June 2, 2023
Dear Comets,
On Monday, the regular session of the 88th Texas Legislature adjourned sine die, and I’d like to report on some of the positive outcomes and the expected challenges ahead for UT Dallas once the governor’s veto period ends in mid-June.
I’m pleased to report that the University will see an approximately $40 million per year increase in new general revenue appropriations that will address core operations, key initiatives, capital funding and research. These funds could not come at a better time for the University, which according to The Chronicle of Higher Education has ranked as one of the nation’s fastest-growing major public research universities for the last two decades.
Regrettably, the Legislature chose not to provide significant new funding toward the backlog of the Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP), which provides state money to match private research investments at UT Dallas and seven other “emerging research universities” in Texas. As a result, the University will only receive $4 million of the $61 million in matching funds earned through this program.
A great step forward for our campus this session will come thanks to Sen. Royce West and Rep. Angie Chen Button MS’80 with the passage of House Bill 1912. Contingent on Board of Regents approval, HB 1912 will make possible the construction of a new student union. (Our current student union opened in January 1981 when we had 7,000 students, less than a quarter of today’s enrollment.) This measure, which passed a UT Dallas student vote in October 2022, will increase the student union fee beginning in fall 2024 from $60 to $100 per semester. It is anticipated that students will first enter the doors of the new facility in fall 2026.
Also, thankfully, in the last days of session, the Legislature voted to preserve tenure in Texas. The debate over tenure received national attention, and the discussion to potentially eliminate tenure negatively impacted faculty recruiting at public universities across Texas, including UT Dallas. We are pleased that the Legislature chose, instead, to codify into law a tenure policy that would be familiar at most universities, thus forestalling what would have been an enormous disincentive to research-active faculty members to launch or continue their careers in Texas. Legislators also put into statute potential causes for dismissal with due process.
The biggest challenge ahead for the University will be implementing the changes required by the passage of Senate Bill 17, which will impact the University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programming and activities. Understanding these changes will take some time — the law does not apply until the start of the spring 2024 semester. We do know that SB 17 does not apply to student recruitment, academic course instruction, scholarly research, activities of registered student organizations, or guest speakers and performers. I can say without hesitation that we celebrate and value the diversity of the UT Dallas campus, and we intend to work within the new law to continue to foster a campus where every student, staff member, and faculty member feels welcomed, is treated fairly, and is encouraged in their pursuit of excellence.
Shortly after the regular session of the 88th Texas Legislature adjourned, Gov. Greg Abbott called legislators back for a special session on property tax relief and border security with the indication that more special sessions are on the horizon. The University will continue to monitor these activities for potential impact to the University.
