By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
Students of state universities in Texas could have a say in the ongoing battle over increasing tuition rates at their respective campuses if Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) has his way.
Wentworth today announced the filing of his SB 934, that would allow the addition of a student to the nine-member boards of regents at state-supported universities.
The San Antonio legislator said because the legislature deregulated tuition and now allows regents to set tuition at any rate they choose, not allowing a student member on boards of regents is a "form of taxation without representation."
He said the nominees must either be undergraduate or graduate students at their respective universities. Once seated on the board of regents, they would become a non-voting regent designate for one year and then would follow up the next year as a voting member.
The student regent would be nominated on his or her campus, with the nominations going to the president of a single-university campus such as Stephen F. Austin State University or the University of North Texas and the nominations going to the chancellor of a school that is part of a system - such as The University of Texas or Texas A&M. The names would then be forwarded to the governor and the governor will make nominations. The nominees would be subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Wentworth said many boards of regents are made up of "nine relatively older Texans, many of whom have not been a student in two, three or four decades." He said it seems it would be beneficial to those regents to have insight from one member of their board who understands the problems and issues faced daily by students.
Eight other members of the Senate have signed on as co-authors of the bill, said Wentworth, who admitted that when approached some members had "reservations." But he said he is going to continue to try to work out their differences between now and the time the bill comes to the Senate floor.
Rep. Patrick Rose (D-Austin) has authored companion legislation in the House - HB 1968. With the deregulation of tuition rates at Texas-supported colleges and universities, Rose said there has "never been a more compelling reason to allow our boards of regents to have the voice of one student than there is today."
Many of the individuals who are university regents today "graduated a long time ago," said Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston). "Some haven't been on a campus in two to three decades as well." He said particularly when those boards begin talk of raising tuition, it is important to have someone on the board who is "directly affected."
Another co-sponsor of the legislation, Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville), said students should have the right to voice their opinions and concerns regarding issues on their campuses, and allowing a student member on boards of regents is a good first step. "Everybody should have an opportunity to be at the Texas table."