The prosperity that Texas has been enjoying could spiral downward if steps are not taken to ensure an educated population and workforce for the future of our state. Dr. Gardner will provide a summary of Texas demographics and an update on progress made toward Closing the Gaps by 2015, the state's higher education plan.

The Texas Performance and Accountability System for public higher education makes data available for Texas' public universities, colleges, and health-related institutions. The Accountability System has been in place for nearly five years. Susan Brown will provide an overview of this system and how it is being used to better serve the needs of our state, communities, and students.

Panelists:

• Cullen M. "Mike" Godfrey, General Counsel, Texas A&M University System
• Fernando C. Gomez, Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, Texas State University System

Panelists will provide an overview of open meetings and open records in Texas. They will lead an interactive discussion about effective trusteeship, ethics, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

Most state funds appropriated each biennium to public higher education institutions are distributed by the Legislature through funding formulas designed to allocate the funds equitably among institutions. The Texas Education Code and General Appropriations Act directs the Coordinating Board to review and recommend changes to these formulas. Diebel will provide a summary of these funding mechanisms for public institutions in Texas.

• Harry L. Crumpacker, Chairman, Board of Regents, Texas Woman's University
• Carroll Robertson Ray, Member, Board of Regents, University of Houston System
• Roberto Zárate, Member, Board of Trustees, Alamo Community College District

Governing board members who serve public colleges and universities fulfill their considerable responsibilities in an increasing complex political, economic, and social environment. Panelists will include governing board members from Texas institutions of higher education who will discuss the biggest concerns of new regents and trustees, relations among governing board members and senior administrators, and evaluation of board and executive performance.

The Texas Higher Education Board is grateful for the steadfast support of the Texas Legislature for higher education and the students of Texas, especially in tough economic times. Without that support, Texas would not be as close as it is to reaching the goals of the state's higher education plan, Closing the Gaps by 2015, and could not continue that progress as effectively. Dr. Paredes and members of the Coordinating Board will discuss the key recommendations that encompass the priorities and strategies that the Coordinating Board believes will best enable the 81st Texas Legislature to leverage the state's investments in higher education and ultimately reach the goals of Closing the Gaps by 2015.

Senator Steve Ogden is a Leader on budget issues, school finance, and higher education funding. He has worked to raise the overall quality of education in Texas. He has strived to ensure that Texas institutions of higher education are providing students the best chance at a better life.

Higher education institutions and policy makers are seeking ways to measure institutional effectiveness by gathering quality student learning assessment data. In his presentation, Dr. Shavelson will clarify assessment terms such as learning, achievement, and value added; provide a brief history of the assessment of learning in higher education; provide examples of alternative learning assessments available today; and highlight the newest of them, The Collegiate Learning Assessment. Dr. Shavelson's research spans and integrates student learning, teaching and assessment, and various aspects of measurement and validity theory.

Presentation 1
Presentation 2

• Richard J. Shavelson, Ph.D., Margaret Jacks Professor of Education, Stanford University

• David W. Gardner, Ph.D., Deputy Commissioner for Academic Planning and Policy, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• Susan E. Brown, Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Accountability, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

• William M. Franz, General Counsel, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• Fernando C. Gomez, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, Texas State University System
• Cullen M. "Mike" Godfrey, Chief Legal Officer, Texas A&M University Health Science Center (by conference call)

Luncheon, Keynote Speakers, and 2008 Star Awards Ceremony
Raymund A. Paredes, Commissioner of Higher Education
"The State of Higher Education"

Texas Higher Education Star Awards Ceremony

Presentation