Honorable Brandon Creighton, Chair, Senate Committee on Education K-16
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2361 by Kolkhorst (Relating to the transfer of the University of Houston--Victoria to The Texas A&M University System.), As Introduced
Transferring the University of Houston--Victoria (UHV) to The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) will provide UHV with access to additional resources and opportunities for joint degree programs, joint faculty appointments, research collaborations, and other interactions with institutions within the A&M System.
Transferring UHV to TAMUS would not have any negative impact upon current students, as the legislation specifies that UHV would continue to offer the same degrees and certificates as are currently on its program inventory. Given the depth of expertise in agriculture and engineering in the A&M System (neither of which are currently offered at UHV), the range of programs at UHV would likely expand, providing greater opportunity for students and better service to the region's workforce needs.
All rules and policies adopted by the University of Houston board of regents to govern UHV that are in effect when the transfer takes effect would be continued in effect until adopted, repealed, or superseded by the TAMUS board of regents. Additionally, the bill specifies that tuition and fees, contracts and written obligations of every kind, the status of any enrolled UHV student or the employment status or accrued benefits of any UHV employee, and all funds that, on the effective date of the transfer, have been appropriated to the use of UHV would remain unchanged until such time as the TAMUS board of regents decides to make a change.
It is estimated that TAMUS will need additional resources from the state for the transfer of UHV, which are identified in the fiscal note.