House Committee on Higher Education - 80th R.S. (2007)
Committee Members
- Geanie Morrison, Chair
- Brian McCall, Vice Chair
- Fred Brown, Chair - Budget & Oversight
- Roberto Alonzo
- Jimmie Don Aycock
- Helen Giddings
- Donna Howard
- Diane Patrick
- Patrick Rose
Charges
- Evaluate the cost and feasibility of requiring students who attend institutions of higher education to be covered by a health benefit plan. Evaluate whether institutions should have the authority to offer tuition waivers or insurance coverage to graduate students or fellows.
- Study and evaluate strategies for improving student participation and success, particularly in the critical fields identified in Closing the Gaps, through student financial aid or incentive funding for higher education institutions.
- Examine and evaluate institutional policies and programs designed to promote student participation and success, including outreach, admissions, and transfer policies, developmental education programs, and relevant student support programs.
- Research alternative methodologies for funding developmental education, and evaluate whether or not appropriating a portion of these funds directly to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board could help improve developmental education results.
- Examine state and local policies that relate to the marketing and sale of college textbooks.
- Study and recommend policy approaches or structures to ensure that the establishment or expansion of higher education programs, facilities, and institutions are aligned with the educational goals and economic needs of the state.
- Examine strategies for improving state financial aid programs. Evaluate the design and administration of state financial aid programs in terms of operational efficiency and effectiveness in advancing state goals for student participation and success.
- Study innovations in state educational data systems. Develop recommendations for a comprehensive state educational system that will ensure the best available information for educators and policymakers, include unique student records that may be transferred easily among authorized institutions, minimize duplicative or onerous reporting requirements, and meed federal privacy requirements in a manner consistent with the practices of leading states. Recommend statutory changes necessary to facilitate the implementation of the new data system and to eliminate unnecessary reporting requirements. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Public Education.)
- Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.
Notes
Charges issued by the Speaker November 29, 2007.
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