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Volume LXVI Number 2
October/November/December 2012
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The TACT Quarterly eBulletinOctober/November/December 2012 - Volume LXVI Number 2
In this quarters TACT newsletter...
Presidents Letterby Peter Hugill
Executive Directors Reportby Chuck Hempstead
THECB Legislative Recommendations Report
Pictures from the TACT Fall Conference
Government Relations Fund
Membership
TACT Legislative Issues 2012-2013
Page 3
Page 5
Page 6
Page 8
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
TACT Board of Directors
2012-2013
President
Peter Hugill
Texas A&M University
President-Elect
Cindy Simpson, PhD
Houston Baptist University
VP of Financial Affairs
Frank Fair
Sam Houston State Universit
VP of Membership
Chad Rose
Sam Houston State Universit
VP of Legislative Affairs
Mary Jo Garcia Biggs
Texas State University
Directors At Large
Gary Coulton
University of Texas -
San Antonio
Elizabeth Lewandowski
Midwestern State University
W Allen Martin
University of Texas - Tyler
Debra Price
Sam Houston State Universit
E.L. Walter-Sullivan
Prairie View A&M University
Executive Director
Chuck Hempstead
(512) 873-7404
Texas Association of College Teachers
5750 Balcones Dr., Suite 201 Austin, Texas 78731
[p] (512) 873-7404
[f] (512) 873-7423
Copyright 2012 by the Texas Association of College Teachers. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be produced in any form without permission; Chuck Hempstead, Editor.
TACT
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THECB LegislativeRecommendations
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GRF Contributors
Membership
2012-2013Legislative Issues
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CONTENTS
3
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
Presidents Letterby Peter HugillTACT President
Theyre Baaaack!!!
AsweallknowtheTexasLegislatureisbackintown(atleasttheyareling
bills,ifnotactuallysitting).So,astheoldsayinggoes,nomans[orwomans]
propertyissafe.Untilthedustsettlesabitmorewewontquiteknowwhatallthebillsbeingledareaboutandwhichoneswillhaveaghostofachanceat(a)mak-
ingittotheoorand(b)actuallybeingenacted.Fortunatelymostoftheseriously
loopystuffdisappearsincommittee,butasweallshouldknowbynowplentyofit
actuallygetsenacted.
WiththehelpofChuckHempstead,ourlobbyist,yourTACTBoardhas
alreadystartedworkingonthis.InlateOctoberwespentsometimemakingvisits
attheCapitol,andChuckalsolinedupSenatorKirkWatsontoaddressthejoint
meetingofTACT,theAssociationofAmericanUniversityProfessors(AAUP),and
theTexasCouncilofFacultySenates(TCFS).SenatorWatsonservesontheSen-
ateHigherEducationCommitteeand,duringhistenureasPresidentoftheAustinChamberofCommerceandasMayorofAustin,heconsistentlyshowedhisunder-
standingofandsupportfortheroleplayedbyHigherEducationinfurtheringthe
economicdevelopmentoftheState.Asmanyofyouwillbeaware,healsospear-
headedthesuccessfulpassageofPropositionOneontheAustinareaballotthis
November,whichhasapprovedtaxationtosupportthedevelopmentofamedical
schoolinAustinbytheUniversityofTexas.
PerhapsthemostsignicantvisitwepaidonCapitolHillwastotheofceof
SenatorKelSeliger,whohasreplacedSenatorJudithZafriniasChairoftheSen-
ateHigherEducationCommittee.Wealsohavetodealwithtwoothercommittees:
theHouseCommittee;andthejointSenateandHouseCommitteeongovernanceinHigherEducation.Evenso,itstheSenateCommitteethat,fromourperspective,
doesmostoftheheavylifting.
IwasinitiallyconcernedaboutthereplacementofSenatorZafrinibyLieu-
tenantGovernorDavidDewhurst,whohasbeenastrongdefenderofHigherEduca-
tionandhasservedintheSenatesince1987,withSenatorSeliger,whojoinedthe
Senatein2004.Atleastsomeofthatconcernhasbeenamelioratedbythefactthat
SenatorSeligernotonlyretainedoneofSenatorZafrinismostexperiencedsenior
staffers,Dr.MarkKavanaugh,butalsopromotedhimtothepositionofCommittee
Director.WehavesomehistorywithMarkandhehasbeenaconsistentfriendto
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CONTENTS
4
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
Presidents Message
(contd.)
TACTandtheAssociationofAmericanUniversityProfessors.Further,duringSen-
atorWatsonsaddresstothejointmeetingofTACT,AAUP,andTCFS,andwithout
beingasked,hewentoutofhiswaytosaysomeverypositivethingsaboutSenator
Seliger.I,forone,cameawaymuchmorecomfortablewithGovernorDewhursts
decisiontoreplaceSenatorZafrini.
YourTACTBoardbelievesthatwewillhaveabusysession.Wearesure
thattheGunsonCampusbillwillreappear,andwehavealreadyindicatedthat
wearestronglyopposedtoit.Elsewhereinthenewsletterwearepostingourother
primaryconcerns,butwebadlyneedyourhelp.WheneverwetalktoanyoneinAustintheytellusthereisnosubstituteforlobbyingtomakeyourpositionknown.
Ascitizensweallhavetheconstitutionalrighttolobbyourelectedrepresentatives,
althoughwemustbecarefulNOTtodosousingUniversityresources(e-mailand
thelike).E-mailaccesstotheSenateHigherEducationCommitteemembersis
easyviatheSenatewebsite.Pleaseletyouropinionsascitizensandeducatorsbe
knownjustmakeitclearthatyouareexpressingapersonal,notanofcialuniver-
sityposition.
Ifyoucanmakeapersonaltriptotheofceofyourlocalrepresentativesin
theHouseandSenate,evenbetter.Theyareunlikelytobeononeofthecommit-
teesthataffectus,buttheystillhavetovote!Bestofall,payavisittoAustinanddropintosomeoftheofcesofthemembersoftheHigherEducationCommittees.
Youarehighlyunlikelytoseethemembersthemselves,buttheirstaffersarealmost
alwaysthere,andtheirjobistopassstuffontotheirRepresentativesandSenators.
IfyoucanmakeanappointmenttoseetheHigherEducationstafferupfrontitsa
greatideatodoso.Wesetupourrepresentativedemocracytoencouragecitizen
inputtoinuenceourelectedrepresentativesand,ifweleavealltheinputtoothers
whodonotshareourinterests,weshouldnotcomplainabouttheoutcomes.One
ofthemostcommoncommentsyourTACTBoardhearsinAustinisthatwenever
hearanythingfromthefaculty,justfromyourPresidentsandChancellors.Yes,its
yourTACTBoardsjobtodothis(thatswhyyouelectedusandpartofwhatyou
payyourduesfor),butweneedallthehelpwecangetfromyou!
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CONTENTS
5
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
AlargepartofwhatTACTdoesinitsmixofmembershipservicesislegislative
advocacy.Youprobablyknowthatseveraltimeseachyear,yourstateboardmembers
dipintotheirtimeandwalletstomeetwithlegislatorsandstaffmemberstocommunicate
thefacultyperspectivestothepolicy-makers(seerelatedstory,includingtheTACTConferencekeynoteaddressbyaVERYinuentialsenator).Thisisayear-round
adventureparticularlytimelynowthatthe83rdLegislativeSessionisweeksaway
MarkyourcalendarnowtojoinusforthenextscheduledvisitsMarch1.
IhaveheardthissessioncharacterizedasBusinessversusTeaParty.Notthe
restoretheslashededucationfundingsession,ortheemphasizeeducationalquality
insteadofquantitysession,orcertainlynotthenowistimetore-investinourstate
workforcesession.Idbehappyifthelegislaturereinstatedthe$1billionlostduring
thecurrentbudget.Thisisnttheplacetoexamineelectoralpolitics,butwithmore
thanhalfofthestaterepresentativesenteringtheirrstorsecondlegislativesession,
followingredistrictingandthesuccessoftheTeaPartyinRepublicanprimaries,Ithinkyoucanguessthemajorityphilosophy.
Legislationisbeingpre-lednow.Wellsoondevelopalistofissueswethink
youllwanttotrack,butfeelfreetosharewhatyouhearandseetoaddtoourradar.
Maybe-ornot-coincidentally,thistimeofyearisalsomembershiptime
Someoflastyearsmembersarenotyetagainthisyearsmembers,andabout50,000
othershaveneverbeenmembers.Youmaywishtosharethisnewsletterissuewith
yourcolleagues.Ifenoughofthemjoin,andthepriceofgaskeepsfalling,wemigh
be able to reimburse those colleagues of yourswho drive toAustin to pound the
pavementonyourbehalf.
Onemoremembershipstorythis oneabout yourEducatorsProfessiona
Liability Insurance (EPLI), which is included with your membership. Another
educationassociationstaffwas contactedby the insurancecompany processing a
claimforthatassociationsmember.Itturnedoutthatthememberslatepayment
ofduesandinsurancepremiumweresubmittedthesamedayastheclaim.Claim
DENIED!Sowhenweencourageyoutopayyourduesontime,aswedidsevera
weeksago,thisiswhy.Also,TACToffersdiscountedduesforretirees,whichalso
includesEPLI.Insurancecoverage(andmembership)mustbecurrentatthetimeof
theoccuranceANDtheclaim,whichmaybemonthsoryearsapart.Sostaycurrent
evenwhenyouareoutoftheclassroomuntilafterallthelawyershaveretired,too.
Executive Directors Reportby Chuck HempsteadTACT Executive Director
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6
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
THECB Legislative Recommendations Report
Link to THECB RecommendationsOutcomes-Based Funding
Inthe82ndLegislativeSession,theTexasLegislaturepassedHB9,instructingThe
HigherEducationCoordinatingBoard(THECB)tosubmitareporttotheJointOversigh
Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, andTransparency, reviewing
comparing, and highlighting best practices on improving student outcomes, retention
graduations, and graduation rates, and higher education governance, administration and
transparency.
Forthe83rdLegislativeSession,THECBisrecommendingallocating10%ofthe
fundingforuniversitiesotherwise usedfor undergraduateweightedsemestercredithour
throughtheInstructionsandOperationsFormula.THECBsuggestsafundingmodelbaseduponstudentachievement.
THECBisalsorecommendingthattheInstructionandOperationsFormulaprovide
fundingforuniversityfacultysalaries,tobedistributedonaweightedsemestercredithour
basis.TheproposedratehasyettobedeterminedbyTHECBatthistime.
Reducing Time-to-Degree
Lowering Credit Hour Thresholds / Higher Tuition for Excess Credit Hours
In addition to capping the maximum credit hours a university may require for
baccalaureatedegrees,the79thTexasLegislaturealsoestablisheda30semestercredithour
thresholdtolimitstateformulafundingandauthorizinguniversitiestochargehighertuitionforstudentsexceedingthecredithoursoutlinedintheirdegreeplans.THECBissuggesting
loweringthislimitto15credithours.
THECBestimatesthat,onaverage,universitystudentsnished120SCHdegreesin
147credithours.Theproposedcapof135hourswouldhavesavedthestate$15Mandthe
students$94M.
Financial Aid
Limiting TEXAS Grant Award Amount per Student /
Expanding Eligibility for TEOG
Duetothegrowingdemandfornancialassistancewithonlyalimitedamountofresourcestoprovide,THECBhasputtogethera7-pointplantorestructuretheTEXASGrant
programtomoreeffectivelyandefcientlyprovideassistancetomorestudentsinneed.Per
theTHECBLegislativeRecommendations:
1. Giveawardsthat,whencombinedwithPellandfamilycontribution,covertuition,fees
andcoursematerialsformoreneedystudents,ratherthantargetawardstocoverfullcos
ofattendanceforfewerneedystudents.Awardswillcontinuetobebasedonthestatewide
averagetuition,fees,andbooksandnotonactualtuition,fees,andbookschargedbyeach
institution.
2. CreateTEXASGranteligibilitypathwayforalltransferstudents;
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7
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
3. Requirefull-timeenrollment(12hours)perfederalguidelines;
4. Cap eligibility at eight regular semesters, instead of the current 150 semester credi
hours(SCH).SemestersdonothavetobeconsecutivebutmustnotbemorethaneightLanguagewillberecommendedtoallowprorationawardsthatexceedeightsemestersfor
studentstocompletedegreeprogramsthatrequiremorethan120SCHtocompleteand
retainTEXASGranteligibility.
5. Eliminatetheinstitutionsobligationtoprovidenon-loanfundstomakeupthedifference
betweenastudentsTEXASGrantawardandthestudentstuitionandfeecharges;
6. MakeTEXASGrantauniversityonlyprogram;and
7. Defertofederalrequirementsregardingcontrolledsubstancestostreamlinetheawarding
ofTEXASGrantfunds.
THECBestimatesthat,withthesechanges,theTEXASGrantprogramcouldprovide
assistancetoroughly95%ofeligibleuniversitystudents,whereasthecurrentmodelcanonlyserveanestimated18%.Whileeachgrantwouldprovideasmallercontribution,theproposal
wouldensurenancialassistancetoapproximately61,200additionalstudents.
Currently, the program defers to the state wording for restrictions concerning
controlled substances,which asks if a student has been convicted of a crime or felony
involvinga controlledsubstance.THECBproposesthattheTexasEducationOpportunity
Grantdefertothefederalstandard,whichspecicallyasksif thecrimeoccurredwhilethe
studentwas receiving nancialaid. Becausemost studentsle for nancialaid through
FAFSA,manyuniversitiesareneedingtoprocessanentirelyseperateformtohandleTEOG
awards.Theproposeschangeswouldeliminatetheneedforthisform,greatlysimplifyingthe
process.
Restructuring B-On-Time Program
TheB-On-Timeprogramisaninterest-freeloanofferedtostudentsandincentivizes
graduatingontime(withintwoyearsforacommunityortechnicalcollegeandwithinfour
yearsforuniversitystudents)withatleasta3.0GPA.Studentswhomeettheserequirements
upon graduation have their loans repaid through general revenue from the program and
tuitionset-asides(20%oftuitionexceeding$46/credithour,ofwhich5%isallocatedfor
B-On-Time).THECBresearchconcludesthat,whiletheprogramhasshownsuccessfor
bothofitsobjectives(increasingtimelygraduationswithhighergrades),toofewstudentsare
enrolling.Betweenfederalregulationsrestrictingcollegesabilitytomakestudentsawareo
non-federalloansandstudentconfusionregardingthestructureoftheloan,thereceptionof
theB-On-Timeprogramhasnotmetexpectations.
THECBconcludes that,forB-On-Timeto besuccessfulin its objectives foral
students,itmustbesplitintotwoseparateprograms:theloanprogramandarebateprogram
Theloanwouldexistalmostexactlyasitdoesinitscurrentform:interest-freewhilethe
studentisenrolledinclasseswiththesameon-timegraduationandGPAstipulations.
Therebateprogramwouldbeapplicabletoallstudents,notsimplythosewhochoose
toenrollintheloanprogram,asthesystemiscurrentlyconstructed.Studentswhomeetthe
B-On-Timecriteriawouldreceiveanequalshareoftheset-asidefunding,upto,butnotin
excess,oftheirtotaltuitionpaid.THECBbelievesthatexpandingtheprogramtoallstudents
inthismanner,ratherthanexclusivelyasanopt-in,willreducethestateaverageforexcess
credithoursbeyonddegreerequirements.
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CONTENTS
8
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
Pictures from the Fall Conference
AaronGreggandHunterThompson(fromleft),staffforHouseAppropriations
CommitteeChairmanJimPitts,visitwithTACTStateBoardMembersaboutTACTs
legislativeagenda.
StateRepresentativeDonnaHowardtellsLynnTatumandAllenMartinthatshewill
continuetoopposelegislationpermittinggunsoncampus.
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9
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
Pictures from the Fall Conference(contd.)
StateSenatorKirkWatsonpersonalizedthevalueofhighereducationinhisfamilys
livesaspartofthekeynoteaddress.Heemphasizedtheimportanceofstateinvestment
inthefutureleadersofTexas.
Dr.VanDavis(standing)participatedinapaneldiscussionoftheeffortstowarda
$10,000bachelorsdegree.
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10
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
Pictures from the Fall Conference(contd.)
Dr.CatherineParsoneaultdescribedvariousCoordinatingBoardinitiatives.
TACTStateBoardMembersfromlefttoright:GaryCoulton,CindySimpson,
ChadRose,PeterHugill,AllenMartin,DebraPrice.
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CONTENTS
11
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
TheJamesM.Puckett,Ph.D.GovernmentRelationsFund
Havingalreadyslashedthehigher-educationbudget,withfurthercutstobediscussed,the
2013sessionoftheTexasLegislaturewillbepivotalforthefutureofhighereducationin
thestate.Ifyouareconcernedaboutsuchissuesashighereducationfunding,thesolvency
oftheTexasRetirementSystem,facultyassessment,andfundinglevelsofTEXASGrants,
contributetotheDr. James M. Puckett, Ph.D. Government Relations Fund (GRF)today
Forover50years,TACThasbeenonthefrontlinesofhighereducationissuesinTexas.
TheGRFassistsTACTwithakeycomponentofourmission:communicating TACTs
legislative agenda(viewablehere)inordertoimproveTexashighereducation.
YourvoluntarycontributiontotheGRFallowsTACTtopresentitsmembersagendatokeylawmakersandlegislativecommittees.TheGRFisneverusedforcandidatecontributions,
onlyforactivitiesthatincreaseawarenessofissuesconcerningfacultystatewide.All
expendituresareapprovedinadvancebyTACTsPresident,President-ElectandLegislative
CommitteeChair.
ThankyouforstandingwithTACTtoimprovethequalityofhighereducationinTexas.
Click Here to Contribute
Thank you to the 2012-2013 contributors
GaryCoulton
MaryLynnDeShazo
FrankFair
ChuckHempstead
DebbyHopkins-Higham
PeterHugill
HarveyD.Johnson
JoeKemble
ThomasLawrence
W.A.Martin
JohnRugh
CindySimpson
LynnTatum
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12
The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
Visitwww.tact.org,and
joinTACTToday!
TACT Membership and EPLI: Renew Today!
InthecurrentclimateofuncertaintyinTexassystemofhighereducation,its
importanttohavestrongadvocates.Since1948,theTexasAssociationofCollege
Teachershasserveduniversityprofessorsintheareasofacademicfreedom,statis-
ticalresearch,tenureimplementationandprotection,professionalstandards,and
workingconditions.Weinviteyoutotakeakeycareerstepbybecomingamember
ofTACTtodayfor$158(whichincludesprofessionalliabilityinsurance).
YourmembershipinTACTletsyourvoicebeheardbeyondyourclassroomand
campus.Wevigilantlymonitorallagenciesthataffectfacultymemberstoensure
yourinterestsarerepresented.OurFirstAlertemailsandquarterlyeBulletinspro-
videyouwithcurrentdevelopmentsoneducationalpublicpolicyissues,andweare
alwayssolicitingarticlesfromyou,ourmembers.Wealsomaintainaregularpres-
enceattheCapitol,wherewelobbypolicymakersonouryourtopconcerns.
AllTACTmembershipsincludeEducatorsProfessionalLiabilityInsurance(EPLI),
whichprovidesupto$2millionincoverage,pluslegalfeesfordamages.EPLIisan
importantbenetforourmembersthathasproveninvaluableovertheyears.
SignuporrenewyourTACTmembershiptoday!
VisitJoinTACT
orrenewoverthephonebycalling(512)873-7404.
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The TACT Quarterly eBulletinTexas Association of College TeachersDefending Academic FreedomTACT
TACT Legislative Issues 2012-2013
1. Handgunsoncampuses.TACTopposeslegislationallowingindivid-
ualstocarryconcealedhandgunsoncollegecampuses.
2. Assessment.TACTsupportsfacultyrepresentationintheimprove-
mentofassessmentmeasurementsregardingfacultyevaluationof
teachingandscholarlyactivity.
3. TeacherRetirementSystem.TACTsupportsmaintainingthesolven-
cyofthesystem,currentbenets,andcost-of-livingincreases.TACT
opposesconversionofaguaranteedpensionplantoa401(k)-typeplan.
4. FacultySalaries.TACTsupportsincreasingfacultysalariestoalign
withtheaverageoftheothertenmostpopulousstates.
5. HigherEducationFunding.TACTsupportsmaintainingcurrent
fundinglevelsofTEXASGrants.
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