Posted by: Carolyn Bobo
(Editor's Note: Gov. Rick Perry on June 17 signed HB51, which is effective Sept. 1. Texas voters will be asked in November to approve use of existing Texas Higher Education Fund monies for research competition. Find a report in the June 18 Fort Worth Star-Telegram.)
The Faculty Senate unanimously approved by voice vote a resolution to support legislation that calls for state funding to be allocated to universities based on their ability to attract federal or private grants. The resolution was passed at the senate’s March 11 meeting. 
The faculty supports a competitive model for state funding that will contribute to UNT’s efforts to become a National Research University, says Faculty Senate President Terry Clower, left, associate professor of applied economics. “We believe that members of the UNT faculty have the talent and the drive to successfully compete for these funds with any of Texas’ emerging research institutions. This competitive approach to distributing new funding will elevate the quality and quantity of externally funded research at all of the emerging research institutions, which in turn will enhance the state’s economic competitiveness."
UNT is one of seven state emerging research universities competing for additional state funding, or National Research University status, which signifies a nationally competitive research institution. Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin are the state's only publicly funded research universities. Rice University is a private national research university. Others seeking state support for research activities are the University of Texas campuses at Dallas, Arlington and San Antonio, Texas Tech and the University of Houston. 
President Gretchen M. Bataille, right, and the presidents of UTA and UTD have publicly supported legislation that would allow universities to receive state funding to match dollars received from federal and private sources, rather than to individually compete for additional – and limited – research funding.
The legislation, introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate of the 81st Texas Legislature, allows the legislature to allocate funds that will be used to match grants to an emerging research university to support:
• merit-based scholarships or other merit-based financial aid for undergraduate students
• graduate student fellowships
• faculty professorships and chairs
• research support, including the acquisition and maintenance of research facilities, infrastructure and equipment
• efforts to recruit and retain at-risk undergraduate students
• efforts to recruit and train students in fields for which the state or local workforce has a critical need.
In awarding a matching grant to a university under this section, state money may only match money available to the university obtained or pledged from private or community sources, including gifts and grants, or from other nontraditional or alternative sources, the legislation says.
The Senate Higher Education Committee was scheduled to discuss SB9 in a public hearing March 25. If approved by the Legislature, the bill would go into effect Sept. 1.
The Faculty Senate resolution states:
Whereas the Faculty Senate of the University of North Texas recognizes the power of a national research university to enhance student learning through advanced research, support a vibrant community of scholars and attract investment and development for its constituent communities, we embrace broad-based efforts to grow UNT into a nationally recognized research institution. To provide funding supporting the growth of one or more of the state's emerging research universities to national research university status, the Texas Legislature is considering a competitive based model offering matching funds to emerging research universities that are successful in attracting research grants and gifts and commit funding to recruit and retain faculty or staff who have demonstrated research excellence. This legislation is found in HB 51 and SB 8 of the 81st Texas Legislature. The Faculty Senate hereby supports 81R HB51 and 81R SB9 allowing the University of North Texas faculty, staff and administrators to compete with our peer institutions for these additional funds.
• Find the status and the text of HB51, introduced by Rep. Dan Branch of Dallas.
• Find the status andthe textof SB9, introduced by Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo.
5:27 PM
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