September 1, 2009

Robert Miller

The University of Texas at Dallas today will receive 16 philanthropic gifts, including an anonymous gift of $7.29 million, for a total of more than $16.8 million to support research, faculty chairs and graduate student fellowships.

The gifts and their timing were motivated in part by the availability of matching funds through the Texas Research Incentive Program, which the Legislature recently enacted.

The fully matched potential of the gifts is $31.6 million, said UTD president David E. Daniel.

Fully Matched Potential of $31.7 Million Possible Under New Texas Program

Tuessday, September 1, 2009

Press Release

Today, the University of Texas at Dallas has received 16 philanthropic gifts, totaling more than $16.8 million – seven of them in amounts of $1 million or more and all greater than $100,000.Gov. Rick Perry recently visited UT Dallas to sign the legislation establishing the Tier One university funding mechanism.

This is the greatest number of individual seven-figure gifts received in one day by UT Dallas.

These gifts and their timing were motivated in part by the availability of matching funds through the recently enacted Texas Research

September 1, 2009

Press Release

The University of Texas at Dallas today will receive 16 philanthropic gifts, including an anonymous gift of $7.29 million, for a total of more than $16.8 million to support research, faculty chairs and graduate student fellowships.

The gifts and their timing were motivated in part by the availability of matching funds through the Texas Research Incentive Program, which the Legislature recently enacted.

September 2, 2009

R.G. Ratcliffe

San Antonio lawmakers at looking at the possible merger of the University of Texas San Antonio and the University of Texas Health Science Center if Proposition 4 passes on the November ballot.

Now, the Greater Houston Parntership, a business organization, and the Harris County AFL-CIO are urging the passage of the proposed constitutional amendment that is designed to expand the number of top research universities in Texas.

"We are proud to have the support from these two important organizations. Together they represent hundreds of Houston area employers and their employees," said former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby who serves as Chairman for the Texans for Tier One campaign.

September 2, 2009

Holly Hacker

In just one day, seven public universities apparently claimed an entire $25 million pot of state money designed to help them become research powerhouses.

The new Texas Research Incentive Program allocates $25 million this year and another $25 million next year for the seven schools, including the University of Texas at Dallas, UT-Arlington and the University of North Texas. Tuesday was the first day campuses could apply for their share of the $25 million.

It's a matching program, and how much campuses receive depends on how much private money they raise.

September 2, 2009

Melissa Ludwig

Like a fire sale on designer shoes, the race for $50 million in state matching funds among Texas' seven emerging research universities may be nearly over as soon as it started.

Tuesday was the first day the schools — including the University of Texas at San Antonio — could report private gifts that qualify for a state match under the so-called Tier One bill, which doubles any donation topping $2 million.

The program extends for two years, but after a fundraising binge following the bill's signing, there may be few crumbs left on the plate, said

September 2, 2009

Melissa Ludwig

Texas Tech University announced on Wednesday that it raised $24.3 million in private donations, gobbling up the remaining dollars in a state matching fund meant to help Texas' seven emerging research universities, including the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Tech's gifts will leverage $21.5 million from the state fund, putting Tech on top of what's been a fierce competition for matching dollars. Within two days, the seven universities announced $61 million in gifts, qualifying for nearly $50 million in matching funds.

September 3, 2009

Editorial

Truly, a top-tier success

State lawmakers challenged seven Texas universities: Go out and raise philanthropic gifts for research, and Austin will match you from a new $50 million fund. After the state started taking applications Tuesday, it took only two days for the schools – including the University of Texas at Dallas, UT-Arlington and the University of North Texas – to nearly exhaust the amount. Texas Tech led the effort with $24 million in pledges, and UTD came in second with $16.8 million. The effort shows how hard the "emerging research universities" are willing to work to reach Tier One status. It reflects the wisdom of setting up the incentives program in this year's Legislature.

September 4, 2009

Ross Ramsey

September 5, 2009

Steve Taylor

HARLINGEN, Sept. 5 - There was justifiable pride at the Regional Academic Health Center when Gov. Rick Perry ceremonially signed into a law legislation allowing the University of Texas System to develop a medical school in the Rio Grande Valley.

When the 81st legislative session started no one expected state Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, to pass a bill to push the UT System into converting the RAHC into the University of Texas Health Science Center–South Texas, especially with next to no funding available.

However, as historic as last Monday's bill signing in Harlingen was, Valley lawmakers know that the heavy lifting to get a medical school