Statement by Mark Miner, Communications Director for Gov. Rick Perry

Mark Miner, communications director for Gov. Rick Perry, today issued the following statement regarding a report released by the University of Texas College of Liberal Arts:

"Gov. Perry continues to advocate for necessary reforms, accountability and transparency in our state's higher education system. The status quo that some Texas universities try to protect - with rapidly increasing tuition and four-year graduation averaging just 28.6 percent - is not keeping pace with our state's needs.

"The governor, university regents, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, lawmakers of both parties and others from across Texas are promoting higher education reforms aimed at improving access to meaningful financial data, graduation rates, faculty and staff productivity and overall outcomes in both teaching and research.

"University faculty and their allies should join the reform efforts and recommend ways to innovate, improve graduation rates, and enhance accountability and efficiency at Texas colleges and universities. We all have an obligation to meet the needs of Texas students, employers, taxpayers and our fast-growing economy. Resisting reform and accountability is an unsustainable recipe for mediocrity and stagnation. Texas deserves better."