New face for Senate higher education panel

Since it was created in 2009, the Senate Higher Education Committee has been led by State Senator Judith Zaffirini, Democrat of Laredo. But this month, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst replaced the chairwoman with Senator Kel Seliger, Republican of Amarillo, because of “his ability to work well with all members,” the Texas Tribune reports. Beyond his eight years as a senator in a district that has six community colleges and two universities, Mr. Seliger’s background in higher education policy is thin, particularly when compared with that of his predecessor. Still, with major higher education issues on the table for the 2013 legislative session, including potential changes to how the state finances institutions, some observers say they have faith in his ability to learn on the job…

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With billions in grant money, leverage to curb smoking

Despite polls showing overwhelming public support and endorsements from celebrities like Lance Armstrong, efforts to establish a statewide smoking ban in the workplace have fallen flat in recent sessions of the Texas Legislature, The Texas Tribune reports. But a state agency is finding that the billions of dollars it has at its disposal may allow it to be more effective in getting comprehensive tobacco-free policies established—most notably, at university campuses. University administrators around the state are considering campuswide tobacco-free policies as a result of new rules established by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. In January, the institute’s oversight committee adopted a policy that requires grant recipients to have policies prohibiting tobacco use in buildings and structures where financed research is occurring, as well as at the outdoor areas immediately adjacent to those buildings. The grant recipients must also provide smoking cessation services for community members who desire them…

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