Fingers in the pie

Previously, I wrote about some of the laws that the Texas legislature passed that affect universities. This got me wondering if other states pass more or fewer laws concerning universities than Texas does. The administrative creep seems high to me. But again, I don’t have much to compare it to.

A few examples.

• Texas requires all students to take two classes in Texas history as part of their core.
• Texas decided that since accreditation agencies required a minimum of 120 credit hours to get a bachelor’s degree, that most degree plans shouldn’t go even one credit hour above that minimum.
• The “six drop” law that prevents students from dropping more than six classes in their undergraduate career. 
• And, as mentioned Monday, requiring us to put up a syllabus for each class a few months before the class starts. And our CVs.

There’s a joke that makes the rounds that state universities have moved from being state supported, to state funded, to state tolerated, to state located. I think there’s one more step that could be taken: state regulated.

University education and critical thinking skills are sort of like alcohol, tobacco, and firearms – you better keep that stuff contained, because it can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Additional: Here’s an article in the Austin American-Statesman describing more stuff that Texas wants to do to universities.