President's Column
                       by Dr. Elizabeth Lewandowski, TACT President

Member Benefits

Dear Faculty Member:

This eBulletin is brought to you by the Texas Association of College Teachers (TACT).  Whether you are new to Texas higher education or just new on your campus, TACT welcomes you.  TACT, THE Association for College and University Professionals, is the premiere professional organization for employees in Texas higher education.  We work with our members to make Texas a better place for higher education.  TACT is not a union, it is an advocacy group. We work with the legislature to protect tenure, insurance and retirement plans, and to include students on governing boards, to name a few of our recent issues.  Members receive regular email updates and we publish a quarterly eBulletin to keep the membership informed of our activities.

A member benefit that we are especially proud of is our annual Optional Retirement Program (ORP) Study.  As you begin your new position, choosing the right retirement plan from the myriad of choices available can be daunting.  The ORP Study compiles data on the performance of the numerous providers in tables that make it easier to compare programs and make a careful, considered decision.  For example:

TACT would like to give the ORP Study to you as a free gift.  Send an email tactoff@tact.org and our state office will provide a User Name and Password for you to use on our website at http://www.tact.org. 

More information about TACT and a membership application are available on our website, or you can contact members on your campus for a membership packet.

The challenges facing all educators are greater with each passing year.  Help make higher education in Texas better for yourself and your students --- join TACT and help us work for a better tomorrow in Texas.

Executive Director’s Report
by Chuck Hempstead

It Ain’t Just ‘Our’ Association

Inspired by TACT President Elizabeth Lewandowski’s back-to-school enthusiasm, I began to think about what this time of year means to me.  Yes, and as I write this, it’s the first day back to elementary school, so I’m no longer in charge of weekday pre- and post-lunch boredom solutions.

In my profession of association management, my colleagues and I frequently remind ourselves that “it ain’t our association.”  In other words, though we work every day for our members and volunteer leaders, it is human nature to think that we know what is best for them, even though in my case I’ve never been a career university professor.  Similarly, in one way, “it ain’t even your association.”  Yes, you the dues-paying, meeting-going, time-investing, new member-recruiting, legislator-calling, student-teaching, research-conducting, service-providing professional who chooses to affiliate with TACT.

In one way of thinking, TACT belongs to the profession of higher education as much as it does the people.  We, the staff, volunteers and mailbox members, are playing a role in a performance that debuted in 1948, and with any luck will far outlive us.  This does not trivialize our contributions; indeed, if we don’t perform our roles well, the profession (and our successors) suffers from a weakened or bankrupt or nonexistent organization.

A primary challenge, of course, is to decide where our limited resources will provide the best bang for our buck within our own enlightened self-interest.  For example, nearly all faculty are quite involved in their disciplinary societies, as well they should be in order to remain current in their changing specialties.  But those important organizations are not able to represent college teachers in many of the important quality-of-life issues, such as TACT’s advocacy in areas of compensation, retirement benefits, legal protection, shared governance, tenure and academic freedom, all of which must be defended or lost.

What you and I do through the structure of TACT is built upon the talents and dedication to the profession of some of the best minds in Texas higher education over the past 60 years.  Yes, we may stand on the shoulders of giants, those who have struggled against inertia and competing public policies, but at least we stand for what we believe in.  And for our colleagues who choose to invest their resources elsewhere, well, it’s their association, too, and while you’re on those giant’s shoulders, I’d like to thank you for carrying the other 32,000 Texas faculty who benefit from your commitment to their profession.

Guest Editorial

Dr. Cynthia Simpson
Sam Houston State University

Where Do We Go From Here?  
Looking Ahead To Public Policy Issues

Just because the 79th Regular Legislative Session is over 
does not mean we can sit back and relax! It is also not too 
soon to start working with legislators to discuss committee 
interim charges.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF INTERIM COMMITTEE CHARGES?
Due to the fact that the Legislature only meets every other 
year for 5 months, legislative committees often do more in-depth
 analysis of important issues affecting Texas during the interim.  
In between sessions, the Lieutenant Governor usually specifies 
interim “charges” or topics to be studied for Senate committees, 
and the Speaker of the House delineates interim charges for 
House committees.  In addition, “select” committees can be 
formed to study a specific topic of interest.  Just like committee 
hearings during the session, interim committees hold public 
hearings that you can attend and provide testimony. Usually 
interim committee work is compiled in a report provided to the 
full House and Senate outlining findings and recommendations.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS?
Many bills are developed in interim committees and if we want 
to weigh in on what public policies should be introduced in the 
80th Legislative Session in 2007 then we must get involved 
NOW.  We need to share with our legislators what is important 
to Texas communities and what our higher education needs are.

WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR?
TACT is in the process of putting together a “wish list” of topics 
for the Legislature to study in preparation for next session and 
we want YOUR feedback!  Please let us hear your voices as we 
are YOUR organization.  I cannot stress this enough, let us know 
what you would like the Legislature to start thinking and talking
about. 

RESOURCES
If you are interested in reviewing interim reports done in the past, 
they are available online at the Legislative Reference Library’s 
website at http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/ under the “Legislative 
Reports” link.
 

Adapted from: So what’s next? TECEC, K. Guthrow and K. Johnson

Preliminary Issue List
Teacher Retirement System of Texas

 
Name:___________________________________________
Organization you represent: 

 _________________________________________________

1.     What changes should be made to the mission, functions and services of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)?

2.     What changes, if any, should be made to the composition of the Board of Trustees?

3.     How effective is the Board of Trustees at overseeing TRS and managing assets in the pension trust fund?

4.     How effectively does TRS provide customer service?

5.     Does TRS provide adequate access to information through its newsletters and printed materials, website, and counseling services?

6.     How effectively does TRS deliver retirement benefits?

 7.     How effectively does TRS deliver health-care benefits?

 8.     Outside of additional funding, how can TRS do a better job meeting the needs of its members and the public education community?

 Please add any other comments about the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.  If you suggest any changes, please provide:

•       a brief statement of the suggested change,

•    background information on how the current system works and a description of what you would like to see changed,

•       benefits of your recommendation, and

•       any potential difficulties that may arise from implementing your recommendation.

Please return to:
Lori Hartman
Sunset Advisory Commission
P.O. Box 13066
Austin, Texas 78711
Fax: (512) 463-0705
Phone: (512) 463-1300
email: sunset@sunset.state.tx.us

The Quarterly eBulletin Copyright TACT 2005