Panel issues recommendations for TSU

The governor's TSU advisory committee issued its recommendations for turning the troubled university around yesterday, and as expected, the report neither called for a state-appointed financial conservator or for putting TSU under a state university system, but it did recommend changes in the school's board of regents and that TSU be subject to regular financial investigation.

Though the nonbinding report doesn't specify which, or how many, of TSU's regents should be replaced, it does call for an overhaul of the group. "We want a board that will provide more oversight for the president and for the administration," advisory committee chairman Glenn Lewis told the AP yesterday. Lewis said some of the regents might not be held responsible for the university's financial problems, depending on how long they had served. As far as keeping tabs on the school's finances, the committee recommended that TSU be subject to continuous state audits, with reports sent to the governor, the Legislature and the regents at least quarterly. The state had required similar audits in the past, but they were stopped in 2001 at the request of former President Priscilla Slade, who has since been indicted in connection with reportedly spending nearly $2 million in university money on personal expenses. Also among the committee's recommendations is $13.6 million in emergency state funding that would help bail the school out of its deep financial hole — it would be a welcome move, we imagine, given that the developer of one of TSU's new parking garages shut the garage down Monday because the university hadn't paid its bills.

Whoever ends up leading the university won't just have to make tough financial decisions, committee members said; choices will also have to be made about the school's academic mission. Now, TSU wants to be a nationally recognized research institution, but it accepts anyone who applies, which means 70 percent of incoming freshmen lack basic English and math skills. "Trying to follow two missions that in many ways are contradictory places an extraordinary strain on the institution," state higher education commissioner and TSU advisory committee member Raymund Paredes said.

In some ways, the committee's report is similar to what the state has done — or has threatened to do — with TSU many times in the past, but officials hope the changes will stick this time. "I'm hopeful," Paredes told the Chronicle. "No one can predict with certainty that things will turn around. But there is a real sense of urgency among everyone involved." The important thing, state Sen. Rodney Ellis said, is that TSU won't be placed under one of the state university systems: "I am pleased they recommended the university remain independent," he said. "To the extent the board and administration have not exercised good fiscal judgment, students should not be penalized."

- Read the committee's entire report (from KTRK)