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Volume LXVII Number 3

January/February/March 2013


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The TACT Quarterly eBulletinJanuary/February/March 2013 - Volume LXVII Number 3

In this quarters TACT newsletter...

Presidents Letterby Peter Hugill

Executive Directors Reportby Chuck Hempstead

Texas National Faculty Salary Comparisons

Pictures from the TACT Spring Conference

Government Relations Fund

Membership

TACT Legislative Issues 2013

Page 3

Page 6

Page 7

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

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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

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[p] (512) 873-7404

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Cover Page

Index

The PresidentsColumn

The ExecutiveDirectors Report

Texas FacultyComparison

Pictures fromthe TACT Spring

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

Chuck,myself,severalofourTACTBoardmembers,andtwocolleagues

fromAAUPvisitedthehillMarch1sttoletouropinionsbeknownonvariousissues

ofconcerntofacultybeforethecommitteesofthestatelegislature.Chucklinedup

meetingsforuswiththestaffersfortheSenateHigherEducationCommittee,theHouseAppropriationsCommittee,andtheCommitteeonPublicSafetyandHome-

landSecurity.Wenormallywouldhavenobusinesswiththelastofthesethree

butthatiswheretheGunsonCampusissuehasbeenreferred.Wedidnotvisitthe

HouseCommitteeonHigherEducation,sinceitsChair,DanBranch,hadaccepted

ourinvitationtoaddressthecombinedTACT,AAUP,TCFSmeetingonFridayafter-

noon.

(1)Budget.BoththeHouse(ChairDanBranch)andSenate(ChairKelSeliger)

HigherEducationCommitteesclaimedthatthisLegislaturewillrestoresomeofthe

cutstohighereducationmadelastsession.WetalkedwithSeligersbudgetstaffer

andChairmanBranchhimselfsaidasmuchinhisafternoontalk.WewereimpressedthatChairmanBranchiswellawarethatthestatehastohaveamuchbettereducated

workforcetocompeteontheworldstage.ThreeyearsagotheTACTBoardtalkedto

LieutenantGovernorDewhurstaboutpreciselythisissue.Hiscommentatthattime

wasthatwewouldhavetocuttogetthroughtherecession,butthatwhenitwasover

hewaswellawarethathighereducationwasavitalengineoflongtermgrowthand

thatthestatewouldneedtorenewitsinvestment.ChairmanBranchisclearlyread-

ingfromthesameplaybookandwehavecommunicatedourapprovaltohim.We

alsotalkedwiththebudgetstafferfortheHouseAppropriationsCommittee(Chair

JimPitts)andgotthesamestory.

(2)ThelikelyscalimpactonHigherEducationofthecrisisinPublicEducation.

ForobviousreasonsweexpressedconcernthattheLegislaturemightseeasolution

tothefundingissuesbyraidingHigherEducation.Weaskedifthiswouldbethe

caseandreceivedcategoricaldenialsfromallconcerned.Oursensefromthestaffers

wasthattheyseemedconvincedthattheStateSupremeCourtwillndthecurrent

methodoffundingPublicEducationtobeunconstitutional,andthattheconsequence

willhavetobeaspeciallegislativesessiontondaproperfundingmechanism.

(3)Hazelwood.ThecostoftheunfundedmandatefromHazelwoodisnowprojected

tohitover$100million.TheHouseAppropriationsCommitteestafferindicatedto

usthattheCommitteehasalreadyagreedtoaone-timepaymentof$30millionas
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Presidents Message

(contd.)

astopgap,andChairmanBranchconrmedthis.Everyonewetalkedtorecognized

thatHazelwoodwasnotwellthoughtout.Atpresentitmakesittooeasyforveter-

anstoapplyforHazelwoodfundsandasaconsequencetheyfrequentlyaskforthe

statemoneybeforetheyusetheirbenetsundertheGIBill.RevisionstoHazel-

woodwouldtryandstopthis.Itwasalsoclearthatatleastsomelegislatorsarewor-

riedabouttheimpactoflegacycosts,sinceyoucanpassunusedHazelwoodmonies

toyourheirs.

(4)HighSchoolGraduationRates.Unfortunately,ChairmanSeligerrammedSen-

ateBill3throughtheSenateHigherEducationCommitteewithoutapublichearing.HisgoalistoincreaseHighSchoolgraduationrates,butthebillachievesthisby

reducingthepreparationlevelsofhigherschoolstudentsinthesciencesandsocial

sciences,thusreducingtheirreadinessforcollegeandincreasinginalllikelihood

thenumberofremedialclassessomeofthemwillthenneed.

(5)Governance.BoththeHouseandtheSenateHigherEducationCommitteesseem

tobetakingseriouslythemesscreatedbytheRegentsoftheUniversityofTexas

SystemintryingtorailroadUniversityofTexasPresidentBillPowersoutofhis

job.Theargumentisthattheyarenotappointedtoengageinmicro-managementof

thesortthatisapparenthere.TheSenateislikelytodemandmuchfasterapproval

power,sincecurrentlyaRegentcanserveuptotwoyearsbeforehis/hernamecomesbeforetheSenate.WesuggestedthislookedlikeaSenateprivilegeissueand

didnotgetadenial.

(6)GunsonCampus.Twobillshavebeenledbutthissessiontheywereledwith

theCommitteeonPublicSafetyandHomelandSecurity.Thebillshavelanguage

that,accordingtooneofthestaffersfortheSenateHigherEducationCommittee,

seemdesignedtoappealtoSenatorLucio(DBrownsville),whowasaswing(nega-

tive)voteonthislegislationinthelastsession.Feelfreetocontacthim(NOTusing

stateresources,e-mailetcetera)ifyouhaveanopinion.TACT,AAUP,TCFS,the

organizationofcampuspolicechiefs,andmanystudentbodiesareallonrecordas

opposingthislegislation,andoppositiontoitisincludedintheplatformoftheStateDemocraticParty.ThemovetoPublicSafetyandHomelandSecuritymaywork

againstitsincethatcommitteewillbeheavilylobbiedbycampuspolicechiefs.The

stafferwetalkedtosaidhesawmuchlessenthusiasmaboutitinthissessionand

thoughtthesponsorsweremerelygoingthroughthemotionsbutwedontusually

dealwiththiscommitteeandwehavenotrackrecordwiththestafferinquestion.

PerhapsthemostcrucialshifthereisthatformerSenatorWentworth,whowasthe

realpushforgunsoncampuslastsession,isnowonlyCitizenWentworth.

OverallmypersonalsenseofwhatIheardisthatthisshouldbeabettersessionfor


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Presidents Message

(contd.)

OverallmypersonalsenseofwhatIheardisthatthisshouldbeabettersessionfor

highereducationthanthelastone.GovernorPerrysinuenceinAustinseemsto

havebeenreducedandthatofLieutenantGovernorDewhurstperhapsenhanced.

TheCommitteepeopleTACTdealswithtendtobethemiddleoftheroadRepubli-

cansandIsuspecttheydontlikewhatSenatorTedCruzdidtoDewhurstanddont

trustPerryalot,probablyalotlessafterhissorryperformanceonthenationalstage,

butImreadingbetweenthelineshere.IsuspecttheinuenceoftheTexasPublic

PolicyFoundationhasfallenalongwiththatofPerry.MyBaylorcolleaguesfrom

AAUPaskedSeligersstaffersaboutanastypieceoflegislationthattargetstuition

fornon-citizensandthatwasledbyBrianBirdwell,theirareaSenator,andgota

highlydismissive,oh,hegothishigheredstafferfromTPPF!comment.


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Ifyouvebeenfollowingthisspaceovertheyears,youknowthatthenumber

onefocusofTACTslegislativeeffortsistoprotectandenhancetheemployment

issuesoffacultylittlethingslikesalaries,tenure,academicfreedom,retirement

issues,andnow,unfetteredweaponsintheworkplace.PresidentHugillsmessageinthisissuecoversthatwaterfrontadmirably.

Goal1Ahasalwaysbeentoadvocateforthesuccessofthestudents,bothinquantity

andthequalityoftheeducationtheyreceive.ThatiswhyTACTisspendingsomeof

ourcapitalduringthissessionononethetopissuesofourtimerethinkingthehigh

schoolcurriculumbecauseoftheinitialoutcomesoftherstroundofSTAARtesting.

TACT agrees with the out with the bathwater bunch that technical employees

shouldbebetter trainedduring the highschool years,and someexibility should

beconsidered.ButreportsthatIamhearingfromfacultyisthatstudentsaremuch

betterpreparedforcollegesincethe4X4highschoolcurriculumhasbeeninplace

andHigherEducationCommissioner Paredes agrees. Thereisalsoconcern fromsome,includingEducationCommissionerWilliams,thatwenotreturntotheolddays

oftracking,wheresomestudents,possiblyincludingminorities,areencouragedto

pursuealessthancollegeprepcurriculum.

Heresthemath:roughlyone-thirdofyoungTexansarepursuingpost-highschoo

education,whileemploymentprojectionsarethattwo-thirdsoffutureemployeeswil

requireadegreeorcredentialfollowinggraduation.Theemploymentfolkscrythat

abachelorsdegreeisthenewdiplomatheentrylevelrequirementformostjobs

Ifyouagreethatyouwantmoreofyourstudentsbetterpreparedforyourclassroom

andthatpartofyour job ispreparing better adultTexansfor theworldtheywil

inherit,youmightthinkaboutlettingyourlegislatorknowthatwateringdownthe

curriculumbecausewedontlikethetestresultsmightnotbethefarsightedanswer.

Annually,wereproduceheretheTexasfacultysalariesastheycomparewiththeother

toptenmostpopulousstates.AsUTChancellorCigarroatestiedrecently,Texas

institutionsgobbledupsometopfacultyfromaroundthecountrywhentherecession

began,butthosewindshavechanged.Wearelosingtoptalenttootherstatesandother

nations.Itsonethingforustoargueforbettersalariesattheappropriationslevel,but

theresnotmuchwecandowhenweretoldtotakethatghttotheinstitutionallevel.

Executive Directors Reportby Chuck HempsteadTACT Executive Director


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Pictures from the Spring Conference

TACTBoardmemberspoundedthelegislativeterrazzoonMarch1stin

supportofitslegislativeagenda.

HouseHigherEducationCommitteeChairmanDanBranchmentionedthatforced

scalpressurescreateinnovationinHigherEducation.


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Pictures from the Fall Conference(contd.)

UT-PanAmPresident(andformerTACTBoardmember)RobertNelsen

discussedthemergeroftwouniversitiesintooneinSouthTexas.

TACTBoardmembersDr.DeborahPriceandDr.FrankFairpresenttheresults

oftheirsurveyregardingPostTenureReview.


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Pictures from the Fall Conference(contd.)

TACTPresidentPeterHugillvisitswithChairmanBranchpriortointroductions.


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TheJamesM.Puckett,Ph.D.GovernmentRelationsFund

Forover50years,TACThasbeenonthefrontlinesofhighereducationissuesinTexas.

TheGRFassistsTACTwithakeycomponentofourmission:communicating TACTs

legislative agenda(viewablehere)inordertoimproveTexashighereducation.

YourvoluntarycontributiontotheGRFallowsTACTtopresentitsmembersagendatokey

lawmakersandlegislativecommittees.TheGRFisneverusedforcandidatecontributions,

onlyforactivitiesthatincreaseawarenessofissuesconcerningfacultystatewide.All

expendituresareapprovedinadvancebyTACTsPresident,President-ElectandLegislative

CommitteeChair.

ThankyouforstandingwithTACTtoimprovethequalityofhighereducationinTexas.

Click Here to Contribute

Thank you to the 2012-2013 contributors

GaryCoulton

MaryLynnDeShazo

FrankFairChuckHempstead

DebbyHopkins-Higham

PeterHugill

HarveyD.Johnson

JoeKemble

ThomasLawrence

W.A.Martin

JohnRugh

CindySimpson

LynnTatum

AndrewJames
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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.
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TACT Legislative Issues 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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