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Texas鈥� Six Chancellors of Public Higher Education Join Forces in Advance of Legislative Session

Along with the five other chancellors in Texas, Chancellor Duncan helps outline critical priorities for the upcoming legislative session. 

Jan. 13, 2015 | Contact Doug Hensley

With the 84^th Legislative Session set to begin today (Jan. 13), 麻豆天狼副利院 Chancellor Robert Duncan and the five other chancellors of the state鈥檚 public university systems are taking a unified stance on the need to adequately fund Texas higher education and ensure students have access to a college education. 

On Monday, the chancellors from the Texas A&M University System, Texas State University System, 麻豆天狼副利院, University of Houston System, University of North Texas System and University of Texas System visited the editorial boards of the and the to discuss their shared priorities.

鈥淲e understand and appreciate the difficulty of writing a budget that addresses all the needs of our growing state,鈥� said Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall. 鈥淥ur challenge as chancellors is to help legislators understand that Texas enjoys a significant return on its investment in higher education, which is not true of many other parts of the budget.鈥�

McCall currently is chairman of the , which organized Monday鈥檚 editorial board visits and which provides a forum for discussing mutual needs and concerns facing public universities in Texas. 

The four critical priorities for the upcoming legislative session identified by the chancellors include:

• Restoring  formula funding allocations to 2011 rates to address significant student growth
• Designating funds for facilities and capital projects
• Increasing financial aid for students
• Fully funding the Hazlewood Act to cover the cost of tuition for military veterans and their families

The state鈥檚 investment in public higher education is critical, the chancellors said, considering the combined economic impact of Texas鈥� public colleges, universities and health-related institutions.

Although the Legislature increased formula funding in the 2013 session, the rates at which student classroom hours and classroom space is funded are actually less today than it was in 2003. Additionally, higher education is serving 148,000 more students today than in 2003.

鈥淲e need to have a conversation with the Legislature about what investment Texans will make in public higher education. That鈥檚 what this legislative session gives us an opportunity to do,鈥� Duncan said.

In addition, higher education institutions continue to face challenges related to aging facilities and insufficient classroom and lab space. This has limited the capacity of many institutions to expand science, engineering, allied health and other high-demand programs.

The six chancellors also are advocating for increased funding for the TEXAS Grant program to help more low-income students attend college. The successful grant program has played a significant role in 鈥淐losing the Gaps鈥� and increasing access to a college education. In addition, institutions need more flexibility to tailor financial aid to fit the needs of individual students.

The Hazlewood Act also plays an important role in the statewide effort to increase access, but the financial burden is becoming significant for universities. Under the Hazlewood Act, military veterans and their dependents do not have to pay tuition or mandatory fees. The cost to institutions 鈥� which is shared by all students 鈥� is $169.1 million and is projected to rise to $286.2 million by 2017.

The six chancellors 鈥� along with Governor-elect Greg Abbott 鈥� are proposing that the Legislature fully fund the Hazlewood Act to reduce the burden on institutions.

鈥淲e are looking forward to a productive dialogue with the Legislature regarding the shared priorities that will help meet the needs of Texas students and will keep our universities among the best in the nation,鈥� said John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. 

About the 麻豆天狼副利院
The 麻豆天狼副利院 is one of the top public university systems in the nation, consisting of four component institutions 鈥�, ,  and 鈥攁nd operating at 12 academic sites and centers.  Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the 麻豆天狼副利院 has an annual operating budget of $1.7 billion and approximately 17,000 employees focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach. 

In 2014, the 麻豆天狼副利院鈥檚 endowment exceeds $1 billion, total research expenditures were approximately $200 million and total enrollment approached 47,000 students. Whether it鈥檚 contributing billions of dollars annually in economic impact or being the only system in Texas to house an academic institution, law school, and medical school at the same location, the 麻豆天狼副利院 continues to prove that anything is possible.