amended. Most of the conversation dealt not with the four-year-old process, but with the merits of tenure itself and academic freedom/free speech. TACT will stay in touch with the committee to encourage the committee report to recommend that the current law remain in effect to provide more experience before opening the issue for amendment, which frequently provides opportunity for negative changes.

May 24

The Legislative Joint Interim Committee on Higher Education Excellence Funding met Wednesday at what might be its final hearing. The highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff, who agreed with Committee Co-Chair Rob Junell that last session's creation of special funds for excellence and research were the most controversial and difficult issues they had undertaken during their legislative careers. Interestingly, Governor Ratliff displayed charts which showed, if the smallest universities were removed, the actual funds received by the other universities under the two new funds were very similar to what they would have received if that amount of money had flowed through the regular funding formulas. He recommended that a special "small school" fund be developed to take care of the universities that would not have benefited from the formula distribution. Another speaker, Coordinating Board Commissioner Don Brown, said everyone knows state finances will be tight during the upcoming budget-writing session, but it would be valuable for the legislature to adopt a funding system that will be equitable when the economy improves. He expressed concern that if sufficient funding is unavailable, reaching the goals of Closing the Gaps is in jeopardy. Co-chair Senator Steve Ogden, saying he needed to make a living this summer, said he may or may not call another meeting in September before the Committee report is finalized.

May 7

TACT Treasurer Frank Fair and two of his colleagues from Sam Houston State University met with staff of the Texas House Committee on Higher Education to share findings from the their study of how well Post Tenure Review is working in Texas. A summary of the findings will be sent to all members of the House Committee before they take testimony and consider whether any changes should be made to the four-year-old law. TACT was involved in the original adoption of the policy.

April 16

As you may know, the Texas Higher Education coordinating board is undergoing Sunset Advisory Committee review, as each state agency does every twelve years. An affirmative action by the Legislature is required next year to continue the Board's existence. The Coordinating Board's response to the Sunset staff's recommendations has been released and may be found at www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports

March 28

The second hearing of the Joint Committee on Higher Education Execellence Funding occurred yesterday. Not much news emerged though the following was interesting: University of Texas-Arlington President Robert Witt was testifying that they are moving faculty FTEs from Liberal Arts toward Engineering, but it takes several years as they must wait on retirements and resignations. Senator Ogden responded, "Ah, the old tenure problem." TACT President Larry King supplied written testimony.

March 6

Do your non-TACT member colleagues know that a state law since 1987 says the following: Vernon's Civil Statutes, Education Code, Subsection 51.908. Faculty Compensation Policies (a) The governing board of each institution of higher education shall establish faculty compensation policies that, to the greatest extent possible, provide the faculty of the institution with an average salary and benefits at least equal to the average of that provided by similar institutions nationwide having a similar role and mission. (b) The coordinating board shall include information relating to national average salary and benefits, and corrolating that information to Texas schools having a similar role and mission, in the master plan for higher education and in the appropriate reports to the legislature.