April 13, 2011

Katherine Mangan

Austin, Tex.
At the Acton School of Business here, faculty pay is largely based on student evaluations, students are treated as customers, and the faculty's job is to teach, not to conduct research. If the private M.B.A. school's co-founder, Jeff Sandefer, has his way, the state's premier universities will take a page from his lesson plan and adopt similar strategies that he has been pushing behind the scenes with the enthusiastic support of Gov. Rick Perry.

Mr. Sandefer, a third-generation Texas oilman and major campaign contributor to Mr. Perry, has aggressively promoted what he calls the "Seven Breakthrough Solutions" for making higher education more cost-effective.

April 20, 2011

Erin Mulvaney

AUSTIN — Better-performing students would get priority as the state doles out grants from its main college financial aid program for the poor, under a bill the House tentatively approved Wednesday.

The measure by Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, would give students who meet certain criteria, such as high grade point averages, top class ranking and taking advanced classes, a first shot at a TEXAS Grant. Currently, the grants that give low-income students about $7,000 a year are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

April 28, 2011

Michael Poliakoff

Having to give up illusions and pretensions is strong medicine for higher education. So the sound and fury in Texas bears witness. The accountability initiatives at Texas A&M and the recommendations of the Texas Public Policy Foundation are bold, and there is indeed a legitimate argument that they push too far. On Friday, the Policy Foundation will host another high-level conference that will undoubtedly provoke vigorous discussion among lawmakers and in the media. But the truly alarming aspect of the controversy comes from the ferocity with which the opponents of reform want to shut down the discussion. That both Texas A&M (TAMU) and University of Texas- Austin (UTA) are outstanding institutions is incontrovertible, but neither at the Texas flagships nor anywhere else in American higher education is the status quo acceptable.

April 27, 2011

Reeve Hamilton

One week ago, Rick O’Donnell’s employment at the University of Texas System came to an abrupt end after 50 days marked by tension and confusion in the higher education community — especially at the University of Texas at Austin.

O’Donnell’s position initially raised questions because of its $200,000-per-year salary and its similarities to the job description of UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa — and the fact that he was to report directly to Gene Powell, the chairman of the UT System Board of Regents. Powell failed in his initial attempts to quell the controversy by having O’Donnell report to administrators under Cigarroa and ending O’Donnell’s employment at the end of August. An email O’Donnell wrote to a sympathetic regent last week criticizing the actions of system and university leaders since his hiring appears to have been the last straw, and O’Donnell was dismissed.

April 23, 2011

Gabe Semenza, "Victoria Advocate"

House higher ed chair calls for A&M, UH officials to meet in June

An influential legislator wants the chancellors of the University of Houston and Texas A&M systems to meet in Victoria in June.

The purpose of the meeting: to discuss issues regarding House Bill 2556, which aims to move the University of Houston-Victoria into the A&M system.

April 20, 2011

Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House has approved legislation that would help high achieving students get into college.

Under legislation approved Wednesday, students who meet certain academic standards would get priority in the awarding of the popular TEXAS Grant program. Now based mostly on financial need, it was created to help poor students get aid for college. But statistics show about half of those using the money don't graduate within six years. The bill would give assistance first to students meeting criteria including high grades, math proficiency and coursework completion.

April 21, 2011

Nolan Hicks

On this day — the Senate Finance Committee appears ready to vote out its version of the budget; the Senate’s budget proposal sets up a showdown with the House over the Rainy Day Fund; the House passes a priority model for TEXAS Grants; and explore the Houston Chronicle/Texas Tribune’s new budget calculator.

April 20, 2011

Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas House has approved legislation that would help high achieving students get into college.

Under legislation approved Wednesday, students who meet certain academic standards would get priority in the awarding of the popular TEXAS Grant program. Now based mostly on financial need, it was created to help poor students get aid for college. But statistics show about half of those using the money don't graduate within six years. The bill would give assistance first to students meeting criteria including high grades, math proficiency and coursework completion.

April 20, 2011

Aziza Musa

The House tentatively passed a bill to provide students who have demonstrated college readiness with priority access to TEXAS Grants, the state's primary need-based financial aid program.

State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, was the House sponsor of Senate Bill 28, authored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, which would first give the grants to needy students who are more prepared for college. To prove college readiness, students must meet two of four standards: showing academic readiness by enrolling in the distinguished academic program or taking 12 hours of college credit; passing tests in the Texas Success Initiative Act, the SAT or ACT; ranking in the top third of their high school class; and being successful in math beyond algebra II.