The Texas Higher Education Symposium: Advancing Scholarship to Impact the Policy Climate

• In Event: 42.045 - As Goes Texas: Knowledge to Action Toward Educational Equity in the Lone Star State

Abstract

The purpose of the 7th Annual Texas Higher Education Symposium (THES) is to promote scholarship centered on higher education equity issues to drive policy and practice in the state of Texas. As most of the nation, Texas faces an incredible educational challenge with gaps in attainment, financial deficits, and a challenging policy climate . The unique context of Texas is one wherein research is often ignored or discounted by policy makers in favor of partisan solutions. The THES aims to contribute directly to the ability of scholars, practitioners, policy-makers, and grant funders gather and discuss innovative research, policy, and practice. The THES helps nurture the next generation of scholars as well as spotlight emerging research and best practices focused on higher education equity in Texas.

ORIGINS AND EMERGING FROM CRISIS
The THES was originally created by and for the graduate students of the Department of Education and Policy Leadership at The University of Texas at Austin. For five years the Symposium was funded by a grant, providing free access to participants and providing a space for emerging scholars as well as practitioners and researchers in the state to convene. After missing 2014 due to lack of funding, Texas-based postsecondary faculty discussed how to meet two goals: (1) fund the THES in 2015 and beyond and (2) create a space for Texas scholars to convene regularly. Six institutions (Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University, University of Houston, The University of Texas at Austin, and The University of Texas at San Antonio) each pledged funds to support the 2015 symposium. However, the funding for the 2015 symposium is unsustainable. The partners agreed to move the symposium to The University of at Austin for two years and to explore funding solutions.

THE NEXT PHASE
The THES partners secured a grant from the Greater Texas Foundation to support operating costs for two years to give the THES the opportunity to build its donor base and expand its reach. The 2016 THES aims to (1) address inequity and achievement gaps in the P-20 education pipeline from the perspective of high quality research to inform practice and policy, (2) nurture the next generation of scholars focused on Texas higher education issues, and (3) create a space of creative collaboration and networking among various higher education stakeholders. The THES committee leadership worked to add panel discussions on the Fisher decision and campus carry legislation, to foster collaboration among participants and grant agencies, and to provide expert panels on how scholarship can address pressing problems in the state and influence policy. These efforts positioned the symposium to reach a wider audience while also becoming a self-sustaining annual convening of higher education stakeholders in the state. Few venues attempt to offer these audiences an opportunity for collaboration and networking – none at the state level in Texas – and the 2016 Texas Higher Education Symposium highlights the importance of using community to bridge praxis and policy and solve problems in higher education.
 

Authors

• Beth E. Bukoski, The University of Texas - Austin

• Gerry Dizinno, The University of Texas - San Antonio