New reform framework unites critics and supporters of ‘seven breakthrough solutions’ By Teddy Wilson In much-anticipated remarks to the University of Texas Board of Regents Thursday, Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa laid out a broad nine-point plan to streamline operations across the system, increase accountability and expand science and medical education around the state. The “Framework Action … Continue reading
By Melissa Ludwig The University of Texas Board of Regents on Thursday approved an action plan to raise quality and productivity at its 15 institutions in an era of declining revenues, fortifying the effort with $243 million in strategic investments. After months of public squabbling over how best to reform academia, regents unanimously backed the framework … Continue reading
Written by Reeve Hamilton Enlargephoto by: Bob Daemmrich Chancellor Dr. Fransisco Cigarroa at the University of Texas Board of Regents meeting in Austin on May 11, 2011. At this morning’s meeting of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa won unanimous approval for a plan addressing hot-button higher ed issues of … Continue reading
Regarding the following article that was written By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz AMERICAN-STATESMAN, students, parents and taxpayers should publicly ask the following question: Is it true or not that UT President Bill Powers attempted to withhold information from the public and regents, as alleged by Rick O’Donnell? Is anyone going to ask Powers this question? By … Continue reading
By Charlotte Allen The firing of a controversial aide to the University of Texas system has triggered a full-blown debate over the productivity of teachers and whether “star” professors who teach few classes are really worth the cost to the public. Rick O’Donnell, dismissed on April 19 after only 49 days on the job as … Continue reading
Both believe and fundamentally say they care about the quality and accessibility of higher education. By Reeve Hamilton Randy Diehl, the dean of the University at Texas at Austin’s College of Liberal Arts, is looking for ways to boost undergraduate graduation rates. Earlier this week, UT President Bill Powers told Diehl he’d be leading a … Continue reading
Top UT officials under fire – Former adviser says they blocked release of data By MELISSA LUDWIG Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7635188.html#ixzz1Qr7dEJQe Rick O’Donnell, a former special adviser to the University of Texas System who received a $70,000 settlement, this week skewered top UT officials for trying to block the release of faculty productivity data, accusing them … Continue reading
By Mary Lee Gran A $70,000 settlement could have bought peace between the University of Texas System and former special adviser Rick O’Donnell, but O’Donnell, who was fired April 19, instead spoke out against UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa, UT-Austin President William Powers Jr. and state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, the Austin American-Statesman reported. In an … Continue reading
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz At the height of a controversy about the direction of the school’s governing board earlier this year, the chairman of the University of Texas System regents told a fellow regent that he felt as winded as he did during football practices decades ago under coach Darrell Royal. “Reminds me of two-a-days … Continue reading
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz A $70,000 settlement between the University of Texas System and a former system official seeks, among other things, to “buy peace,” as the agreement released Monday puts it. But any peace the UT System obtained with its money and a glowing letter from the chairman of the Board of Regents about … Continue reading
He looks forward to hearing from this new group and working with them in the areas of quality, access, accountability and transparency By Melissa Ludwig A group of more than 200 powerful philanthropists, business leaders and other stakeholders have formed a grassroots coalition to push back against dramatic changes sought for Texas colleges and universities … Continue reading
By Reeve Hamilton The current controversy dominating the higher education headlines in Texas is nothing if not nuanced. It’s hard for anyone to disagree with the broad buzzwords used by both sides: accountability, productivity, excellence, accessibility, transparency. One might be hard-pressed to find an official of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which has promoted the … Continue reading
The left wing Texas Tribune ran another article in defense of the UT higher ed status quo. This time, UT regent Alex Cranberg was the subject of discussion and the story was picked up by the New York Times. The New York Times re-titled it “A Lightning Rod on U.T. Board, Regent Is Not Deterred”, … Continue reading
By Reeve Hamilton Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich Regent Alex M. Cranberg at the University of Texas Board of Regents meeting on May 12, 2011. On Feb. 12, Gene Powell, the chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, sent a note to Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the UT System, about the newest … Continue reading
By Daniel Greer Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) is crystallizing her opposition to transparency and controlling skyrocketing tuition costs. Regent Alex Cranberg’s simple information request about professor compensation and use of time stirred Zaffirini into an agitated effort to shield UT from accountability.
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