UT Rejects Rick Perry's Plan To Treat Students As 'Customers' In New Proposal

[sonias]

Huffington Post 7/7/11
UT Rejects Rick Perry's Plan To Treat Students As 'Customers' In New Proposal


In a 17-page-report released on Wednesday, the Liberal Arts dean at the University of Texas rejected Rick Perry's much touted plan to treat students as 'customers' in order to reduce costs.

Randy Diehl blasted several of the proposed reforms to the University of Texas system which include judging teachers on student evaluations and making research more limited unless for direct financial gain. These initiatives have been heavily promoted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation (a think tank associated with Perry) who have criticized the UT system for raising tuition 86 percent over the last ten years.

(snip)
"The status quo that some Texas universities try to protect — with rapidly increasing tuition and four-year graduation averaging just 28.6 percent — is not keeping pace with our state's needs," Miner told the Austin-American Statesman. "University faculty and their allies should join the reform efforts and recommend ways to innovate, improve graduation rates and enhance accountability and efficiency at Texas colleges and universities. Resisting reform and accountability is an unsustainable recipe for mediocrity and stagnation."

:applause:

[sonias]

1. UT dean criticizes proposals by governor, regent, policy group

AAS 7/6/11
UT dean criticizes proposals by governor, regent, policy group

The University of Texas took a two-pronged approach Wednesday in its latest effort to resist higher education policies advocated by an Austin-based think tank, Gov. Rick Perry and the chairman of UT's governing board.

First, the university released a 17-page report by one of its most prominent deans warning that the policies would undermine research, teaching and efforts to increase graduation rates. Second, it acknowledged that graduation rates must be increased and said a panel would recommend policies intended to achieve that goal.

The report, "Maintaining Excellence and Efficiency at The University of Texas at Austin: A response to the seven 'breakthrough solutions' and other proposals," was written by Liberal Arts Dean Randy Diehl and his top aides. Diehl also has been named by UT President William Powers Jr. to lead the panel on graduation rates.

The report takes issue with seven "breakthrough solutions" promoted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based think tank with close ties to Perry. The foundation's recommendations include awarding bonuses to teachers based solely on student evaluations, separating research and teaching budgets, and giving state higher education funding directly to students in what would amount to a voucher system.

Great going Dean Randy Diehl! Prepare to be attacked by the conservative uneducated masses!

Thank you!!! :loveya:

[sonias]

2. Coalition takes issue with comments by Perry spokesman

Lowdown on Higher Ed blog AAD 7/7/11
Coalition takes issue with comments by Perry spokesman

(snip)
The statement went on to say:

“As the Coalition has said repeatedly, the question is not whether higher education needs to improve, but how to effect change in a constructive way that strengthens quality rather than undermines it.

“Interestingly, the statement from the Governor’s office never mentions educational quality, which is vital for Texas students, businesses and the economic development and growth of our state. By choosing to discount a scientific and research-based analysis of proposals that threaten to undermine the quality of higher education in Texas, the Governor’s spokesman creates the impression that his efforts are about scoring political points rather than improving higher education.

“If Governor Perry truly wants to reduce costs and improve productivity of higher education in Texas, he should start by focusing on improving the college readiness of Texas students. Unfortunately, Texas ranks a dismal 36th in the nation for high school graduation rates and 50th for percentage of Texans with a high school diploma. Today, Texas taxpayers are being double-charged—first to fund high school, then to fund remedial programs when students are unprepared to succeed in college.

“According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, both UT-Austin and Texas A&M consistently rank at the top of the list for six-year graduation rates with approximately 84 percent graduating in six-years from both institutions. Our Texas public higher education institutions are committed to ensuring that college students earn degrees that equip them to be leaders in the global economy and the Coalition unwaveringly supports these efforts.”

:kick: