People Involved

UT System

Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D.

Bio

Involvement:

Oversees the University of Texas System which has nine universities and six health institutions, an annual operating budget of $11.9 billion (FY 2010), including $2.5 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources, and more than 202,000 students and 84,000 employees.[1] Stressed importance of teaching and research to a university in his speech “A Framework for Advancing Excellence throughout The University of Texas System” speech to the Board of Regent’s on May 12.[2] Delivered “A Framework for Advancing Excellence throughout The University of Texas System: Action Plan” during the August 25 UT System Board of Regents meeting that focused on: “undergraduate access and success, faculty and administrative excellence, research, productivity and efficiency, strategic investments in the system’s information technology infrastructure, enhancing philanthropic success, boosting Ph.D. programs, advancing the state’s medical education and services and expanding educational opportunities in South Texas.” [2A] The Framework Action Plan was unanimous approved by the Board of Regents during the meeting. [2B]

Wm. Eugene “Gene” Powell

Chairman, UT System Board of Regents

Bio

Involvement:

Powell, a UT Austin alum with a B.B.A. in Finance and a M.B.A. in Finance, currently sits as the chair of the UT System Board of Regents.[3] In e-mail correspondence, it was revealed that Chairman Powell hired Rick O’Donnell without the Board’s approval[4] and suggested, in a draft of possible ideas, that UT-Austin should increase its enrollment and decrease its tuition by 50 percent.[5] Additionally, he has shown support for Governor Rick Perry’s $10,000 degree plan.[6] As part of the UT System’s settlement with former adviser Rick O’Donnell, Powell wrote a letter to O’Donnell thanking him for his “high quality work in support of the task forces of the Board of Regents.” [6A] In a July 8 letter from Kenneth Jastrow II, a prominent UT Austin booster, Powell is criticized for his “lack of support” for UT Austin President William Powers. [6B]

Brenda Pejovich

Regent – UT System Board of Regents

Bio

Involvement:

Regent Pejovich, who received a B.B.A. from UT-Austin [7], chairs the Regents’ Task Force on University Excellence and Productivity and serves as a board member of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an organization that has encouraged the separation of teaching and research.[8] Jeff Sandefer, author of the Seven Breakthrough Solutions for Higher Education, is also a board member of the TPPF. [9] During Task Force report to the Board of Regents, Pejovich said the Task Force on University Excellence and Productivity’s findings were incorporated into Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa’s Framework Action Plan. [9A]

Wallace Hall

Regent, UT System Board of Regents

Bio

Involvement:

Regent Hall graduated with a B.A. in Economics from UT-Austin.[10] He serves as the Chairman of the Regents’ Task Force on Blended and Online Learning. Hall is also the person who Rick O’Donnell sent his March 24 and April 18 letters to.[11][12] Submitted findings from the Task Force on Blended and Online Learning during the Board of Regents meeting on August 25. [12A]

Alex Cranberg

Regent, UT System Board of Regents

Bio

Involvement:

Regent Cranberg graduated Summa Cum Laude from UT Austin with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering and currently sits on the Regents’ Task Force on University Excellence and Productivity.[13] Cranberg has been a skeptic of accountability in higher education stating “There’s some accountability in higher education, but for what?”[14] His ties to Rick O’Donnell were called into question when it was discovered that he financially supported O’Donnell during his 2005 unsuccessful bid to be a Colorado Congressman.[15][16][17] Although he is a longtime friend of Jeff Sandefer, in a recent interview by the Texas Tribune, Regent Cranberg stated that he “doesn’t expect anybody to tell [him] what to do and have [him] do it.”[18] Additionally, on May 17 emails were released that showed Cranberg inquired about the accessibility of an open records request regarding materials for each course taught in the 2009-10 academic year at the UT System’s nine academic campuses.[19] Helped broker a $10 million deal with MyEdu “to provide custom, private-label services for UT that include electronic advising, degree planning and cost calculators.” [19A]

Texas Public Policy Foundation

Rick O’Donnell

Former adviser to the Chancellor’s Office
Former adviser to the UT System Board of Regents
Former director of Colorado’s higher education department
Former Senior Research Fellow, Texas Public Policy Foundation
Former President, Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence

Involvement: O’Donnell’s hiring in February 2011 sparked backlash toward the Board of Regents and possible reforms it is considering, particularly regarding teaching and research. [20] In addition to receiving a controversial salary of $200,000, [21] O’Donnell’s authorship of the TPPF paper entitled “Is Academic Research a Good Investment for Texas?” has been one of the pieces at the heart of discussions surrounding the possibility of separating teaching and research. [22] Upon receiving backlash toward O’Donnell’s views, the  Board of Regents reassigned him to the Chancellor’s Office and to be a special adviser to the two Regent Task Forces. [23] O’Donnell was originally hired as a special adviser to the Board – a hire that emails revealed was improperly done by chairman Gene Powell. [24]

After being reassigned, it was revealed in an analysis of O’Donnell’s paper by the San Antonio Express-News that the paper featured more than two dozen errors. [25] The errors, coupled with a letter that O’Donnell wrote to regent Wallace Hall criticizing the UT System and UT Austin for suppressing data, led to O’Donnell’s firing on April 19. [26] After threatening to sue, the UT System settled with O’Donnell and agreed to “provide O’Donnell with $70,000 and a letter from Gene Powell, the chairman of the board of regents” if he agree not to sue the System. [26A] After reaching a settlement with the UT System, O’Donnell told the Austin American-Statesman that “[Chancellor Francisco] Cigarroa and [UT Austin President William] Powers ginned up opposition among donors, alumni and faculty members to efforts by O’Donnell, regents Chairman Gene Powell and other regents to obtain faculty productivity data.” [26B] O’Donnell O’Donnell also stated that “Cigarroa, Powers and [State Senator Judith Zaffirini] mounted ‘a brutal campaign’ to demonize the regents who have been active in pursuing faculty data, including Powell, Alex Cranberg, Wallace Hall and Brenda Pejovich.” [26C]

On July 20, O’Donnell released an analysis of faculty productivity at UT Austin and Texas A&M University entitled “Higher Education’s Faculty Productivity Gap: The Cost to Students, Parents & Taxpayers.” [26D] In the analysis, O’Donnell criticizes faculty productivity at the two universities and “labels most faculty members as ‘dodgers’ and ‘coasters’ who teach little, relying on a cadre of ‘Sherpas’ to carry the burden of educating students.” [26E]

Jeff Sandefer

Board Member, Texas Public Policy Foundation
Developer, Seven Breakthrough Solutions for Higher Education
Founder, Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence
Friend and donor to Gov. Rick Perry
Former teacher, University of Texas at Austin

Involvement: Developed the Seven Breakthrough Solutions for Higher Education which Gov. Rick Perry has urged, since 2008, for Texas public universities to adopt. [27] Among these solutions are the separation of teaching and research and a “red and black report” approach similar to the one generated by Texas A&M University, which prompted the Association of American Universities to criticize said practice. [28] Sandefer is a former part-time teacher at UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business, “where he helped build a well-regarded entrepreneurship program. In 2002, the [McCombs] School began to bring in more full-time, tenure-track faculty” causing Sandefer to left unhappily. [29] Sandefer, along with regent Pejovich, also sits on the board of the Texas Public Policy Foundation [30] and is a “prominent [Gov. Rick] Perry donor” – donating more than $432,889 to Perry since 2000. [31] In 1999, then Lieutenant Governor Perry tapped Sandefer to a be a member of his “Special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities to examine ‘ways to prepare an enhance the higher education.’” [32] In addition to being connected to Perry, Sandefer has also been linked, through emails, to the development of controversial professor evaluation and reward programs at Texas A&M University [33] and, along with his father, has been pressing members of Texas A&M’s Board of Regents to implement his Seven Breakthrough Solutions for Higher Education. [34] Those released emails also “indicate that [Sandefer] knew Alex Cranberg and Wallace Hall would be appointed to the UT board weeks before the governor’s office made a public announcement.” [35] Sandefer has denied playing a role in Perry’s selection of Cranberg, Hall and also Pejovich. [36]

Texas Government

Governor Rick Perry

Bio

Involvement: Appoints Regents and was the driving force behind the May 2008 summit which produced the Seven Breakthrough Solutions for Higher Education. [37] While Perry and his staff state the Seven Breakthrough Solutions are not a directive, emails obtained through open records requests reveal “‘that the Governor sees [the Solutions] much more as a directive and not mere recommendations or solutions.’” [38] Perry is also donating proceeds of his recent book “Fed Up!” to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, while the 14 TPPF board members have donated nearly $1.5 million to Perry’s campaign fund. [39] Additionally, Perry is close friends with Jeff Sandefer and has reportedly meet with Sandefer and regents during private meetings to discuss implementing the Seven Breakthrough Solutions. [40] In 1999 as Lieutenant Governor, Perry also tapped Sandefer to a be a member of his “Special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities to examine ‘ways to prepare an enhance the higher education.’” [41] Expressed support for UT System Chancellor Cigarroa’s Framework Action Plan. [41A]

Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)

Chairwoman, Senate Higher Education Committee
Co-Chairwoman: Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency

Bio

Involvement: Has criticized chairman Gene Powell for causing “a firestorm of negativity that is detrimental to UT Austin, to the system, to higher education in general — and to his relationship with legislators.” [42] Zaffirini has also expressed her disapproval for reforms advocated by O’Donnell, Sandefer and the Seven Breakthrough Solutions. Additionally, Zaffirini has accused regents of “secret policy making” [43] and has also helped form – and will chair – the new Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency. [44] Expressed support for UT System Chancellor Cigarroa’s Framework Action Plan. [44A]

Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas)

Chairman, House Higher Education Committee
Co-Chairman: Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency

Bio

Involvement: Has stressed importance of quality higher education and helped form the new Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency. [45] Expressed support for UT System Chancellor Cigarroa’s Framework Action Plan. [45A]

UT Austin

William Powers

President, University of Texas at Austin

Bio

Involvement: Has stated that the University must continue to change but needs to be careful about said change. [46] Powers has also spoken about the importance of research to UT Austin and has supported the Course Transformation Program that the University is currently involved in. [47] There has been some speculation that Powers’ job could be “on the line” due to recent reforms being pushed by several regents and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. [48] On Sept. 14, 2011, Powers delivered his sixth annual State of the University Address and spoke about the recent controversy. [49]

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Citations

¹ “Chancellor’s Biography.” University of Texas System. Web.
<http://www.utsystem.edu/cha/biography.htm>.

² Cigarroa, Francisco. “A Framework for Advancing Excellence throughout The University of Texas System.” UT System Board of Regents on May 12. UT System Board of Regents. Ashbel Smith Hall, Austin, TX. 12 May 2011. Address.

^2A Hamilton, Reeve. “UT Regents Bless Cigarroa Plan.” Texas Tribune 25 Aug 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/ut-regents-bless-cigarroa-plan/>.

^2B Hamilton, Reeve. “UT Regents Bless Cigarroa Plan.” Texas Tribune 25 Aug 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/ut-regents-bless-cigarroa-plan/>.

³ “Chairman WM. Eugene “Gene” Powell.” University of Texas System. Web. <http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/profiles/powell.htm>.

⁴ Hamilton, Reeve. “Rick O’Donnell: The Emails.” Texas Tribune 14 Apr 2011. Web.
<http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/rick-odonnell-the-emails/>.

⁵ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “Regents’ chairman suggests boosting UT enrollment, halving tuition.” Austin American-Statesman 02 May 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/regents-chairman-suggests-boosting-ut-enrollment-halving-tuition-1449834.html>.

⁶ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “Regents’ chairman suggests boosting UT enrollment, halving tuition.” Austin American-Statesman 02 May 2011: Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/regents-chairman-suggests-boosting-ut-enrollment-halving-tuition-1449834.html>.

^6A Hamilton, Reeve. “Rick O’Donnell, UT System Agree to Settlement.” Texas Tribune 27 Jun 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/rick-odonnell-ut-system-agree-settlement/>.

^6B Haurwitz, Ralph K.M,. “Booster urges top regent to stand up for UT president.” Austin American-Statesman 25 Jul 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/booster-urges-top-regent-to-stand-up-for-1655234.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage>.

⁷ “Regent Brenda Pejovich.” University of Texas System. Web. <http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/profiles/pejovich.htm>.

⁸ Hamilton, Reeve. “Who’s Behind Proposed Reforms to Texas Higher Ed?.” Texas Tribune 16 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/whos-behind-proposed-reforms-to-texas-higher-ed/>.

⁹ Hamilton, Reeve. “Who’s Behind Proposed Reforms to Texas Higher Ed?.” Texas Tribune 16 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/whos-behind-proposed-reforms-to-texas-higher-ed/>.

^9A Pejovich, Brenda. “Task Force Board Report.” UT System Board of Regents Meeting. UT System Board of Regents. Austin, TX. 25 Aug 2011.

¹⁰ “Regent Wallace L. Hall, Jr..” University of Texas System. Web.
<http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/profiles/hall.htm>.

¹¹ Hamilton, Reeve. “UT System Adviser O’Donnell Explains Research Stance.” Texas Tribune 05 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/university-of-texas-system/ut-system-adviser-odonnell-explains-research/>.

¹² Hamilton, Reeve. “Rick O’Donnell “No Longer Employed by the UT System”.” Texas Tribune 19 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/rick-odonnell-no-longer-employed-by-the-ut-system/>.

^12A Hall, Wallace. “Task Force Board Report.” UT System Board of Regents Meeting. UT System Board of Regents. Austin, TX. 25 Aug 2011.

¹³ “Regent Alex M. Cranberg.” University of Texas System. Web. <http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/profiles/cranberg.htm>.

¹⁴ Brendel, Patrick. “UT regent Cranberg: ‘There’s some accountability in higher education, but for what?’.” Texas Independent 25 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.americanindependent.com/180810/ut-regent-cranberg-theres-some-accountability-in-higher-education-but-for-what>.

¹⁵ Kilday Hart, Patricia. “UT ‘special adviser’ reassigned after outcry.” Houston Chronicle 24 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7490358.html>.

¹⁶ “Controversial Adviser off the UT System Payroll.” Associated Press 20 Apr 2011. Web.
<http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/local/Controversial-Adviser-off-the-UT-System-Payroll-20110420-apx#axzz1QBnWRFHN>.

¹⁷ Ludwig, Melissa. “Controversy could hurt UT in long run.” San Antonio Express-News 23 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Controversy-could-hurt-UT-in-long-run-1349342.php>.

¹⁸ Hamilton, Reeve. “A Lightning Rod on U.T. Board, Regent Is Not Deterred.” Texas Tribune 11 Jun 2011. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/us/12ttcranberg.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1>.

¹⁹ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “UT regents seek more detail about faculty workloads.” Austin American-Statesman 11 Jun 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/ut-regents-seek-more-detail-about-faculty-workloads-1481514.html>.

^19A Ludwig, Melissa. “UT plan targets productivity, academics.” San Antonio Express-News 26 Aug 2011. Web. <http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/UT-board-approves-changes-2141808.php>.

²⁰ Hamilton, Reeve. “Special Adviser at UT System Sparks Concern.” Texas Tribune 14 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/special-adviser-at-ut-system-sparks-concern/>.

²¹ Hamilton, Reeve. “Special Adviser at UT System Sparks Concern.” Texas Tribune 14 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/special-adviser-at-ut-system-sparks-concern/>.

²² Hamilton, Reeve. “UT System Reassigns O’Donnell: “We’re Listening”.” Texas Tribune 17 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/university-of-texas-system/ut-system-reassigns-odonnell-were-listening/>.

²³ Hamilton, Reeve. “UT System Redefines Adviser’s Position, Term Length.” Texas Tribune 24 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/ut-system-redefines-advisers-position-term-length/>.

²⁴ Hamilton, Reeve. “Rick O’Donnell: The Emails.” Texas Tribune 14 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/rick-odonnell-the-emails/>.

²⁵ Ludwig, Melissa. “Research paper’s quality derided.” Houston Chronicle 15 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7522747.html>.

²⁶ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “UT System official ousted after criticizing bosses.” Austin American-Statesman 19 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/ut-system-official-ousted-after-criticizing-bosses-1417279.html>.

^26A Hamilton, Reeve. “Rick O’Donnell, UT System Agree to Settlement.” Texas Tribune 27 Jun 2011. Web.
<http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/rick-odonnell-ut-system-agree-settlement/>.

^26B Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “$70,000 deal in hand, ex-UT official rips educators, lawmaker.” Austin American-Statesman 27 Jun 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/70-000-deal-in-hand-ex-ut-official-1566092.html>.

^26C Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “$70,000 deal in hand, ex-UT official rips educators, lawmaker.” Austin American-Statesman 27 Jun 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/70-000-deal-in-hand-ex-ut-official-1566092.html>.

^26D Hamilton, Reeve. “Rick O’Donnell Releases Faculty Productivity Analysis.” Texas Tribune 20 Jul 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/rick-odonnell-releases-faculty-productivity-analys/>.

^26E Ludwig, Melissa. “Ex-UT System adviser slams faculty.” Houston Chronicle 20 Jul 2011. Web. <http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7662566.html>.

²⁷ Kilday Hart, Patricia. “Perry emails tell a different story.” Houston Chronicle 17 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7524955.html>.

²⁸ Hamilton, Reeve. “AAU to Texas A&M: Resist “Ill-Conceived” Reforms.” Texas Tribune 07 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/aau-to-am-resist-ill-conceived-reforms/>.

²⁹ Hamilton, Reeve. “Who’s Behind Proposed Reforms to Texas Higher Ed?.” Texas Tribune 16 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/whos-behind-proposed-reforms-to-texas-higher-ed/>.

³⁰ Hamilton, Reeve. “Who’s Behind Proposed Reforms to Texas Higher Ed?.” Texas Tribune 16 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/whos-behind-proposed-reforms-to-texas-higher-ed/>.

³¹ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “UT controversy a distraction from its tech potential, Perry says.”Austin American-Statesman 31 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/ut-controversy-a-distraction-from-its-tech-potential-1365735.html>.

³² Hamilton, Reeve. “Who’s Behind Proposed Reforms to Texas Higher Ed?.” Texas Tribune 16 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/whos-behind-proposed-reforms-to-texas-higher-ed/>.

³³ Kilday Hart, Patricia. “Perry Friend Questions Need For PhDs.” San Antonio Express-News 10 Apr 2011. Web. <http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2011/04/perry-friend-questions-need-for-phds/>.

³⁴ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “Perry ally pushed reforms at A&M, records show.” Austin American-Statesman 11 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/perry-ally-pushed-reforms-at-a-m-records-1392357.html>.

³⁵ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “Ex-oilman’s drive for market-based education has influenced governor, prompted a backlash.” Austin American-Statesman 09 May 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/ex-oilmans-drive-for-market-based-education-has-1463323.html>.

³⁶ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “Ex-oilman’s drive for market-based education has influenced governor, prompted a backlash.” Austin American-Statesman 09 May 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/ex-oilmans-drive-for-market-based-education-has-1463323.html>.

³⁷ Kilday Hart, Patricia. “Perry emails tell a different story.” Houston Chronicle 17 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7524955.html>.

³⁸ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “UT records show deeper involvement of Perry in pressing for reforms.” Austin American-Statesman 15 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/ut-records-show-deeper-involvement-of-perry-in-1405047.html>.

³⁹ Tuma, Mary. “Think tank at center of A&M criticisms is also helping shape statewide higher ed reforms.” Texas Independent 09 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.americanindependent.com/172942/think-tank-at-center-of-am-criticisms-is-also-helping-shape-statewide-higher-ed-reforms>.

⁴⁰ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “UT records show deeper involvement of Perry in pressing for reforms.” Austin American-Statesman 15 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/ut-records-show-deeper-involvement-of-perry-in-1405047.html>.

⁴¹ Hamilton, Reeve. “Who’s Behind Proposed Reforms to Texas Higher Ed?.” Texas Tribune 16 Mar 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/whos-behind-proposed-reforms-to-texas-higher-ed/>.

^41A “Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on UT System Improvement Plan.” Austin, TX. 25 Aug 2011.

⁴² Hamilton, Reeve. “Zaffirini and Powell Escalate Texas Higher Ed Fight.” Texas Tribune 03 May 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/zaffirini-and-powell-escalate-texas-higher-ed/>.

⁴³ Haurwitz, Ralph K.M. “Senator accuses UT regents of secret policymaking.” Austin American-Statesman 12 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.statesman.com/news/local/senator-accuses-ut-regents-of-secret-policymaking-1395076.html>.

⁴⁴ Hamilton, Reeve. “Legislators Create Higher Ed Oversight Committee.” Texas Tribune 06 May 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/legislators-create-higher-ed-oversight-committee/>.

^44A “Statement of Senator Judith Zaffirini Regarding Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa’s Presentation to The University of Texas System Board of Regents.” 25 Aug 2011.

⁴⁵ Hamilton, Reeve. “Legislators Create Higher Ed Oversight Committee.” Texas Tribune 06 May 2011. Web. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/legislators-create-higher-ed-oversight-committee/>.

^45A “Statement from Chairman Dan Branch Regarding the Release of the Framework Action Plan by UT System Chancellor, Dr. Francisco Cigarroa.” 25 Aug 2011.

⁴⁶ Powers, Bill. “At University of Texas, research enhances teaching.” Houston Chronicle 06 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7510435.html>.

⁴⁷ Powers, William. “The Public Research University of the Future: A Report to the Commission of 125 and the University of Texas Community.” UT Austin. UT Austin Student Activity Center, Austin, TX. 09 May 2011. Address.

⁴⁸ Kidlay Hart, Patricia. “Perry’s pal pressing his ‘seven solutions’.” Houston Chronicle 11 Apr 2011. Web. <http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7515817.html>.

⁴⁹ Hamilton, Reeve. “UT President Bill Powers: “We Are a House Divided”.” Texas Tribune. 14 Sep 2011. Web. 16 Sep. 2011. <http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/ut-president-bill-powers-we-are-house-divided/>.