Tier One university bill is signed, uniting old foes

Holly Hacker

Republican Gov. Rick Perry hugged Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, after signing the Tier One bill into law Wednesday at UT-Dallas' Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory to applause from Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, the bill's author, and UNT President Gretchen Bataille.

One could have easily mistaken Wednesday's signing of the so-called Tier One bill, designed to create more Texas research universities, for a higher education love-in.

There were the presidents of the UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas and University of North Texas grinning and giving each other the thumbs up. There was Republican Florence Shapiro, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, giving a shout-out to Democrat Judith Zaffirini, chairwoman of Senate Higher Education.

And there was Gov. Rick Perry, in so many words, declaring it the best legislative session ever.

"It will go down in the history books as one that truly is improving education in our state," Perry told the crowd of politicians, university leaders and other assorted officials gathered at the UT-Dallas campus.

There was good reason for all the love and superlatives. The new law creates the framework for giving Texas more top-notch public research universities such as UT-Austin and Texas A&M. Those colleges spend hundreds of millions of dollars on research, mint hundreds of doctorate degrees each year, have fat endowments and attract bright students and faculty.

Seven "emerging research" universities – UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, UNT, Texas Tech, UT-El Paso, UT-San Antonio and the University of Houston – operate on millions less. Now, they can compete for extra state funding to build up their research programs, endowments and other efforts that define great research campuses. The law also creates several pots of money open to all public universities in Texas. Those funds total $256 million over two years.

In addition, the seven aspiring Tier One campuses will be eligible for $425 million more over two years, contingent upon voter approval.

"This is the heart of the matter: more high-demand, first-class universities doing high-end research and excellent teaching in the state of Texas," said Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, who authored the bill and helped shepherd it through the House.

Texans have long complained that their state needs more top universities doing serious research and shaping future thinkers and leaders.

The ceremony took place in UT-Dallas' Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory. It was built with state, university and private funds – the kind of mix the new Tier One law wants to encourage.

Funds for the seven emerging research universities: UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, University of North Texas, University of Houston, Texas Tech, UT-El Paso, UT-San Antonio.

Texas Research Incentive Program ($50 million over two years): Matches private gifts and scholarships that a university secures.

National Research University Fund ($425 million moved from a dormant program): Rewards a university if it crosses a national threshold of excellence. Needs statewide vote on constitutional amendment to reallocate the funds for this purpose.

Funds for the seven, plus UT-Austin and Texas A&M

Research University Development Fund ($126 million over two years): A formula for grants to universities that conduct at least $50 million in research.

Open to any academic institution

Performance Incentive Funding ($80 million over two years): Rewards universities for success in graduating at-risk students in "critical" fields of engineering, math and science.