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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

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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


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


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

[email protected]

[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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Contact us!5750 Balcones Dr.,

Suite 201

Austin, TX 78731

[email protected]

[p] (512) 873-7404

[f] (512) 873-7423

Cover Page

Index

The PresidentsColumn

The ExecutiveDirectors Report

THECB LegislativeRecommendations

Pictures from theTACT Fall Conference

GRF Contributors

Membership

2012-2013Legislative Issues

Past eBulletins

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

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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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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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CONTENTS

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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;
mailto:tact%40bizaustin.rr.com?subject=http://www.tact.org/ebulletinhttp://tact.org/THECBLegislativeRecommendations83RBoardApprovedFinal2.pdfhttp://tact.org/THECBLegislativeRecommendations83RBoardApprovedFinal2.pdfhttp://www.tact.org/ebulletinmailto:tact%40bizaustin.rr.com?subject=


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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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Pictures from the Fall Conference

AaronGreggandHunterThompson(fromleft),staffforHouseAppropriations

CommitteeChairmanJimPitts,visitwithTACTStateBoardMembersaboutTACTs

legislativeagenda.

StateRepresentativeDonnaHowardtellsLynnTatumandAllenMartinthatshewill

continuetoopposelegislationpermittinggunsoncampus.


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Pictures from the Fall Conference(contd.)

StateSenatorKirkWatsonpersonalizedthevalueofhighereducationinhisfamilys

livesaspartofthekeynoteaddress.Heemphasizedtheimportanceofstateinvestment

inthefutureleadersofTexas.

Dr.VanDavis(standing)participatedinapaneldiscussionoftheeffortstowarda

$10,000bachelorsdegree.


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Pictures from the Fall Conference(contd.)

Dr.CatherineParsoneaultdescribedvariousCoordinatingBoardinitiatives.

TACTStateBoardMembersfromlefttoright:GaryCoulton,CindySimpson,

ChadRose,PeterHugill,AllenMartin,DebraPrice.


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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
mailto:tact%40bizaustin.rr.com?subject=http://www.tact.org/ebulletinhttp://tact.org/contribute/grf?reset=1&id=1http://www.tact.org/agendahttp://tact.org/contribute/grf?reset=1&id=1http://tact.org/contribute/grf?reset=1&id=1http://www.tact.org/agendahttp://tact.org/contribute/grf?reset=1&id=1http://www.tact.org/ebulletinmailto:tact%40bizaustin.rr.com?subject=


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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.
mailto:tact%40bizaustin.rr.com?subject=http://www.tact.org/ebulletinhttps://hempsteadassociates.com/tact/node/add/membership?reset=1&id=3http://tact.org/membershiphttp://tact.org/membershiphttp://tact.org/membershiphttp://tact.org/membershiphttp://tact.org/membershiphttp://tact.org/membershiphttps://hempsteadassociates.com/tact/node/add/membership?reset=1&id=3http://www.tact.org/ebulletinmailto:tact%40bizaustin.rr.com?subject=


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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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