Higher Education Debate in Texas: A Timeline of Key Events*
*Each date links to a relevant article or document. Updated June 16, 2016
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1979 |
OCTOBER 4, 1979: University of Texas (UT) at Austin President Dr. Peter T. Flawn writes Widget Theory for Higher Education; uses satire as a warning against treating higher education as a business |
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2007 |
OCTOBER 1 – NOVEMBER 27, 2007: Process to replace Dr. Robert Gates as president of Texas A&M University (TAMU) is questioned; system of “shared governance” championed by Gates discarded by TAMU Board of Regents |
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DECEMBER 7, 2007: Following controversial selection process, Dr. Elsa Murano named the sole finalist for President of TAMU |
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2008 |
MAY 21, 2008: Governor Perry convenes Higher Ed Summit led by the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) and for-profit educator Jeff Sandefer; “seven solutions” introduced |
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JULY 30, 2008: TAMU System Board of Regents pushes “seven solutions” |
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2009 |
JUNE 14, 2009: Murano resigns as President of TAMU |
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2010 |
SEPTEMBER 2010: TAMU releases red and black report measuring faculty against each other based on revenue generation |
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SEPTEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 1, 2010: |
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2011 |
FEBRUARY 1, 2011: Governor Rick Perry appoints Alex Cranberg, Wallace Hall, Jr. and Brenda Pejovich (TPPF Board Member) to the UT System Board of Regents |
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FEBRUARY 24, 2011: During a hiring freeze, former TPPF Fellow Rick O’Donnell was hired as senior advisor to the UT System |
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MARCH 12, 2011: New Chair of the UT System Board of Regents, Gene Powell, backtracks from controversial “Bel-Air” comments over university quality; assures that “one size doesn’t fit all” |
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MARCH 14, 2011: Prominent UT Alumnus, Gordon Appleman, sends wide-spread letter warning of the “degradation of UT” |
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MARCH 16, 2011: UT System Board of Regents chairman reassigns O’Donnell to UT System chancellor following inquiry by Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini |
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MARCH 24, 2011: Texas Exes president issues call to action to alumni; warns of threat to core values |
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APRIL 6, 2011: UT Task Force visits Arizona State University |
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APRIL 8, 2011: UT Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee unanimously adopts resolution stating ‘unreserved confidence’ in Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa’s leadership, following controversial hire of UT System advisor whose job description mirrors the Chancellor’s duties |
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APRIL 13, 2011: UT Austin student body president responds to Arizona State University visit in an open letter to students |
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APRIL 20, 2011: O’Donnell fired following public scrutiny over hiring process and his controversial positions |
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APRIL 21, 2011: Texas Exes Board of Directors unanimously adopts resolution supporting UT Austin President Bill Powers |
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APRIL 29, 2011: TPPF’s Ronald Trowbridge launches higher education attack |
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MAY 2, 2011: Amid rumors about President Powers’ future, current and past chairs of the Development Board of UT Austin write Chairman Powell and the UT System Board in support of President Powers |
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MAY 3, 2011: Group of 22 TAMU Distinguished Alumni send open letter opposing the “seven solutions” |
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MAY 6, 2011: Texas Legislature creates Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency |
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MAY 24, 2011: TAMU System Board of Regents chairman sends letter to faculty reinforcing the importance of teaching, research and service |
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JUNE 14, 2011: UT Austin Dean Randy Diehl issues report highlighting the impact of liberal arts education |
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JUNE 16, 2011: Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education (Coalition) is founded |
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JULY 1, 2011: TAMU System Chancellor Mike McKinney steps down |
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JULY 6, 2011: UT Austin debunks “seven solutions” with Maintaining Excellence and Efficiency at The University of Texas at Austin report
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JULY 8, 2011: Prominent UT philanthropist, Kenneth Jastrow II, calls on Chairman Powell to support President Powers |
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JULY 14, 2011: Fired UT System Advisor O’Donnell releases report labeling faculty as “coasters” and “sherpas” |
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AUGUST 3, 2011: Governor Perry announces creation of Western Governors University Texas |
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AUGUST 17 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2011: John Sharp appointed Chancellor of TAMU System; touts importance of research and teaching |
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AUGUST 25, 2011: UT System Board of Regents unanimously approves Chancellor Cigarroa’s Framework for Advancing Excellence |
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2011: First hearing of Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency |
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OCTOBER 12, 2011: Young Texans for Excellence in Higher Education and Our Degrees Matter launch |
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OCTOBER 17, 2011: Second Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency hearing |
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NOVEMBER 14, 2011: An analysis of Faculty Instructional and Grant-based Productivity at The University of Texas at Austin report finds UT Austin faculty highly productive |
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2012 |
JANUARY 17, 2012: Richard Vedder launches attack on higher education |
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FEBRUARY 15, 2012: UT Austin releases Task Force on Undergraduate Graduation Rates report |
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FEBRUARY 15, 2012: Amid declining state support, TAMU President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin proposes tuition increase at TAMU to fill in gap |
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MARCH 2, 2012: Coalition convenes higher education leaders for status update with founding members |
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APRIL 9, 2012: President Loftin expresses support for tuition increases at the TAMU Faculty Senate meeting |
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APRIL 21, 2012: Coalition members Dr. Ray Bowen and Jon Hagler criticize TAMU Board of Regents for “failing to protect the university” |
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MAY 2, 2012: TAMU President Loftin reverses position on tuition increase, declines to request one from Board of Regents |
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MAY 3, 2012: UT System Board of Regents declines UT Austin tuition request and decides on two-year, in-state tuition freeze |
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MAY 4, 2012: TAMU System Board of Regents vote to increase tuition at all campuses except the College Station flagship and San Antonio campus, which did not request |
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MAY 9, 2012: Journalist Paul Burka reports President Powers’ job is in jeopardy |
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MAY 10, 2012: Grassroots movement surges to rally behind President Powers and against rumors of termination |
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JUNE 1, 2012: Trowbridge and Vedder suggest privatization of UT Austin and TAMU |
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JUNE 16, 2012: The Coalition marks its one-year anniversary |
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AUGUST 28, 2012: Coalition launches campaign to highlight the importance of 2013 regent appointments |
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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012: Texas Monthly features cover story on “The Battle for UT” |
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OCTOBER 16, 2012: President of the Association of American Universities speaks at University of Virginia stating that it's Texas, not Virginia, which is at "ground zero" and "UT and A&M are under attack" |
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2013 |
FEBRUARY 3, 2013: Associated Press draws national attention to “Battle for UT Austin” |
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FEBRUARY 8, 2013: UT Austin Provost Steven Leslie resigns |
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FEBRUARY 13, 2013: UT System Board of Regents reportedly “grills” UT President Bill Powers |
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FEBRUARY 18, 2013: Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst issues impassioned speech in support of UT Austin President Bill Powers |
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FEBRUARY 20, 2013: Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst and Speaker Straus reinstate Higher Education Oversight Committee |
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MARCH 1, 2013: UT System Regent Wallace Hall Requests more than 100,000 pages of documents from UT Austin |
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MARCH 7, 2013: UT System Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Barry Burgdorf resigns |
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MARCH 19, 2013: Legislative Oversight Committee ‘Floods’ UT System with Records Request |
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MARCH 19, 2013: Lawmaker calls Regents’ efforts against UT Austin President Bill Powers a ‘Witch Hunt’ |
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MARCH 20, 2013: In split vote, UT System Regents approve further inquiry into UT Law School Foundation |
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MARCH 25, 2013: The Houston Chronicle features front page story, “Perry-UT power struggle intensifies” |
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MARCH 27, 2013: Senate Higher Education Committee proposes SB 15, which would limit the responsibilities of public university governing boards to those spelled out in law |
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MARCH 29, 2013: House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts proposes an amendment to limit power of UT System |
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APRIL 5, 2013: UT System BOR Chairman Gene Powell asks Attorney General for permission to withhold records from lawmakers |
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APRIL 5, 2013: UT Austin’s Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Oshinsky quits, citing recent UT System controversy as a factor in departure |
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APRIL 6, 2013: Senator Judith Zaffirini responds to Chairman Powell’s letter to the Attorney General |
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APRIL 8, 2013: Senator Kel Seliger asks Governor Perry to step in to help ease tension between UT System Regents and lawmakers |
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APRIL 11, 2013: Senate Committee on Higher Education proposes bill to require further training of university system regents |
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APRIL 11, 2013: The Daily Texan reviews progress toward Commission of 125 goals; Coalition members comment |
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APRIL 11, 2013: Senate passes SB 15, refining the role of University Regents |
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APRIL 11, 2013: UT System Regents agree to release data to lawmakers |
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APRIL 15, 2013: Texas Monthly features an exclusive interview with UT System Regent Wallace Hall |
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MAY 13, 2013: The Texas House of Representatives tentatively approves SB 15, refining the role of University Regents |
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MAY 24, 2013: Senate confirms three UT System Regents after spirited nominations hearing with thorough questioning |
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JUNE 14, 2013: Gov. Perry vetoes Senate Bill 15, a bill intended to strengthen the governing boards of Texas institutions of public higher education. |
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JUNE 25, 2013: Speaker Joe Straus authorizes House Committee to launch an investigation into misconduct by university regents |
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JULY 13, 2013: Texas A&M President Bowen Loftin resigns |
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AUGUST 23, 2013: Vowing to “move this system forward” Paul Foster is elected Chair of the UT System Board of Regents |
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SEPTEMBER 11, 2013: UT Austin President Bill Powers becomes first Texan to be named President of the Association of American Universities (AAU) |
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SEPTEMBER 19, 2013: UT System Regent Steve Hicks with Alabama Coach Nick Saban about the possibility of replacing UT Austin Longhorns football coach Mack Brown. UT System Regent Wallace L. Hall, Jr. was also involved |
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OCTOBER 1, 2013: UT Austin President Bill Powers named 2014 Alumnus of the Year by the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) |
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OCTOBER 14, 2013: Austin-based entrepreneur and teacher Jeff Sandefer engages in the discussion with an opinion editorial in the Dallas Morning News, “UT slips to No. 52 in US News rankings amid faux prestige” |
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NOVEMBER 9, 2013: The Coalition’s own Pamela Willeford sends a letter to alumni, which was picked up as an opinion editorial by the Houston Chronicle |
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DECEMBER 12, 2013: UT System Board of Regents places UT Austin President Powers’ job in question; Board ultimately supported retaining him on staff |
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DECEMBER 14, 2013: Gov. Perry attempts to appoint Guy Diedrich as interim president to succeed R. Bowen Loftin at Texas A&M University |
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DECEMBER 15, 2013: Mark Hussey named Texas A&M interim president |
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2014 |
FEBRUARY 10, 2014: University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa resigns |
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FEBRUARY 18, 2014: Gov. Perry encourages UT System Regents to consider Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek for the position as UT System Chancellor |
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FEBRUARY 19, 2014: The Houston Chronicle editorializes on the proper role of a university regent |
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MARCH 17, 2014: Lawmakers raise questions about UT System Chancellor’s resignation |
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APRIL 2, 2014: Chancellor asked UT's Powers to step down, notes show |
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APRIL 7, 2014: Investigative Report to the House Select Committee in State Agency Operations shows UT Regent Wallace Hall may have broken law |
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April 22, 2014: Coalition echoes call for Regent Hall to go |
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April 25, 2014: The Travis County District Attorney’s office announces it will open an investigation into allegations of potential criminal activity by Regent Hall |
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May 12, 2014: Transparency Committee votes 7-1 that grounds exist to proceed with impeachment of Wallace Hall |
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May 15, 2014: Austin American-Statesman editorial board urges Hall’s resignation |
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May 15, 2014: UT Board of Regents Chairman Paul Foster publicly calls on Regent Hall to step down |
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May 20, 2014: Governor Perry defends Regent Hall, criticizes Legislature |
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July 2, 2014: Chancellor Cigarroa gives President Powers an ultimatum to resign or be fired; Powers refuses |
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July 9, 2014: Cigarroa relents; allows Powers to set timetable for orderly departure |
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July 29, 2014: UT System Regents pick Admiral Bill McRaven as next Chancellor of the UT System |
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August 11, 2014: House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations Casts Historic Vote to Censure UT Regent Wallace Hall |
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2015 |
January 7, 2015: Chancellor Bill McRaven starts at UT System, Pens Open Letter at the Start of New Era, Urging stakeholders to “Resolve arguments and Look to the Future” |
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January 22, 2015: Governor Abbot Appoints New Regents to UT and Texas A&M Systems |
Coalition Statement on UT System& Texas A&M SystemAppointments |
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February 3, 2015: Texas A&M Board of Regents Appoint Michael K. Young as next president of Flagship Institution |
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March 27, 2015: UT System Board of Regents Appoint Greg Fenves as next president of Flagship Institution |
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March 31, 2015: Travis County Grand Jury Admonishes Regent Hall, Recommends His Removal |
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June 24, 2015: Regent Wallace Hall files lawsuit against UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven |
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September 16, 2015: Greg Fenves is inaugurated as the 29th president of The University of Texas at Austin |
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2016 |
June 16, 2016: Coalition Turns Five, Pledges Renewed Vigilance and Advocacy for Texas Public Higher Education |