Amid all the talk about failures and special session possibilities, those who watch state policy closely know North Texas legislators had an exceptional Session in Austin. A pathway for more national research universities, increased student financial aid, and a public law school in Dallas-Fort Worth are a few of the major regional victories.

In years past, North Texas bemoaned our lack of regional influence, and it wasn’t clear the outlook was any better this January when revenue was questionable and leadership was changing. But DFW lawmakers received major committee assignments, sponsored many key bills, and won more often than not. For the first time in modern history, DFW legislators comprised 33.3% of the powerful budget conference committee and ensured many needs of Dallas-Fort Worth residents became state priorities. With more college students than any other part of Texas, many DFW universities believe Texas students were winners this session.

Lawmakers increased state general revenue for higher education by 10% and approved an additional $210.9 million in student financial aid. Statewide, all-funds appropriations for higher education increased 5.8%, while North Texas institutions received 7.5% more funding.

Equally laudable, lawmakers focused on Texas’s National Research University potential by establishing a fund encouraging emerging research institutions — including UNT, UT-Dallas, and UT-Arlington — to compete nationally for scholars and research projects. If voters approve a constitutional amendment this fall, Texas will have jump started competition with strategic peers in California and New York.

The UNT at Dallas College of Law garnered strong support from the North Texas delegation and received approval after a decade of discussion. This was not the year for new college construction financing, but area lawmakers succeeded in allocating $5 million for the law school startup, allowing the UNT System to hire a dean, faculty, and staff in 2010 and begin necessary design work for renovation of the old Municipal Building.

The future UNT at Dallas received $6.3 million in transitional funding, enabling it to become independent in 2010. Construction will begin soon on a much-needed second building to house a growing student population.

Budget writers invested in most area universities, although one area needing progress remains — medical education. Neither UT Southwestern nor UNT’s Health Science Center in Fort Worth received the level of support they have earned.

On the positive side, UT-Dallas received more than $11 million for priority research projects, while UT-Arlington was awarded $5 million for its Regional Nursing Education Center. Budget writers took a big step to address the DFW shortage of pharmacists by authorizing a pharmacy school development study at the University of North Texas and the UNT Dallas Campus. Additionally, the Legislature authorized the intercollegiate athletics fee approved by UNT students, allowing for construction of a new stadium to replace the outdated Fouts Field in Denton.

While many of these measures await the Governor’s signature, North Texas educators are pleased many of our priorities were addressed with substantial progress. For North Texas higher education, it was simply one of the best legislative sessions in modern history.