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Texas voters approve National Research University Fund

Written by Joan Khalaf and John Harden, The Shorthorn staff

Tuesday, 03 November 2009 11:43 PM

Dennis Martin, father of two sons from Texas Tech, participates in a local election on Tuesday at Swift Elementary School. Martin voted in favor of Proposition Four because of his sons education at Texas Tech and believes,”it will bring in higher caliber professors” to whichever university the grant goes to. (The Shorthorn: Michael Minasi)

Texans have shown their support for schools, including UTA, striving to become nationally recognized research universities.

Proposition 4 passed 56.65 percent to 43.34 percent in Tuesday night’s election with 7,328 of 7,468 precincts reporting. The proposition sets aside money for potential use by UTA and other Texas emerging research universities.

Proposition 4 transfers money from the existing Texas Higher Education Fund to the new $500 million National Research University Fund, which is dedicated to funding schools defined as emerging research universities — UTA, UT-Dallas, UT-San Antonio, UT-El Paso, University of North Texas, University of Houston and Texas Tech University. These schools would have to meet certain criteria before accessing the fund.

Tarrant County passed the proposition with 57.58 percent. UTA’s early voting site tied with the Southwest sub-courthouse for the most early voters in Tarrant County with 238 each. All other propositions passed, but Proposition 4 was the second most contested.

Development Vice President Jim Lewis said it was contested because of the misconception that money will come from citizens’ pockets.

Fund Qualifying Criteria

Competing universities are required to report at least $45 million in research for two consecutive years and meet at least four of the following criteria:

• Have a $400 million endowment
• Award 200 Ph.D. degrees for two consecutive years
• Have high-achieving entering freshman class for two years
• Be designated as an American Research Library, or have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter or equivalent research and scholarly recognition
• Have distinguished faculty for two years
• Be deemed by the Coordinating Board as committed to high-quality graduate education, which includes the number of graduate-level programs, admission standards and level of support for graduate students.

“It seems to me that the public voted this way because they’re able to do something to strengthen the economic base in Texas without there being any taxes,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine why anyone would vote against it.”

Lewis said it’s hard to know where the university stands in meeting the fund’s criteria because the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board hasn’t flushed out exact standards.

“It’s safe to say that all schools competing have work to do,” he said. “The standards that they’re establishing are consistent with what we want to do anyway.”

Legislators approved the fund’s use in the last session. Funds won’t be available until Sept. 1, 2011. None of the competing universities have met the criteria.

University spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said the favorable vote is a call to challenge universities striving to be top research institutions, or Tier One.

“Now all of these universities have to continue to step it up in terms of private support and top faculty members,” she said.

Arlington resident Polly Walton said the proposition will help the university.

“There are a lot of things UTA still needs to do, but it will help everybody,” she said.

Councilwoman Lana Wolff said the university already generates more money than any other Arlington institution.

“The city sees a billion dollars annually from the economic impact of UTA into the city,” she said. “Becoming Tier One helps to strengthen the impact decades into the future.”

Michael Minasi contributed to this story.

Election By The Numbers

Proposition 1
Allows a municipality or county to issue bonds and notes financing purchase of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to military installations to protect or promote those installations by constructing roadway utilities or preventing encroachment.
In Favor: 55.19%
Against: 44.80%
Total votes: 1,034,057

Proposition 2
Authorizes the Texas Legislature to provide for the taxation of a residence homestead solely on the property’s value as a residence homestead, regardless of whether the property may have a higher value if it were used for other purposes.
In Favor: 68.23%
Against: 31.76%
Total votes: 1,042,100

Proposition 3
Requires the Legislature to provide for the administration and enforcement of uniform standards and procedures for appraisal of property for purposes of ad valorem tax, a tax based on the value of real estate or personal property.
In Favor: 65.52%
Against: 34.47%
Total votes: 1,038,116

Proposition 4
Reallocates the $500 million Texas Higher Education Fund to the proposed National Research University Fund, which would be usable in the future by emerging research institutions, like UTA, based on certain criteria.
In Favor: 56.65%
Against: 43.34%
Total votes: 1,030,154

Proposition 5
Authorize the Legislature to allow for a single appraisal review board to decide for two or more adjoining appraisal entities when electing to provide for consolidated reviews of tax appraisals.
In Favor: 61.82%
Against: 38.17%
Total votes: 1,004,926

Proposition 6
Authorizes the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds, subject to constitutional limits, for the purpose of selling land and providing home or land mortgage loans to the state’s veterans.
In Favor: 65.67%
Against: 34.32%
Total votes: 1,006,540

Proposition 7
Allows an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.
In Favor: 73.09%
Against: 26.90%
Total votes: 1,029,874

Proposition 8
Authorizes the state to contribute money, property and other resources for the establishment, maintenance and operation of veterans’ hospitals.
In Favor: 74.82%
Against: 25.17%
Total votes: 1,038,237

Proposition 9
Gives the public, individually and collectively, an unrestricted right to use and access public beaches bordering the shore of the Gulf of Mexico and authorize the Legislature to enact laws to protect these rights.
In Favor: 77.03%
Against: 22.96%
Total votes: 1,029,994

Proposition 10
Restricts terms to not exceed four years for members of the governing board of an emergency services district, a political subdivision established by local voters, to raise money through ad valorem taxes on all real property located within the district.
In Favor: 73.06%
Against: 26.93%
Total votes: 1,021,734

Proposition 11
Mandates that the taking of private property for public use, eminent domain, be authorized only if it is for the ownership, use and enjoyment of the property by the state, political subdivisions, the public at large, entities granted the power of eminent domain and for the removal of urban blight. Also increases votes needed to approve eminent domain to a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house.
In Favor: 81.15%
Against: 18.84%
Total votes: 1,030,459

Percentages from 7,328 out of 7,468 precincts reporting and total votes
Information compiled by Jason Boyd, The Shorthorn news editor.

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