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Now that the governor of Texas has announced his intention to become the next president of the United States, it might be interesting for readers to take a look at education in the Lone Star State. The College Guide has previously looked into Rick Perry’s unconventional plans for education, which involve extensive oversight of higher education, separating research from instruction, rewarding professors for teaching a lot of students, and giving more weight to student evaluations in tenure decisions.
Another odd thing about Texas is that the state just really doesn’t seem to value academics very much. At most higher education institutions the top administrators are former professors. They’re intellectuals who, either because of inclination or failure to obtain tenure, decided to work in the university’s central management. This is often not the case in Texas, however. Texas state schools are run by former politicians.
According to an article by Melissa Ludwig in the Houston Chronicle:
Former Comptroller John Sharp, a Democrat with a long history in state politics, was named Monday the sole finalist to oversee the Texas A&M University System, among the largest in the nation with 11 universities, seven state agencies and a health science center.
Other politicians-turned-chancellors include Brian McCall at the Texas State University System, Lee Jackson at the University of North Texas System and Kent Hance of the Texas Tech University System.
Sharp is apparently an old friend of Governor Rick Perry. Both graduated from Texas A&M University and were members of the school’s Corps of Cadets in the 1960s.
Sharp replaces Chancellor Mike McKinney, Perry’s former chief of staff, who resigned from A & M in May. According to the article “some have reported that McKinney was pushed out because he did not move quickly enough to implement the…‘seven solutions’ for higher education favored by Perry.”
Sharp did not comment specifically about Perry’s controversial education reform plans, though he’s had a long history of promoting “efficiency” in various state agencies. The A & M regents are apparently interested in Sharp’s plans “to get more bang for the university’s buck” at the school.
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MIlan Moravec on August 19, 2011 6:16 PM:
When a Chancellor runs a University without transparency. Like any addiction, admitting you have a problem is the first step toward correcting it. University of California Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau ($500,000 salary) has forgotten he is a public servant, steward of the public money, not overseer of his own fiefdom.
Tuition, fee increases exceed national average rate of increase.
Recruits (using California tax $) out of state, foreign $50,600 students who displace qualified sons, daughters of Californians from Cal.
Spends $7,000,000 + for consultants to do his & vice chancellors work
(Prominent East Coast University accomplishing same 0 cost).
University accrues $150 million of inefficiencies over his 8 year reign.
Pays: ex Michigan governor $300,000 for lectures.
In procuring $3,000,000 consultant failed to receive proposals from other firms.
Latino enrollment drops out of state jump 2010(M Krupnick Contra Costa Times)
Best in nation rank: # 70 Forbes
Academic rank: QS academic falls below top ten.
Tuition to Return on Investment drops below top 10.
Cal most expensive USA public university
NCAA: absence senior management oversight, basketball program on probation.
These are not isolated examples: it�s all shameful. There is no justification for such irregularities by a steward of the public trust. Absolutely none.
Birgeneau�s spend thrift practices will not change. University of California Board of Regents Chair Sherry Lansing must do a better job of vigorously enforcing financial oversight of Birgeneau who treat�s Cal. as his fiefdom. Only then will confidence of Alumni, donors begin to improve.
My agenda is transparency. I have 35 years� consulting experience; have taught at UC Berkeley, where I observed the culture & the way senior management works. No, I was not fired or downsized & have not solicited contracts from UC/Cal.