Texas voters approve university research funding

Texas voters approved all 11 proposed constitutional amendments on Nov. 3, including an amendment designed to help the state’s public universities become major national research institutions.

Proposition 4 shifts more than $500 million from a dormant education fund to endowment called the National Research University Fund that will help fund the push to create more national research institutions. Five percent of the money, about $25 million, will be used for faculty salaries, graduate student stipends and for other uses to help the seven so-called emerging research universities

“The passage of Proposition 4 makes the national research university fund a reality and it provides UTA with considerable motivation to accelerate to top tier university status,” said Ronald Elsenbaumer, vice president of research at the University of Texas at Arlington. “The national research university fund is the kind of medicine we need to help drive, fund and sustain a vibrant economy and to help develop this area for years to come.”

State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, said the passage of Proposition 4 will be noticed around the world.

“At a time when other states are pulling back, passage of Proposition 4 will send a signal to the top talent around the world that Texas is serious about becoming a higher learning and research powerhouse,” said Branch, in a statement. Branch is chairman of the House Higher Education Committee.  

Proposition 4 is of key importance to three of the major state universities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area – the University of Texas at Arlington, University of North Texas and the University of Texas at Dallas. Those three schools are attempting to join the University of Texas, Texas A&M University and Rice University as so-called Tier One universities. Four other state universities – the University of Houston, the University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Houston, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at El Paso – are also vying for that status. Becoming a Tier One university means the schools have research expenditures of at least $45 million a year and compliance with several other standards, such as awarding at least 200 doctoral degrees annually and amassing an endowment of at least $400 million.

State lawmakers earlier this year added $50 million to the state’s two-year budget for the emerging research universities on top of their usual appropriations to boost the seven school’s Tier One status. Proposition 4 does not authorize new taxes. The bill faced some light opposition, but passed with 57 percent of the vote.

“Tonight’s passage of Proposition 4 sends this important message – Texans understand that more nationally recognized research universities will help retain Texas-grown talent, recruit top researchers who will generate billions of dollars in economic growth and create more high paying, permanent jobs,” said Bill Hobby, Texans for Tier One campaign co-chair and former lieutenant governor, in a statement.

Texas voters also approved 10 other proposed constitutional amendments, including propositions guaranteeing public access to beaches and an eminent domain provision that bans the government from taking private property for economic development or increased tax revenue.

In Fort Worth, voters approved a renewal of the Fort Worth Crime Control and Prevention District for five years, extending the one-half cent sales tax for the same period. In Tarrant County, 81 percent of voters approved the extension.

In Arlington, voters approved the $197.5 million bond election for the Arlington Independent School District. Proceeds of the bond issue will be used by the AISD to purchase buses, fine arts instruments and uniforms, and technology hardware; to construct one new elementary in east Arlington and additional facility improvements.

rfrancis@bizpress.net