UNT and Higher education were beneficiaries of an increased focus by the 81st Legislature. Major victories included more financial aid dollars and tangible support for the creation of more top-tier research universities. Four-year institutions earned an average of 4 percent more in formula funding, the life blood for progress in research, scholarship and creativity. Additionally, the state’s financial aid program is slated to receive a 44 percent funding increase .

Thanks to our committed supporters in the Texas Legislature, the University of North Texas System enjoyed meaningful successes this Session including increased formula funding, statutory approval of the creation of an athletic fee to support construction of a new football stadium, and the creation of the first new public law school in downtown Dallas. Representative Myra Crownover, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, provided crucial support in funding issues related to the system and along with Senator Craig Estes sponsored the athletics fee bill. Senator Royce West and Representative Dan Branch were the authors of the Law School legislation which could not have been passed without their leadership and commitment. Others providing crucial support in important legislative areas included Speaker Joe Straus, Senator Florence Shapiro, Senator Judith Zaffirini, Senator Jane Nelson, Senator Robert Duncan, Representative Rafael Anchia, Representative Burt Solomons, Representative Tan Parker and UNT alumni Representative Jim Jackson.

Increased Funding

UNT will receive increased state funding through the formulas and incentive funding for increased degree productivity for each of the next two years. The university will also receive a $2 million dollar increase in institutional enhancement from the federal stimulus funds. Additional funds were secured for to support the transition of UNT Dallas to status as a free standing and separate institution and to aid in the construction of its second building.

Tier 1

Texas Legislators, with strong support from our North Texas delegation, took an important step this session in creating a program to help Texas’ emerging research universities become national research universities. HB 51 created a pathway for the seven emerging research universities, including UNT, to pursue national research university status and offers rewards in terms of funding support for progress made. For UNT, the new Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP) is a crucial element of the plan. TRIP provides the mechanism for the State to match a portion of the gifts brought in to bolster research through endowed chairs, professorships, facilities and graduate fellowships. This will allow us to leverage the support we receive from our alumni and partners and fuel our momentum. Support from our community and partners will be essential as the program‘s rewards are predicated on our success in bringing in external dollars to fuel our initiatives.

Another important aspect of HB 51 is the establishment of the National Research University Fund (NRUF). On November 3rd of this year, Texans will vote on whether or not to establish the NRUF. Proposition 4 will be stated as “The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable universities in this state to achieve national prominence and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.” Voting yes will allow UNT and the other six public emerging research universities, after meeting specific criteria in the bill, access to crucial state funds which will help promote these universities to Tier 1 status.
For more information: http://www.unt.edu/president/research.htm or check out the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board at http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/1899.PDF?CFID=77587&CFTOKEN=31194960

Bill Text: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB51

Athletics Fee

The proposed UNT football stadium also took an important step forward thanks to Representative Myra Crownover and Senator Craig Estes. Governor Rick Perry signed SB 473 authorizing the fee previously approved by the UNT student body , which will be used to fund up to one half of the construction costs of the new stadium which is expected to open in time for the 2011 season.

Stadium information: http://www.meangreensports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1800&KEY=&ATCLID=1575803

Pharmacy Study

A rider included in SB 1, the appropriations bill will allow UNT and UNT at Dallas to fund a study to define the best possible options for the creation of a pharmacy program. Such a program will take advantage of assets and abilities already existing at UNT and hopefully lead to the creation of professional program of the first rank.

UNTD

The UNT Dallas Campus was awarded $6.3 million in transitional funds to support its transition from a system center under the governance of UNT to a free-standing university upon accreditation.

For more information: http://www.unt.edu/unt-dallas/

UNT Law

The DFW area is the largest municipal area in the United States without a public law school. The passage of SB 956 authorizes the UNT System to create the first new public law school in Texas in 42 years. In partnership with the City of Dallas, it will be located in the old City Hall/Municipal Courts building, a historic structure where Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald. SB 1 also included $5 million in funding for the start-up costs associated with allowing the admission of the law school’s first class in the Fall of 2011.

For more information:http://untsystem.unt.edu/lawschool-2/index.html