<p>Texas has long realized that a state with a population its size it should have more Tier I research universities if it is to keep top talent in state and remain economically competitive. Currently there are only 3 - 2 publics and 1 private. (California has 9 and New York, a smaller state, has 7.) The issue with more universities attaining this status has been Texas is also a low-tax state and there definitely isn't political support to divert funding from The University of Texas and Texas A&M to support their creation. The Permanent University Fund (PUF) has made UT and Texas A&M two of the wealthiest public universities in the world, but has also caused tension among other public Texas schools that are excluded from it. </p>
<p>This proposition reallocates existing money outside the PUF into a new fund to enable up to 7 universities to pursue a path to Tier I status.</p>
<p>Should be interesting to see what happens with schools like Texas Tech, the University of Houston, and UT Dallas over the next few years if this initiative proves successful.</p>
<p>I’ll believe it when I see it. Texas aspires to be world-class but its citizens are too cheap to pay the taxes to get there, which IMO destines it for mediocrity. Not to take anything away from UT which is one of the nation’s stronger public universities, but honestly, a state with an economy the size of Texas’ should be #1 or #2 in public universities. Right now, it’s not even all that close.</p>
<p>The Economist magazine addressed this issue in a recent article on Texas.
At least they understand where they fall short and are trying to address the issue.</p>
<p>The Economist article suggested that the low tax, low spend model of Texas may change with increased influx of migrants looking for better services. It’ll be interesting to see if politics change. </p>
<p>I think the low tax, low spend model has been successful for Texas. Infrastructure improvements and growth have far exceeded anything California has done recently with a high tax, high spend model.</p>
<p>What is the private research U in Texas - Rice or Baylor? </p>
<p>Texas isn’t doing a bad job, its just California does a fantasic job (with help from richer residents and smarter kids). NY has alot of good schools in its system but no great public ones - so I wouldn’t use them as a standard. It is always good to see higher education expanding and improving.</p>
<p>“I’ll believe it when I see it. Texas aspires to be world-class but its citizens are too cheap to pay the taxes to get there, which IMO destines it for mediocrity. Not to take anything away from UT which is one of the nation’s stronger public universities, but honestly, a state with an economy the size of Texas’ should be #1 or #2 in public universities. Right now, it’s not even all that close.”</p>
<p>IMO is your operative phrase here. The low tax model is a great thing for many, many people and is a successful model. High taxes lead to bigger government, more corruption and more inefficiency. Really, what makes you think that growing government can result in good things.</p>
<p>Not every public expense or institution is “government.” A public University is more akin to a bridge or a fire department. It (theoretically) provides a valuable service. </p>
<p>If you build a road in the wrong place, or overpay the contractor, that’s a poor allocation of public funds. Just so with a University. But if you build it right and for the right price, it’s an investment that will pay dividends. The last few decades have seen an unfortunate and purposeful conflation by too many people of useful (or even necessary) public spending with “expanding government.”</p>
<p>^^kvilledeac – What is the private research U in Texas - Rice or Baylor?</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s any doubt that Rice is the premier private in TX - both at the undergrad and grad research level. Here’s a quote from Baylor’s interim provost Elizabeth Davis: </p>
<p>“University of Texas President Bill Powers argued that Texas needs more national research universities,” she told a packed gathering at Baylor’s law school. “They draw talent, federal research dollars and innovation to our state.”</p>
<p>California, she said, currently has nine national research universities, while New York boasts eight. Texas only has three, she said: the University of Texas, Texas A&M University and Rice University.</p>
<p>It would be cool seeing a possible Tier I school from Texas starting. Wonder what the name would be though…? Possibly another addition to the SEC? :P</p>