SB 24 would create a new university in South Texas as a component institution of The University of Texas System. The proposed legislation merges The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) and The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) to create a new university in South Texas with academic campuses in Cameron and Hidalgo counties and would include the establishment of a new medical school in Harlingen and administrative offices in McAllen and a math and science academy for high school students.

Summary of Findings

Passage of SB 24 would not disrupt student access to higher education for Texas residents in the Rio Grande Valley, as the new university would maintain its presence in the various locations where UTB and UTPA currently offer courses and degree programs. The legislation guarantees enrollment in the new university for all current students of the two existing universities. There would be no immediate impact on formula funding, as the change from enrollment at either UTB or UTPA to enrollment at the new university would not generate additional funding at this time.

Merging the two existing higher education institutions would require agreement on a name and reconciliation of existing programs. Immediate costs would be incurred related to the transition to the new university, including the development and maintenance of a new data and reporting systems. The new institution would need to obtain Coordinating Board approval and seek regional accreditation.

There is the potential for cost savings, which could be realized by the new university through reducing duplicated fixed overhead costs, streamlining existing programs and administrative units. However, estimating any cost savings at this point is premature. UTB is currently in the process of removing itself from its long-standing partnership with Texas Southmost College (TSC).  TSC owns all the land at the current location, while UTB owns only a few of the buildings. Even if this proposed university merger did not occur as proposed, UTB would still be faced with significant costs in obtaining land, constructing new buildings, and hiring additional staff and faculty to replace those lost through the dissolution of the UTB –TSC partnership.

The new university would combine existing degree programs and administrative units. Each university offers degree programs through a variety of Schools or Colleges. They each have similar degree programs offered in Education, Business Administration, Liberal Arts, Engineering and Health Professions. Additionally, the merger could promote greater opportunities for faculty research and collaboration.

Establishing a new medical school requires the long-term commitment of local, regional, and state constituencies. The establishment of a new medical school located in South Texas would be costly; however, the need for a medical school in the area has been documented. The startup costs to build a facility, hire administrators and faculty, and obtain accreditation would be considerable.  Specific estimates of that cost are difficult to make, as there are no specific plans related to the development and startup timeline, type of facilities to be built, and number of students to be admitted. In addition to these startup costs, there would be significant annual costs as well, which could exceed $99 million per year, based on the recent establishment of the State’s newest medical school in El Paso.

Background

The two universities that would merge were originally one institution. However, each university has a distinct history and the two institutions are geographically separated. UTPA began as Edinburg College in 1927; in 1952 it became a public university (Pan American College, later Pan American University) authorized by the Texas Legislature; and in 1989 it became part of The University of Texas (UT) System as The University of Texas Pan American. The main campus is located at 1201 West University Drive in Edinburg, Texas.  UTPA also has a teaching site in nearby McAllen, Texas, where it offers a variety of graduate certificates and degrees.  At present, UTPA offers 56 baccalaureate degree programs, 47 master’s degree programs, and 3 doctoral degree programs. UTPA has seven associated colleges: Arts and Humanities, Business Administration, Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Health Sciences and Human Service, Science and Mathematics, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. UTPA’s fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget was $247,581,039,[1] and the institution reported 797 faculty and 1,155 staff in 2011.[2]

In fall 2012, UTPA had a headcount of 19,302 students: 16,570 undergraduates and 2,732 post-baccalaureate and graduate students; its full-time student equivalency (FTSE) was 14,892. The demographic breakdown of UTPA’s headcount enrollment for fall 2012 is shown in the Table 1.

                                       Source: Coordinating Board, Higher Education Accountability System.

The University of Texas Brownsville (UTB) began as an extension campus of UTPA, and was authorized by the Texas Legislature as a new university in the UT System in 1991. At that time UTB established a partnership with Texas Southmost College District, which continued for 20 years, until 2011 when the decision was made to end the partnership in 2015. 

The main campus of UTB is currently co-located with Texas Southmost College at 80 Fort Brown in Brownsville, Texas.  UTB also offers courses and programs at the Texas State Technical College Harlingen Multi Institution Teaching Center, which is located on the TSTC campus in Harlingen.  At present, UTB offers 47 baccalaureate degree programs, 29 master’s degree programs, and 1 doctoral degree program.  UTB is organized into seven academic units:  University College, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology, School of Business, College of Biomedical Sciences and Health Professions, and College of Nursing. UTB’s FY 2012 budget was $165,225,902, and the institution reported having 598 faculty (UTB shares staff with its college partner, so no separate figure is available for the number of UTB staff).

In fall 2012, UTB had a headcount of 8,146 students: 6,980 undergraduates and 1,166 post-baccalaureate and graduate students; its full-time student equivalency (FTSE) was 5,611. The demographic breakdown of UTB’s headcount enrollment for fall 2012 is shown in Table 2.