Adressing the solutions proposed by the Texas Higher Education Summit

Well, I have a lot to "blog" about!

On May 21st this year, Gov. Perry held a Higher Education Summit in Austin. A group called the Texas Public Policy Foundation created a small book of collected articles and suggestions about how to gage the future of higher education in Texas.

I was mailed the book about 2 weeks after the summit took place. I was asked that same week by the Chairman of the Board of Regents, Mr. Harry L. Crumpacker, to address the board about some keys issues that could affect the students that this report highlights.

I have listed some of the articles referenced in the book below (which can be accessed via the Internet, yay for technology!)

To read the book online click here.

-The first issue that the book addresses is the increase in tuition rates by referring to this article by Jonathan D. Glater of the New York Times.
KEY FACT: Tuition rates went up 5.7% at public universities last year.

-This US Govt report "FAQ's about College Cost" was included. A lot of tenure issues are discussed.

-The Cost Project's analysis of how Board of Regents should function.

-This article "Stop Paying More for Less" is about how colleges can boost productivity.

-Article on how tenured professorship is going down. (Q: Notice an increase in TA's anyone??)

-Grade Inflation. Q: Does this exist at TWU? Is it helpful or hurtful in your opinion?

- Here is a biggie: Graduated but Not Literate
KEY FACT: Only 25% of grads are "proficient" from a literacy standpoint--yikes!!!

The report suggest "7 Breakthrough Solutions"

1. Measure teaching efficiency and effectiveness by comparing average student satisfaction ratings and average grade distributions ( Note: It states avg. as being the % of A's and % of B's), rank professors by their cost and number of students taught in past 12 months, collect and read all faculty publishing's, publicly post student satisfaction ratings as well as the # of students they have taught, make sure all teachers are evaluated (TA's too) and the number of students taught should be accredited to the person who spent the most time with the class.
2. Recognize and Reward Extraordinary Teachers by offering cash bonuses (up to $10,000!) based on how well a course delivers on it's learning objectives. Teachers ranked by students in top 25% would be eligible each semester for the award. It is also based on the # of students taught, which the report says would lure teachers to teach more students. I thought low student to teacher ratio was a good thing? Send me your thoughts.
3. Split Research and Teaching Budgets to Encourage Excellence so that teachers are paid "based on customer (student) satisfaction", and the number of students taught. Then separately reward those teachers who attract govt., business, or private donors for research opportunities. I am not sure how I feel about this issue.
4. Require Evidence of Teaching Skill for Tenure by "having the teachers teach three classes per semester and thirty students per class for 7 or more years". The average teaching ratings would need to be a 4.5 on a 5.0 scale. Also, not sure this is a solution.
5. Use "Results-Based" Contracts with Students to Measure Quality by having "signed contracts...established between the university, Dean, department head, teachers, and each student." Each classroom would receive a "learning contract" that is extremely detailed. It would include the avg. class size of that class, past evaluations for that teacher, the grade distributions of past classes, and how everything will be assessed. To me, it's a syllabus on steroids.
6. Put State Funding Directly in the Hands of Students by providing each in-state student with a scholarship for undergraduate and graduate education. Students would use this for any Texas college; public or private. All scholarships would be given out through the state appropriations committee. Also, in accepting the state scholarships, the number of hours for you to attend college would be capped to encourage earlier graduation. What if the student changes their major? Also, there is no evidence to base the claim that this will increase more enrollment in higher education (even though the report acts like this would be the end result) Tell me what you think in the poll on the left hand side of the site.
7. Create Results-Based Accrediting Alternatives. The state wants all colleges to be accredited under the U.S. Department of Education and not just the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It claims this will increase competitiveness.

I will be putting together a presentation with a few of my opinions about these proposed solutions to the board on August 22nd.

Please email me with your feedback on any of the above solutions. I am more than willing to listen to your concerns and compile them in my report to the board. Please email me with your name, major, and classification at: spope@twu.edu

Yours truly,

Scarlett Pope

TWU Student Regent