Powell, McCombs & The Fog of War

It's been a busy week in Texas higher education news, and as usual The University of Texas stands at the center. Two major stories from the last week warrant mention, beginning with a lengthy two-part Texas Monthly interview with Gene Powell, chairman of the UT Board of Regents.

 
Powell's interview (Part One, Part Two) comes hot on the heels of an op-ed that ran in the Houston Chronicle under the byline of Red McCombs, the prominent University of Texas supporter from San Antonio and Distinguished Alumnus for whom the business school is named.
 
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Coalition Responds to Passage of Senate Bill 15 to Improve Higher Education Governance

Today the Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 15, relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education. Upon passage the Coalition issued the following statement:

“We applaud the legislature for recognizing the important need to improve standards of excellence within our state’s governing boards. Texas’ institutions of higher education are critical to our state’s economy, and ensuring we develop educated, well-informed citizens to drive our state’s future. Senate Bill 15 is an important step toward improving the governance of these critical state institutions and ensuring members of the boards of regents are adequately equipped, prepared and trained to govern properly. It is our hope that the standards set forth in this bill will lead to a more constructive and less divisive approach to governing our universities.”
 
See the full statement here.
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A Texas Battle Over Higher Education

[Podcast]

They say "Everything is Bigger in Texas."  But when it comes to higher education, Governor Rick Perry's critics say his vision is too small.  Perry's pushing for a $10K college degree.  He wants schools to focus on job-training skills.  And he wants technology to help get us there. Other states are paying attention.  With student loan debt topping $1 trillion, there's a lot of appeal to a bargain bachelor's that leads to a job.  Perry's detractors say his vision undermines great research universities, and America will suffer in in the long haul.

Guests

  • Reeve Hamilton, covers higher education and politics for the Texas Tribune. (@reevehamilton) 
  • Thomas Lindsay, director for the Center for Higher Education, Texas Public Policy Foundation, which has been closely aligned with Republican Governor Rick Perry.
  • Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education member Ray Bowen will also be joining. 
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Higher Ed Coalition Hits Back at UT Regent's Criticism

The Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education, a group formed in 2011 in opposition to controversial reform efforts, fired off an angry letter Tuesday to University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall, responding to his criticism of the coalition. ... 

Through a spokeswoman, Jenifer Sarver, the group sent a letter to Hall alleging that his comments "demonstrated a complete unawareness or a deliberate mischaracterization of the scope and mission of our group." In the interview, Hall said, "When I came on the board in 2011, there was an immediate activity by a small group of people - maybe ten or so - who formed a group called the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education," Hall said. "The idea is to support higher education, and who doesn't want to support higher education? But the reality of it is, this group has damaged the university and this board's effort." Asserting that the group exists to "strengthen and improve" UT-Austin and the UT System Board of Regents, the letter then lays the blame for ongoing controversy on the latter.
 
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Regents revisit Commission of 125

"All of the stuff we've been doing on the undergraduate experience has been informed and inspired by what started with the Commission of 125," Powers said in an interview with The Daily Texan. "It sort of spurred a whole set of initiatives on and it's been very important for the University in that way." 

One former commission member, Melinda Perrin, said she was surprised how the three regents spoke of Powers in February. Perrin said Powers is "like a sheriff" who has improved the University through his initiatives for undergraduates. Perrin also said state funding, tuition rates and other factors beyond Powers' control have limited UT's flexibility. "You don't have total alignment between governance and administration priorities," Perrin said. She is former chairwoman of the University Development Board and is now active in the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education. ... 
 
Kenny Jastrow, chair of the Commission of 125 and former CEO of Temple-Inland Inc., an Austin-based paper, building products and financial services company, said changes in classroom technology since 2004 may require the University to retool its application of the Commission's recommendations. "The absolute ratio [between faculty and students] needs to be studied in light of the advances since 2004," Jastrow said. "A fluid approach would continue to examine the right role of technology in that process."
 
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  • Powell, McCombs & The Fog of War

    It's been a busy week in Texas higher education news, and as usual The University of Texas stands at the center. Two major stories from the last week warrant mention, beginning with a lengthy two-part Texas Monthly interview with Gene Powell, chairman of the UT Board of Regents.

     
    Powell's interview (Part One, Part Two) comes hot on the heels of an op-ed that ran in the Houston Chronicle under the byline of Red McCombs, the prominent University of Texas supporter from San Antonio and Distinguished Alumnus for whom the business school is named.
     
    Continue reading

  • Coalition Responds to Passage of Senate Bill 15 to Improve Higher Education Governance

    Today the Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 15, relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education. Upon passage the Coalition issued the following statement:

    “We applaud the legislature for recognizing the important need to improve standards of excellence within our state’s governing boards. Texas’ institutions of higher education are critical to our state’s economy, and ensuring we develop educated, well-informed citizens to drive our state’s future. Senate Bill 15 is an important step toward improving the governance of these critical state institutions and ensuring members of the boards of regents are adequately equipped, prepared and trained to govern properly. It is our hope that the standards set forth in this bill will lead to a more constructive and less divisive approach to governing our universities.”
     
    See the full statement here.
    Continue reading

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