University of Houston System
System Office Operation
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: $3,725,504
Description and Justification
Established by Acts 1977, 65th Legislature, as codified in Section 111.20 of the Texas Education Code, the University of Houston System (UHS) Administration provides leadership, coordination, support and some centralized services for the four UHS universities. The UHS's mission is to serve the full range of educational and research needs of Houston, the Gulf Coast Region and Texas with programs of highest quality and efficiency.
Factors Impacting Strategy
The rapid demographic changes facing Houston and Texas present both social and economic challenges for the state and its public universities. The UHS is the largest single source of professional and technical talent for the Gulf Coast Region, providing the intellectual as well as the research, technological and cultural base for the area. The UHS contributes greatly to the economic future of the state by preparing the workforce with academic programs serving all populations in the region and expanding the research and technology base.
The role of the UHS Administration has been reviewed by the Board of Regents to ensure the greatest responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency of services to the community and the four universities. The Board has combined the top two positions in the UHS - the Chancellor of the UHS and the President of UH - into a single chief executive to effect greater cooperation, coordination and efficiency. This new management model will continue to bring the universities together for shared services where economically beneficial; for system-wide initiatives, such as partnerships with community groups, public and private schools, corporate and industrial organizations; and for coordinating support from private individuals and corporations as well as federal, state and local governments.
NASA Texas Aerospace Scholars/Technology Outreach Program
Existing Item
Requested Biennial Funding: $1,788,500
Description and Justification
The Texas Aerospace Scholars programs (TAS) provide distance learning opportunities and onsite experiences at NASA/Johnson Space Center for students and teachers from across the state of Texas. Since 1999, more than 2,00 Texans have participated in the programs and have explored career opportunities available to them in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (STEM). High school juniors explore opportunities in STEM fields by completing interactive on-line modules and travel to Houston for a one-week summer experience. The middle school program participants learn innovative ways to integrate existing NASA instructional materials across various disciplines that map directly with state and national standards. The community college program challenges students to compete in teams on an aerospace related project for a potential NASA contract. This simulation activity includes web-based assignments and onsite activities where students interact with engineers, scientists and astronauts.
The Technology Outreach Program (TOP) transfers NASA/JSC scientific and engineering expertise to meet innovative Texas small business' technology requirements that foster economic retention and expansion. During the past two years, TOP has helped 167 small businesses solve technical challenges facing their business. TOP assistance has resulted in increased sales, retention and new employment.
Exceptional item funding would allow the expansion of both the Texas Aerospace Scholars programs and the Technology Outreach Program.
Factors Impacting Strategy
The Texas Aerospace Scholars (TAS) initiative harnesses the excitement of human space exploration to Texas students across the state to encourage these students to pursue careers and degrees in math, science, and engineering. TAS will increase the number of Texans with high-tech skills; promote economic development through the creation of an increased technical workforce; provide access to a unique educational opportunity to students from rural communities, inner cities, and border regions; ensure Texas' future growth and prosperity and continued world leadership in technology; and provide high-visibility to the Texas Legislature's commitment to math, science, and engineering education.
The Technology Outreach Program (TOP) applies technology and expertise developed through human space flight to assist Texas small business to expand and diversify. Economic impact includes new and improved manufacturing processes for existing and new companies; new technology development, existing product improvement, new patents, new physical plant improvements; new peripheral and secondary economic impact on upstream vendors and suppliers; increased opportunities have resulted in a healthy, robust economic climate that is vital to Texas in growing the Texas economy; and additional companies outside of Houston MSA have the opportunity to access NASA/JSC.
UH System Center Support
New Item
Requested Biennial Funding: $2,800,000
Description and Justification
Providing comprehensive service to the Houston metropolitan area requires the UH System (UHS) universities to expand their operations in high demand communities in our region. This cannot be done, however, without an investment of significant resources for program development, infrastructure development and operations (e.g., facilities, information technology), and administration.
In 1995, the UHS universities established the UH System at Sugar Land, a center that has proven to be both cost-efficient and effective in serving the higher education needs of the region. In 2001 the UHS universities established the UH System at Cinco Ranch where over 30 baccalaureate and master's degree programs in business, education, information systems and the humanities are now being offered. In FY04 and FY05 the UHS universities will explore opportunities to participate in a new multi-institution teaching center (MITC) in Northwest Houston. This proposed MITC would be a collaboration with the North Harris/Montgomery Community College District and would offer programs leading to baccalaureate and master's degrees in high demand areas such as business, education, engineering, technology and computer science. Exceptional item funding would provide the resources needed to develop and operate these new enterprises, which would expand access to higher education in the Houston metropolitan area.
Factors Impacting Strategy
By 2015, the UHS estimates enrollment system-wide of 70,000 to 75,000 students, in line with forecast population growth in our region, as well as goals articulated by the State of Texas (in ŃClosing the Gapsę) and our own Board of Regents. The UHS will not be able to accommodate this level of enrollment growth solely on its existing universities. We have neither the facilities nor the infrastructure to do so, nor will constraints of geography, time, traffic, and work and family responsibilities allow all students in need of our services to attend college at one of our four universities. In addition, the funding needed to build new universities (e.g., faculty, administration, facilities, etc.) in areas of high enrollment demand will not be available.
Therefore, if the UH System is to meet its ambitious enrollment goals in the most cost effective ways possible, we must develop new MITCs in high demand sections of our metropolitan area. In doing so, we eliminate the need to create entire faculties and administrations separate from our existing universities, and we bring our academic programs to where they are needed most. New MITCs are being planned for Northwest Houston, Pearland and the Texas Medical Center, where there is strong support from community and business leaders, as well as local community colleges.
