The Senate Committee on Nominations voted 4-0 to approve James Huffines of Austin, Scott Caven of Houston and Robert Estrada of Dallas to the UT System Board of Regents Monday.
Though approval was unanimous, the candidates weathered a barrage of questions from Sen. Gonzalo Barri-entos, D-Aus-tin, regarding tuition deregulation, a student regent, affirmative access and wasteful spending on travel.
All three candidates support tuition deregulation, which is a proposal to remove tuition-setting authority from the Legislature and place control under the Board of Regents.
Huffines, however, qualified his support for tuition deregulation by calling it "tuition flexibility" and referred to legislation that would place a cap on the maximum tuition rates charged.
Estrada said the measure would allow the UT System to operate more efficiently.
"The tendency ... that it would probably go up because everything else is starting to cost more - that's how the market is nowadays," Estrada said.
None of the candidates provided a firm answer regarding Barrientos' bill to place a student on the Board of Regents. Caven and Huffines evaded an answer by stating the decision is for the Legislature to decide. Estrada said he has not yet come to a firm decision on the matter.
Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-Mission, expressed concern that the Texas Compact, a package of scholarships and grants offered by the UT System in exchange for the passage of tuition deregulation, would exclude middle-class students.
Estrada assured the committee that the board would approach tuition with "a great amount of sensitivity" and said the board is "very anxious to work with all elected officials to find a happy medium." Caven stated that other resources outside the Texas Compact are available for middle-income students.
The final vote for approval will come before the Senate floor on Wednesday.
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