The Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee met yesterday to take testimony on its Interim Charge #1, which includes the structure of higher education.

Dr. Baker Pattillo, President of Stephen F. Austin State University, described how SFA was formerly in a system, but believes it operates better as an independent.

Senator Robert Duncan said it would be shortsighted for independants to thinbk they would never be asked to join a system for the economies of management, though Dr. Pattillo responded that they do benefit from efficiencies such as belonging to the A&M System purchasing group for energy.  Duncan said if independants were asked to join a system, he would envision an "open enrollment" or "courtship" period in which independants might consider competitive proposals, since the Senator's experience was that forcing folks to do something usually doesn't work.