Legislative Priorities

of the Texas Exes

During the 88th Legislative Session, it is going to take all of our alumni doing their part to share with legislators the big impact UT Austin has had on the state.  

Below, learn about our priorities for this session. Then head to the Texas Exes action center to help us maintain and strengthen support for UT during this critical time for higher education. 

Download the Texas Exes' Legislative Priorities

Maintain and strengthen support for higher ed

Higher Education Priorities  

Budget

Texas legislators have a difficult task this session when it comes to balancing the state budget for the next biennium. UT Austin has been tremendously affected by the current crisis but has continued innovating education and actively contributing to the state’s recovery. 

HISTORY

The legislature uses funding formulas to distribute available state appropriations to higher-education institutions as the core investment from the state. This base level of funding is calculated primarily on enrollment and estimated average cost by program. The Higher Education Coordinating Board prepares and presents these calculations to the Legislative Budget Board in June of even years. In 2011, higher education suffered substantial cuts to base funding levels that have not been restored. However, in recent years, appropriators have maintained modest increases in funding for higher education that have spurred innovation, a strong workforce, and that have helped attract businesses to our state. 

 

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ASK

We ask the legislature to continue to invest in public higher education by maintaining current funding levels for the formulas and research funds. We also ask the Legislature to maintain the University’s Institutional Enhancement.

Non-Formula Exceptional Items 

HISTORY

“Exceptional items” are specific university projects, institutions, or programs that have traditionally been appropriated funds outside of the base formulas. In recent years, special items have sparked conversation at the legislature regarding ways to better organize and maintain this important funding. Some consideration has been given to the idea of removing this special project, non-formula funding from the budgetary process and putting the associated dollars back into the available funds for the higher education formulas. This approach would adversely affect UT Austin, because the current higher education funding formulas do not consider special research programs and projects, nor do the current formulas consider what many believe to be the appropriate factors for institutions of higher education. In 2017 UT Austin’s special items were reduced by an average of 30%. In 2019, special item funding was maintained. As appropriators consider options for balancing the budget in the upcoming 87th Legislative Session, it’s important that UT Austin advocates and friends help convey the significant value that these special items have. 

 

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ASK

We ask the legislature to maintain investment levels in UT Austin’s budgetary special items, as each are critical to the mission of the university and to the state.

UT Austin’s Exceptional Items  

UT Austin’s exceptional items—which include the Texas Hub for Applied Cybersecurity, the Texas Digital Molten Salt Reactor, and Dell Med—offer positive contributions to the state and nation. 

Texas Hub for Applied Cybersecurity

The Texas Hub for Applied Cybersecurity will provide Texas with a diverse and highly trained pipeline of cybersecurity professionals by offering minors, certifications, and apprenticeships in applied cybersecurity for traditional and non-traditional students in a world-class learning space.

The Texas Digital Molten Salt Reactor

The Texas Digital Molten Salt Reactor will ensure that Texas becomes a leader in the design, development, innovation, and commercialization of molten salt reactors to provide flexible, reliable, on-demand electricity and water desalination.

Dell Med

Long COVID Research at Dell Med will expand clinical work at the medical school and support research into the underlying nature of and potential treatments for long COVID.

Make sure you stay informed on higher education issues that impact the university and state.