May 9, 2011

AUSTIN — State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) has been appointed to a committee on higher education.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Texas House Speaker Joe Straus announced appointments to the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency.

The committee’s duties include ensuring governing boards are following best practices when they develop and implement policy; looking for major policy decisions to be adequately vetted and discussed transparently; and protecting the excellence and high quality of the state’s institutions of higher education.

May 6, 2011

Ralph K.M. Haurwitz

Sixteen current and past leaders of the University of Texas Development Board, which helps the university raise private donations, have urged the UT System Board of Regents to resolve "an atmosphere of confusion and concern" regarding the Austin flagship's teaching and research missions.

The request came in a letter from prominent civic and business leaders such as Kenny Jastrow, former chairman of Temple-Inland and chairman of the university's ongoing $3 billion capital campaign; Libba Massey, chairwoman of the development board and a longtime donor to UT's College of Education and other programs; and Roy Spence, co-founder of Austin-based advertising agency GSD&M.

May 6, 2011

Tim Eaton

Here’s the press release announcing the appointments to the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency.

TEXAS LT. GOV. DAVID DEWHURST AND SPEAKER JOE STRAUS ANNOUNCE JOINT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNANCE, EXCELLENCE AND TRANSPARENCY

AUSTIN—-Today, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (San Antonio) announced appointments to the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency. The joint oversight committee will: Ensure governing boards are following best practices when they develop and implement policy; look for major policy decisions to be adequately vetted and discussed transparently; and protect the excellence and high quality of our state’s institutions of higher education.

May 6, 2011

Reeve Hamilton

Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst have created a new Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency. It will be chaired by Senate Higher Education Chairwoman Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas.

The members from the Senate will include Dallas Republican John Carona, Lubbock Republican Robert Duncan, Amarillo Republican Kel Seliger, Houston DemocratRodney Ellis and Austin Democrat Kirk Watson.

May 6, 2011

Christy Hoppe

AUSTIN — In response to proposals that could redefine the mission of the state’s flagship universities, state leaders created a special committee Friday and ordered it to immediately review how regents and administrations are making major policy decisions.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus, in a rare move, said in a written statement that they were creating the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency to protect the high quality of the state’s higher education institutions.

May 6, 2011

Eric Dexheimer

The University of Texas System on Thursday released a trove of controversial data apparently collected to measure faculty productivity, but officials cautioned that the information was of limited value and said it would not be used to rate teachers.

The data "in its current draft form is incomplete and has not yet been fully verified or cross referenced," system spokesman Anthony de Bruyn wrote in an email accompanying the 821-page spreadsheet. "In its present raw form it cannot yield accurate analysis, interpretations or conclusions."

May 5, 2011

Patricia Kilday Hart

Texas Legislature wants to rein in costs, improve graduation rates

AUSTIN — At a time when Gov. Rick Perry's administration has been at odds with lawmakers over Texas higher education, House leaders on Thursday confirmed that the Legislature is considering the formation of a new oversight committee to spotlight crucial issues, such as containing rising costs and improving graduation rates at the state's public colleges and universities.

Cautioning that final details have yet to be worked out, Rep. Dan Branch, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, said the new joint committee with the Texas Senate would focus on "governance, excellence and transparency in higher education administration."

May 5, 2011

Texas Rangers Press Release

The Texas Rangers begin a 9-game, 10-day homestand tomorrow night with three game series against the the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from May 6-15.

The only tickets remaining for all three games of the Yankees series are obstructed view and standing room only.

May 4, 2011

Enrique Rangel

AUSTIN — Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance says he is confident the school is still on track to get the national research institution status, better known as tier one, by no later than 2013.

So does state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock.