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Jan. 22, 2004

Gov. Rick Perry Directs University Regents to Set Accountability Standards

Goals Are to Determine Financial Efficiency, Quality of Education

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today directed university regents to begin setting accountability standards to ensure tax dollars colleges and universities receive are being efficiently spent and college students are receiving a quality education. Perry issued the directive in an executive order.

“Our institutions of higher education should be held accountable to taxpayers for the billions of dollars in state funding they receive each year,” Perry said. “It also is essential students and parents know they are getting a quality education for their tuition dollars.”

In his executive order, the governor directed that the boards of regents for each public institution and university system work with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in developing the accountability measures.

That system, the governor said, should “provide Texans with the information necessary to determine the effectiveness and quality of student education at individual institutions, and the basis upon which to evaluate the institutions’ need for additional state resources.”

“Whether in tough economic times or economic boom times, our colleges and universities must clearly define their need for additional state funding,” Perry added. “They must make the case to justify the public’s continued investment of resources.”

Perry noted public schools that educate students in kindergarten through grade 12 have been held to accountability standards for more than 10 years.

“The public has the right to demand complete accountability for its investment in institutions of education,” Perry said in his executive order. “Systems and institutions of higher education must be able to clearly define the need for additional state funding in a manner which will justify the public’s continued investment of resources.”

Perry set a deadline of Dec. 17 for receipt of the accountability system proposals.

Read the Executive Order.