University of Houston
Texas Center for Superconductivity
At the University of Houston (TCSUH)
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 8,680,000
High Temperature Superconductivity (HTS) has been identified by the U.S. Government as one of the critical technologies for the nation, and as one of the 30 most important technologies for the next century, and one of the most important engineering discoveries in the last 75 years.
TCSUH was created in June 1987 by act of the 70th Session of the Texas Legislature to establish a world class center to conduct long-term multidisciplinary research and development, education and technology transfer programs in HTS and related materials. Its charge was to advance and continue the momentum created by the discovery of C. W. Paul Chu and colleagues of a new class of materials that become superconducting above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. By building a critical mass of scientists, engineers, post-doctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and technicians, TCSUH is now the leading international center for bulk material research, and serves as an informational resource to the U.S. government, industry, academia and K-12 educational institutions.
As an HTS leader, TCSUH was selected to host the prestigious M2S-HTS-VI International Conference in 2000 and the 2002 Applied Superconductivity Conference, attended by over 3,500 U.S. and international scientists from industry, government and academia.
TCSUH's education and industry cooperative programs enhance and broaden the capabilities of Texas and the U.S. science and engineering community to meet industrial and government needs through utilization of HTS materials. TCSUH has developed, in partnership with industry and government laboratories, materials and prototype applications based on HTS and related materials which will lead to new products, and is now working to discover, improve and develop HTS materials for use in cost-saving devices for medical, energy and utility, transportation, space and communication industries.
Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 964,576
The Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center, a NASA Commercial Space Center, promotes applied research, technology development, and the commercialization of advanced thin film materials developed terrestrially and in space for economic benefit to Texas and the nation. It has established itself as a proven technology development partner for industry, and promises to form additional partnerships in the development of new microelectronics products and economies.
SVEC has formed a consortium of 20 industry, government and academia affiliates. Specific product developments underway are semiconductor thin film infrared lasers for defense and environmental monitoring applications including remote pollution monitoring; high efficiency solar cells for space and terrestrial electric power applications; on-chip sensors for medical applications including remote glucose monitoring; thin film solid oxide fuel cells for distributed electric power applications; a new resistive element computer memory; and thin film ceramic optical micro-detectors for restoration of sight in the retinally blind.
SVEC has spun-off four companies in Texas, patented 14 technologies, and been recognized as one of the foremost developers of new space technologies with focus on the utilization of space for economic development. Two of these companies have established manufacturing facilities in Texas with nearly $15 million of private investment, and have brought more than $45 million of economic growth to Texas in 2000-2002.
SVEC has worked to disseminate its basic and applied knowledge through outreach to the Texas and national industrial sectors. This has been supported by a new interdisciplinary R&D program incorporating students and faculty from science, engineering, business, and law into joint technology and product development groups. SVEC has also developed a research program for undergraduate students to entice underrepresented students into science and technology fields.
SVEC has leveraged Special Item funds by 12:1 for industry-driven R&D leading to economic growth, and generated over $300 million of economic benefit for Texas.
Partnership to Support Public Schools
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 3,294,430
The State of Texas has made providing quality public education a priority, as it is essential for students to succeed in college and become productive members of a workforce which increasingly requires higher levels of education. Programs offered through the Partnership to Support Public Schools improve the quality of education provided to K-12 students through the dissemination of quality instruction and education methods.
Special item funds are invested in UH programs dedicated to improving the quality of public education and enhancing student success. Central among these is the Consistency Management and Cooperative Discipline program, a highly successful, comprehensive instructional/management reform model that combines responsibility for learning and classroom organization among teachers and students.
Evaluations have shown that CMCD significantly reduced (48% to 78% per school) discipline problems and office referrals, while increasing student achievement on national standardized tests by three quarters of a year (compared to students without CM trained teachers). The program has also been shown to improve teacher and student attendance and increase the teaching time per day. CMCD is operational in 74 elementary and secondary schools in the Houston Independent School District and surrounding school systems.
Another key program in which funds will be invested include the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and statistics (TIMES). Research conducted through the TIMES program focuses on improving the English reading skills of Spanish-speaking elementary students.
Texas Learning and Computation Center (TLC2)
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 4,657,578
In 1999, UH began building an environment for the design and delivery of cutting-edge, technology-based research and learning toolsÜthe Texas Learning and Computation Center (TLC2). Through the support of special item funding in FY02-03, TLC2 began implementing its organizational structure. In 2002, the center was able to capitalize on a $3.6 million commitment for facilities development from the federal government, as well as funding for over sixteen projects in the areas of high performance computing, molecular design and high-speed network infrastructure development. These projects support TLC2's goals of promoting economic development through high-tech innovation and are valued at over $10 million.
To address the nationwide shortage of qualified science, engineering, and math students who will pursue careers in those areas, TLC2 has partnered with the federal government to create a pipeline of students to address this need. The Center for Technology Literacy, under the TLC2 umbrella, ensures that technology high school teachers throughout the state have a training ground to further their ability to teach computer skills to their students.
Houston is the center of the world's energy industry, and the computer, communications, and biotechnology industries represent a growing segment of the local economy. Also located here are the Texas Medical Center and NASA's Johnson Space Center. All of these entities have been leaders in the use of high-performance computational, communication, and visualization systems, such as those being developed through TLC2 . Houston is also home to 10 universities, 10 community colleges, numerous libraries, and over 60 independent school districts, including the Houston Independent School District, which enrolls over 200,000 students and is the fifth largest in the country. As in most major cities, many of these institutions are struggling to meet the educational needs of their students. TLC2 will work with all these entities to address those needs. And Houston is the only city in Texas connected to the National Science Foundation's high-speed, broad-bandwidth network, which connects supercomputing centers and major research universities around the country. Through this network, all applications developed at TLC2 will be accessible to institutions throughout the state and the nation.
Health Law & Policy Institute
|
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: |
$ 700,000 (continuing) |
| $ 100,000 (new) | |
| $ 800,000 (total) |
The Health Law & Policy Institute is one of the nation's foremost interdisciplinary centers for the study of health law and policy. It has been ranked the number one health law program in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for much of the past decade, including the past two years.
The institute's Health Legislation Research Center provides legislators and legislative staff with detailed reports, analyses of relevant state and federal legislative and judicial developments, background information about recent developments in medical and health services research, and expertise on a wide range of health law and policy issues that are of critical importance to the Legislature.
During the 77th Legislature, the institute completed over a dozen research projects for legislators on topics ranging from health care privacy, to telemedicine, to immunization, to the uses of genetic information. During the current biennium, the Health Legislation Research Center is assisting the House Committee on Public Health with its interim charges in areas such as bioterrorism and mental health.
The institute publishes a monthly Update on Health specifically for the use of members of the Texas Legislature. The publication summarizes recent developments in federal law and legislative initiatives from other state legislatures; analyzes relevant federal and state court opinions; monitors regulatory activity; and explores recent medical or health services research results of particular pertinence to state policy makers. The institute also sponsors an additional legislative and public education program, Health Law Perspectives: Analyses of Recent Development in Health Law, a Web-based publication that recently received a five star rating for the excellence of its content.
Center for Public Policy
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 600,000
The Center for Public Policy gathers and analyzes information and data concerning major public policy issues facing Houston and Texas, provides a forum for discussion and analyses of cutting edge problems confronting the Houston urban area, forms alliances with other research institutes to pool resources (human and technical) to study and solve regional problems, and provides decision-makers with objective analyses for addressing critical policy issues.
Major programs include providing state and local political expertise through extensive analysis of community polling results; conducting the Open-Enrollment Charter Schools Evaluation, which has provided the State of Texas with valuable measurements that can be used to determine the success of the charter school programs; implementing the Mickey Leland Congressional Internship Program, which has placed approximately 200 interns in congressional offices; developing the Work Force Technical Task Force Project, which will provide Houston with a clearer picture of existing job needs, the nature of the work force trying to fill those jobs, and how Houston educational institutions can help change the character of the work force to meet future needs; and publishing the Houston Metropolitan Study, a collaborative research effort aimed at answering the question: What will it take to position the Houston metropolitan area for success in the twenty-first century?
Small Business Development Center
|
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: |
$ 5,539,000 (continuing) |
| $ 735,400 (new) | |
| $ 6,274,400 (total) |
The Small Business Development Center was established in 1984 through an agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and includes the UH Small Business Development Center (UH SBDC) and the UH-Victoria Small Business Development Center (UHV SBDC). This partnership between the universities and the SBA requires a one-to-one match from each grantee institution. The UH SBDC's central focus is providing quality assistance to the small business community by increasing growth and survivability. As the flagship of small business assistance in Texas, as well as in the nation, the UH SBDC accomplishes its mission by providing service in several areas that include one-on-one business counseling, business -related workshops and seminars, contract procurement, international trade, technology development and commercialization, and business specialist referrals.
The UH SBDC has had a successful positive impact on client performance and a corresponding positive economic impact on the communities in the area. Long-term UH SBDC clients generated over $173 million in new sales and approximately 2,234 new jobs from 1998 to 1999. The UHV SBDC's efforts during the last five years have produced 145 new businesses, 23 buyouts, 79 business expansions, and 38 retentions. The SBDC helped create or save 763 jobs.
The Small Business Development Center special line item funding is used as cash match to federal contracts and without this funding from the state, over $2.3 million in federal funds and approximately $1 million in other local community funds would be lost annually, not to mention the state and local economic impact due to the loss of SBDC services.
Houston Partnership for Space Exploration
Existing item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 842,074
The Houston Partnership for Space Exploration (HPSE) increases the intellectual and economic benefits of Texas aerospace organizations, particularly NASA's Johnson Space Center, to UH, UH-Clear Lake, Houston, and Texas. HPSE works through the Institute for Space Systems Operations (ISSO) to increase the research and educational capabilities of UH/UHCL faculty, colleges, and institutions across the many disciplines of the aerospace industry; continue and expand jointly supported research conducted by the UH/UHCL¬Post Doctoral Aerospace Fellows program and particularly the joint UH/UHCL-JSC projects; provide seed funds to UH/UHCL faculty to enable the development and the submission of competitive proposals for external funding; and expand research activities of UH/UHCL with other universities, companies, and agencies of the statewide Texas Space Grant Consortium to the benefit of all Texans. Between 1992 and 2002, HPSE stimulated grants and contracts exceeding $7 million. The UH/UHCL-JSC Post Doctoral Aerospace Fellowship leverages state funds 20:1 through access to unique JSC resources (professionals, space operations, data, and Earth-based and on-orbit facilities), and provides Texas with a fundamentally new method of deriving benefits from its largest federal R&D installation, NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Funds
New item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 25,000,000
In June 2001, UH incurred approximately $100 million in damages to buildings and other infrastructure from Tropical Storm Allison. While insurance and funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) covered approximately 78% of the cost of recovery, UH has had to borrow approximately $25 million from Higher Education Assistance Funds and university reserves dedicated to other institutional priorities in order to recover from the storm. Exceptional item funds will be used to make the University of Houston whole in terms of the costs of damages sustained that were not covered by insurance or FEMA.
As a result of the storm, 90% of UH's buildings were damaged. Because of a tremendous recovery effort, the university was able to complete both the 2001 summer school sessions and the 2001 fall semester with minimal interruptions. Since then, the following have been accomplished as part of the storm reparation process: mechanical, electrical, telecommunication and other building systems across campus have been repaired or replaced; asbestos and other hazardous materials have been removed; facilities have been improved over pre-storm conditions; fire/life safety code and ADA accessibility deficiencies have been corrected; and storm mitigation measures have been incorporated across campus. Storm recovery efforts will continue in FY03.
Addressing these needs has taken precedence over many other facilities projects planned for FY01 and FY02. The expenditure of the funds has caused the postponement of important capital renewal and deferred maintenance projects, as well as limiting reserves available to fund items such as utility costs and insurance premiums, which together have increased over $5.5 million per year. In response to a facilities condition audit conducted in the mid-1990s, UH has invested approximately $13 million in HEAF funds annually in capital renewal and deferred maintenance projects. In FY02, all of these funds were diverted to storm recovery initiatives.
Partnership for Multicultural Participation
New item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 600,000
Houston is one of the most ethnically diverse and international cities in the nation. Nearly 50% of the population is minority, and over half of the international firms operating in Texas are located here. With 73 consulates located here, Houston ranks third among U.S. cities in that category. At the same time, achieving professional success in our society is often more challenging for members of minority and international communities due to cultural, linguistic and economic barriers. Breaking down these barriers is essential if these groups are to succeed in our society and if Houston--with its multi-cultural population--is to prosper.
The Partnership for Multicultural Participation brings together three UH programs--African-American, Mexican-American, and Asian-American Studies--in a new collaborative project to enhance the success of Houston's multi-ethnic and international communities and businesses.
Opportunities will include, 1) cross-cultural programs for leaders of public schools, businesses, and government to promote an understanding of ethnically diverse populations; 2) a series of conferences focusing on ways in which Houston and its ethnic communities can build ongoing partnerships, including business development in Houston through ethnic diversity; 3) workshops for the community on topics such as home buying, entrepreneurship, cultural sensitivity, parenting, and grant writing; 4) research and consulting on policy issues, focusing initially on health insurance/healthcare issues for the Asian-American, African-American and Hispanic populations; 5) mentoring and leadership training for students in inner-city schools to enhance their ability to succeed in today's competitive economy; 6) creating an archive of information pertaining to the relationship among African-American, Hispanic and Asian-American populations in the areas of historic development, economics, ethnic relations etc.; and 7) research of cultural and socio-economic factors impacting inner-city youth, with an eye toward developing strategies that enable them to succeed both academically and professionally.
Tourism & Hospitality Research Institute
New item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 240,000
Tourism is currently the third largest industry in the nation. The country was the unchallenged leader with $85.2 billion (17.9 % market share) in international tourism receipts in 2000. Texas ranks third among all states in its share of domestic travel spending and had a 7.9% market share of business trips taken in the United States and 6.4% of all U.S. leisure trips. In 2000, domestic and international visitors spent $40.4 billion in Texas--$110 million per day. Travel spending in Texas has increased at an average annual rate of 6.5 percent since 1990. During 2000, the Texas travel and tourism industry employed 485,000 people who earned $11.2 billion. Travel spending in Texas generated a total impact of 855,000 jobs with earnings of $23.5 billion. The Texas travel and tourism industry generated $5.9 billion in local, state and federal taxes in 2000.
The hospitality/tourism industry is one of the most important in Texas, and yet the state and industry leaders do not have a dedicated research institute providing them with the information and other resources they need to maximize the potential of this industry for the state. The Tourism and Hospitality Research Institute at the University of Houston's Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management can serve in this capacity for Texas. With the assistance of exceptional item funding, the institute will provide policy research, skills training, marketing analysis and strategies for state and local governments and corporations. Expected outcomes include increased revenues and jobs for Texas in the hospitality/tourism industry. The Hilton College is one of the premier institutions of its kind in the world and the only one of its kind in Texas. As such, it is uniquely qualified to provide the hospitality and tourism research needed by the state's policy makers and industry leaders.
University Eye Institute
New item
Requested Biennial Funding: $ 1,496,600
The College of Optometry and the University Eye Institute have provided eye and vision care services to the citizens of Greater Houston and Texas for 50 years, providing care on campus and in college-operated community-based clinics to approximately 37,000 patients annually.
Because of the geographic location of our clinics and the nature of our patient population, over 50% of these patients are partially or fully medically indigent. In addition, the college provides non-reimbursed or partially reimbursed care at Richmond State School for the Retarded, Head Start Programs of Houston, Migrant Health Centers in South Texas, Good Neighbor Health Care Center (4th Ward), Rusk Elementary School Health Clinic (3rd Ward), San Jose Clinic (2nd Ward), Houston Area Administration on the Aging, City of Houston Health Department; vision screening and early diagnosis services to the Houston Independent School District and other independent school districts, to shelters and service units for the homeless and homeless families, senior centers and to community centers. All these services are provided to an "at risk population" which has few resources to pay for primary eye care health services.
The numbers of medically indigent patients have far exceeded the available resources. Exceptional item funding would enable the University Eye Institute to expand services to the medically indigent by 33%. Funds would be used to hire additional needed personnel and provide support for capital equipment and operating expenses.
