ITEM__________
UNT SYSTEM’S RESPONSE TO CLOSING THE GAPS PLAN
PERTINENT FACTS
In October 2000, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) adopted a statewide strategic plan, entitled Closing the Gaps, and focused on current and worsening shortfalls in this state’s college and university student participation, degree completion, competitiveness with other states’ and countries’ higher education systems and in securing federal science and engineering research dollars. Unless these gaps are closed, the competitiveness of Texas in the global marketplace and its economic (and, even, political) future seem certain to deteriorate.
The plan established four goals: to increase student enrollment in colleges and universities by 500,000 in 2015, with the second goal of increasing the number of degree holders by 50%, with special attention to the sciences, engineering, education and allied health. The third goal focused on increasing the number of nationally recognized academic programs and services, while establishing (probably for the first time) a statewide inventory of those programs and services already in the desired category. The fourth goal aimed at increasing the level of annual federal science and engineering research funding to Texas institutions.
Members of the THECB met with UNT Regents in January 2001, and discussed how institutions in the UNT System could help meet the goals set forth in the plan. In an April 20, 2001 memorandum, the chair of the THECB requested more detailed information on institutional targets for each goal.
The Chancellor asked the system planning office to coordinate responses to Closing the Gaps from UNT institutions. A committee, composed of representatives from UNT and the UNTHSC-FW, worked to draft targets for each institution and the future UNT-D. The committee used 2000 census data and the direction of the THECB chair and Commissioner Brown to "stretch in setting institutional goals...and assume adequate resources" will be available.
Such resources must be made available by the state, if the UNT System institutions are to make meaningful contributions to achieve the goals of the plan. Those resources extend to more than academic and operating support. For example, improved ground transportation, either by automobile or mass transit, will be essential for effective access to the Denton and other campuses.
Dynamic population growth in the North Texas area presents both opportunities and increased responsibilities for the UNT System, as the only university system primarily focused on the higher education needs of what is now the largest population in Texas. Significantly, the biggest numerical and percentage growth in the Metroplex has been in an especially underrepresented group, the Hispanic population, 594,857 or a 113% increase, since 1990.
Fortunately, to raise the level of educational opportunities for those, and other Texans, and to increase the chance to close the gap in student participation by 2015, the state has launched a series of major initiatives to strengthen public education by requiring higher performance standards, providing improved high school education by mandating that a college preparatory curriculum must be at least offered to all students and their parents through the so-called "Recommended Program" and by funding a much larger Texas Grant program to support needy college and university students. For its part, the UNT System, among other actions, has started, primarily through the UNT College of Education, a region-wide collaborative P-16 effort, involving virtually all of higher and public education. Its mission will be to create a much more seamless educational experience for students in the Metroplex. Another especially timely example and state-supported initiative, the future UNT-D, is geographically positioned to play an increasingly significant long-term role in helping to meet and maintain the overall participation and success goals in Closing the Gaps.
All these new actions encouraged the UNT System committee to apply the UNT percentage of statewide college and university enrollment for Fall 2000, 3%, to THECB estimates for future statewide enrollments. Targets for ethnic groups were calculated using more aggressive percentages than UNT has attempted in the past, both for Denton and southern Dallas. A similarly aggressive stance has influenced estimates for degree completion, new programs of excellence and research goals. Working with a much smaller scale, the UNTHSC-FW used its regular planning process to project its figures stressing its commitment to minority recruiting, along with enhanced research and academic programs.
The UNT System targets and background material are attached. The THECB recognized the importance of getting maximum institutional input on setting, and how to reach, the targets and is allowing institutions to modify their reports until December 17, 2001. Thus, the attached reports are considered "drafts" that will be coordinated with the staff of the Coordinating Board. After that coordination, UNT institutions will develop more detailed plans to reach the targets. Some parts of those targets may change depending on those plans. For example, UNT needs to determine how many students might come to the Denton campus. Some students may tele-learn with virtual courses -- web-based courses and video-conferencing, etc. -- while others may take courses at off-campus satellite locations. UNTHSC-FW will need to determine its future faculty and facility needs. Preliminary planning for UNT-D will need to identify those needs, preceded by determinations of degree programs and the physical layout of the campus. Projections of new space, faculty, and funding to meet institutional targets will be included in the December report to the Coordinating Board.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS
As described in the following reports, it is recommended that the Board of Regents approve, in principle, the aggressive stance in each institution’s draft targets for Closing the Gaps, and further, authorize their submission for discussion with the THECB. The results of those discussions, along with more specific plans to achieve the system targets, will be reported to the Board of Regents for its consideration and approval at the November meeting.
PROPOSED BY _________________________ __________________________
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APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS
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Date
MOTION ____________________
SECOND ____________________
VOTE________ayes ________noes
BOARD ACTION: