MINUTES
JOINT COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
GOVERNANCE, EXCELLENCE & TRANSPARENCY
Monday, October 17,
2011
10:00 AM
Captiol Extension, Room
E1.030
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with HCR
63, a public hearing of the Joint Committee on Oversight of Higher Education
Governance, Excellence & Transparency was held on Monday, October 17, 2011,
at 10:00 a.m. in the Capitol Extension E1.030, at Austin, Texas.
*****
|
MEMBERS
PRESENT: |
|
MEMBERS
ABSENT: |
|
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Co-Chair |
|
Representative Dennis Bonnen |
|
Representative Dan Branch, Co-Chair |
|
Senator Robert Duncan |
|
Senator John Carona |
|
Representative Eric Johnson |
|
Representative Joaquín Castro |
|
|
|
Senator Rodney Ellis |
|
OTHER MEMBERS
PRESENT: |
|
Representative Lois Kolkhorst |
|
Senator Brian Birdwell |
|
Representative Jim Pitts |
|
Representative Donna Howard |
|
Senator Kel Seliger |
|
Senator Jeff Wentworth |
|
Senator Kirk Watson |
|
|
*****
Senator Judith Zaffirini and Representative Dan
Branch, Co-Chairs, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
Co-Chair Branch recognized the House clerk to call
roll. Co-Chair Zaffirini recognized the Senate clerk to call roll.
Co-Chair Zaffirini invited Senate committee members
to make opening remarks and to introduce their respective Joint Committee staff
members. Accordingly, Senator Kel Seliger introduced Ginger Averitt; and
Senator Rodney Ellis, Jeremy Warren.
Co-Chair Zaffirini introduced the newest member of
the Senate Joint Committee staff for the 82nd Ad Interim, Tracy
Ballysingh, Policy Analyst.
The Co-Chairs made opening remarks.
Co-Chair Branch invited the House committee members
to provide opening remarks and to introduce their respective Joint Committee
staff. Accordingly, Representative Donna Howard introduced Eleanor D’Ambrosio.
There being a quorum present, the following business
was transacted:
Co-Chair Zaffirini laid out the proposed minutes
from the September 21st hearing. Co-Chair Branch moved their
approval. There being no objection, the motion was adopted by unanimous
consent.
Co-Chair Branch called the following persons to
provide invited testimony about best practices relating to governing boards and
administrators:
·
Don Evans,
Former Chair, The University of Texas System Board of Regents
·
John Mobley,
Former Regent, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
Co-Chair Zaffirini called Raymund Paredes, PhD,
Commissioner of the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board, to respond to questions raised by the
testimony of the invited witnesses.
Co-Chair Zaffirini called the following persons to
provide invited testimony about the manner in which the governing boards and
administrators of public universities develop and implement major policy
decisions:
·
Nelda Luce
Blair, Chair, University of Houston System Board of Regents
·
Jack A. Wall,
Chair, University of North Texas System Board of Regents
·
Jerry Turner,
Chair, Texas Tech University System Board of Regents
·
Charlie Amato,
Chair, Texas State University System Board of Regents
Co-Chair Branch called the following persons to
provide invited testimony about the manner in which the governing boards and
administrators of public universities develop and implement major policy
decisions:
·
Wm. Eugene
Powell, Chair, The University of Texas System Board of Regents
·
Richard A. Box,
DDS, Chair, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
At the request of Chairman Powell, Co-Chair
Zaffirini called Barry Burgdorf, Vice Chancellor and General Counsel
for The University of Texas System, to
assist him in answering questions.
At the request of Chairman Powell, at 3:42 p.m. the
Co-Chairs announced that the Joint Committee would stand recessed for 10
minutes.
At 3:52 p.m. the Co-Chairs reconvened the hearing.
At 4:47 p.m. Co-Chair Zaffirini closed invited
testimony and opened the floor for public testimony.
Names of witnesses who provided public testimony are
shown on the attached list. Co-Chair Zaffirini closed public testimony at 5:48
p.m.
There being no further business, at 5:50 p.m., the
Co-Chairs announced that the Joint Committee would stand recessed, subject to
the call of the Co-Chairs.
__________________________________________
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Co-Chair
__________________________________________
Representative Dan Branch, Co-Chair
__________________________________________
Ashlee Peña, Clerk
__________________________________________
Dustin Meador, Clerk