A&M, UT regents less-educated compared to boards of other large state university systems
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Austin) opened herself up to charges of elitism by right-wing conservatives when she referred to her own doctorate degree as
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Austin) opened herself up to charges of “elitism” by right-wing conservatives when she referred to her own doctorate degree as evidence that she understands the value of university teaching and research, and Gov. Rick Perry’s lack of a graduate degree as evidence that he does not. Using academic degrees as a benchmark, Texas has some of the least elitist regents around, compared to other large state university systems.
Taken as a group, the 18 appointed regents making up the governing boards of the University of Texas System and Texas A&M University System hold fewer university degrees, on average, than appointed counterparts in California, Florida, Georgia and New York. While all current A&M and UT regents have bachelor’s degrees, together they only have seven advanced degrees (a master’s, three MBA’s, two JD’s and a doctorate of dental surgery). No A&M or UT regent has a Ph.D., as Zaffirini does.
On average A&M and UT regents have 1.4 college degrees apiece. That’s fewer than Georgia (1.5), California (1.7), Florida (1.9) and New York (2.0) — using information available online for appointed board members overseeing the University System of Georgia, University of California, California State University, State University System of Florida and the State University of New York.
Texas and Florida are the only states with boards that do not have at least one member without a college degree. While Texas has the greatest percentage of MBA-holding regents — 17 percent (compared to 11 percent for Georgia and 7 percent for New York), Texas has the lowest percentage of master’s degrees not in business administration — 6 percent (compared to 40 percent for New York and 22 percent for Georgia).
Texas also ties Georgia with the lowest percentage of regents with law degrees, 11 percent. Florida has the highest, 36 percent. Neither Texas nor Georgia has a regent with a Ph.D. or an M.D., while 13 percent of New York State regents have a Ph.D. and 13 percent have an M.D.
The only Texas regent with a non-law doctorate is A&M Regent Richard Box, who is a dentist (in addition to being Perry’s campaign treasurer).
Related
$1.3 trillion in federal spending unaccounted for, report finds
Despite calls for independent bodies to keep government accountable, the Sunlight Foundation’s most recent Clearspending report has found the federal
$1.89 billion given to states to fight HIV
The federal government Monday announced more than $1.89 billion in funding to states to fight the HIV epidemic with access to care and with more cash for the failing AIDS Drug Assistance Program. According to an HHS press release , $813 million of that money will go directly to the ADAP programming. An additional $8,386,340 will be issued as a supplement to 36 states and territories currently facing a litany of unmet needs and access issues.
1 Brigade and 1 Battalion
ISTANBUL – It’s 10 p.m. in the lowest level of the Istanbul airport. In 20 minutes I’ll be allowed to board my plane to Kabul, bringing me to the
1. Brian Schweitzer
As governor of Montana, Schweitzer doesn’t represent one of the most highly populated, high-profile electoral states in the country. But this
#1 in Conspiracy Theories
Andrew Young’s tell-all biography of John Edwards, hitting shelves next week, is surging in one Amazon.com category in particular. #1 in Conspiracy
$1 Million for Toomey
Pat Toomey, the former Club for Growth president and leading Republican candidate in Pennsylvania’s 2010 Senate race, has announced a $1 million haul in the
$1 Trillion for Fannie and Freddie?
That is the worst-case scenario, according to Egan-Jones Ratings Co., quoted in a Bloomberg article making the rounds. The agency says that if home prices
$1.3 Million for Brown
The GOP’s candidate in the Massachusetts special election raised more than one million dollars -- double the goal -- in a 24-hour moneybomb on the Ron Paul
Ten Loopholes That Can’t Make It Into FinReg
Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director, wrote a blog post that lists the loopholes lobbyists most want inserted into Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-Conn.)
Bachmann uncomfortable over earmarks ban
Republicans appear to have boxed themselves into a corner with their portrayal of earmarks as wasteful spending, as many of them have backed a moratorium on
Troubled mine holds hope for U.S. rare earth industry
China currently controls 97 percent of the world’s rare earth production. The Mountain Pass Mine could change that -- if it can overcome serious environmental concerns.