Heintze appointed to national education task force
By Cheryl Jones
University News Service
June 26, 2007
Michael Heintze, associate vice president for enrollment management at Texas State University-San Marcos, has been named to a national task force focused on admission issues sponsored by the College Board.
Michael Heintze, who joined Texas State in 2005 and has 25 years experience working in special committees and task forces, will work with 40 other committee members focused on providing necessary information to prospective students and parents about admissions, college costs and reasons behind the decrease in enrollment for higher education schools and high schools. Heintze said he hopes the committee will evaluate merit-based scholarships and put more emphasis on a student’s need.
“Certainly I think this group will make some comment about the role of the state and federal governments in supporting higher education more actively,” Heintze said. “We’re trying to stimulate discussion and lead some positive resolutions. Active discussions on campus would hopefully, in the end, improve the environment for students and help shape public policy.”
According to Heintze, many schools of today’s nation are focused on rankings and not on students; however, Heintze finds Texas State to be an exception to this conclusion.
“One of the things that makes this institution special, given its size, is that it has always maintained a student-centered focus. There are faculty here who will go out of their way and do so on a daily basis to help students,” Heintze said. “That’s not always true at big research institutions. We have something that is not a norm. It is a unique opportunity here and a great setting to be an undergraduate.”
The members of the appointed force will meet quarterly throughout the year in New York City. Once discussions are completed, a finished pamphlet will be published and distributed nationally for a fee.
“It will be a voice, if we are going to change things in the 21st century, to modify the conversation so as to make it more effective with the needs of the upcoming students because it isn’t 1970 and 1980 anymore,” Heintze said. “I am sure that it will be read and be a very attractive publication for state and federal legislatures, governors, university presidents, admissions, financial aid and other people in the profession. Hopefully it will find its way into the hands of parents, students and high school guidance counselors.”
For now, Heintze believes the finished product will not be available for another year or two but he is optimistic about the future and the group’s ability to help.
“As institutions we need to be able to help students. A lot of the issues colleges can’t directly impact,” Heintze said.