MINUTES

 

STANDING SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

1:00 p.m. or upon adjournment of the Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Standing Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education was held on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair Senator Kip Averitt Senator Royce West		Senator Dan Patrick Senator Tommy Williams

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

Senator West moved that the minutes of the April 23, 2008, hearing be approved. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent. 

 

The chair explained in her opening remarks that the purpose of today's hearing is to discuss two interim charges assigned to the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee.

 

Interim Charge 1 directed the subcommittee to "examine different methodologies for assessing the quality of degree and certificate programs at higher education institutions and for measuring student learning outcomes. Review current institutional performance standards and make recommendations that promote academic and financial accountability. Review the method for measuring graduation rates to determine whether alternative measures are more appropriately suited for institutions with a large percentage of non-traditional students."

 

The following witnesses testified regarding Interim Charge 1: Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, President, Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Dr. John M. Cornwell, Associate Vice President, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Rice University; Dr. Raymund Paredes, Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; Dr. David Gardner, Deputy Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and Dr. Diane Natalicio, President, The University of Texas at El Paso.

Interim Charge 3 directed the subcommittee to "Examine ways to assess and improve academic advising to help students succeed in higher education and complete their course of study and graduate in the minimum time required."

 

The following witnesses testified regarding Interim Charge 3: Dr. Raymund Paredes, Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; Dr. Michael Raney, Assistant Dean, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Karen Jarrell, University Registrar and Director of Academic Records, The University of Texas at Dallas; and Ben Dearman, Associate Registrar, University of North Texas.

 

There being no further business, at 4:20 p.m. the committee was recessed, subject to the call of the chair.

 

 

 

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Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair

 

 

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Lauren Cook, Clerk