Honorable Brandon Creighton, Chair, Senate Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB447 by Springer (Relating to the transfer of Midwestern State University to the Texas Tech University System, to certain fees charged by that system's governing board, and to mandatory venue for actions brought against that system or its institution, officers, or employees.), As Introduced
The addition of Midwestern State University to the Texas Tech University System would likely provide the institution with access to additional resources and opportunities for joint degree programs, joint faculty appointments, research collaborations, and other interactions with institutions within the system.
Transferring Midwestern State University to the Texas Tech University System would not likely have any negative impact upon current students, as the legislation specifies that Midwestern State University would continue to offer the same degrees and certificates as are currently on its program inventory. All rules and policies adopted by the board of regents of Midwestern State University to govern the university that are in effect when the transfer takes effect would be continued in effect until adopted, repealed, or superseded by the board of regents of the Texas Tech University System. Additionally, the bill specifies that tuition and fees, contracts and written obligations of every kind, the status of any student of the university enrolled at the university or the employment status or accrued benefits of any person employed by the university, and all funds that, on the effective date of the transfer, have been appropriated to the use of the university would remain unchanged until such time as the board of regents of the Texas Tech University System decide to make a change.
There could be some costs associated with this change; however costs may be offset by savings related to consolidation of services. It is assumed that the transfer would be implemented within existing resources.