First Alerts

Legislative Special Session

Submitted by TACT on Mon, 07/17/2017 - 14:47
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With the Special Legislative Session beginning this week, the spotlight is not on higher education, though TACT will continue to monitor issues for those affecting faculty. The Governor has only mentioned 20 issues that might be fair game during these 30 days, but already hundreds of pieces of legislation have been filed. As always, many bills address public education, which TACT emphasized as a priority during the Regular Session. The bills filed mentioning higher education are limited to:

TACT meeting with TCFS and TC/AAUP

Submitted by TACT on Tue, 07/11/2017 - 13:48
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TACT will be meeting with TCFS and TC/AAUP for the Fall conference on October 27 and 28, 2017. Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites. Details on room reservations are below.

Hotel Name: Embassy Suites Austin Central
Hotel Address: 5910 North I.H 35, Austin, TX 78723
Hotel Telephone: 1-800-729-5711

Group Name: TCFS
Group Code: CFS
(When placing a reservation, use group name and group code.)

2017 Legislative Session in Review Highlights

Submitted by TACT on Tue, 06/27/2017 - 10:15
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Adequate funding was the number one issue for the Texas Association of College Teachers (TACT). The initial legislative appropriations bill introduced in January was harsh toward universities, with cuts ranging from six to ten percent. Higher education appropriations had fared well in 2015, but the Texas Comptroller’s revenue estimate for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 did not promise any extra gravy to spread around. In late May, the contrast between competing House and Senate versions exceeded a billion dollars.

Higher Education Funding Appropriations 2018-19

Submitted by TACT on Thu, 06/15/2017 - 13:29
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Take a look to see how the budget funding affected your school. To see a full list with comparison to the 2016-17 appropriations, click HERE

FORMER TEXAS COMMISSIONER PENS COMMENTARY ON CUTS TO HIGHER ED

Submitted by TACT on Thu, 05/11/2017 - 12:27
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Kenneth H. Ashworth, Long-Serving Texas Commissioner of Higher Education and current TACT member, has written a compelling guest editorial on the cause and effects of higher education defunding. To read the article titled, Commentary: Texas’ future unravels with budget cuts to higher education, in the myStatesman, click HERE. This opinion comes just a day after TACT delivered letters to members of the Appropriations Conference Committee encouraging larger appropriations, particularly for student aid and special items.

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