University of Houston–Downtown
Restoration of Ten Percent Reduction
(New Item)
Description and Justification
In complying with the directive from the LBB and the Governor’s Office of Budget, Planning and Policy that institutions reduce base requests by 10 percent, UHD chose to cut $642,974 of the required $709,474 from the Institutional Enhancement strategy, with the remaining $66,500 coming from UHD’s Community Development special item. This exceptional item request is for restoration of that funding.
Requested |
||||
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
||
| Community Development Project | 33,250 |
33,250 |
2 |
|
| Institutional Enhancement | 321,487 |
321,487 |
2 |
|
| Total | $354,737 |
$354,737 |
||
Excellence Funding
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
These supplemental excellence funds were first provided by the 76th Legislature. They enable the university to provide better support for the instructional process with the related expenditures rolling up into the Operations Support strategy.
Factors Impacting Strategy
UH–Downtown has experienced steady growth over the past decade as it has expanded its Table of Programs and its physical campus. Regrettably, over this period state support as a percentage of total revenue has been trending steadily downward. The funding provided through the Excellence Funding strategy, like the funding provided through the Institutional Enhancement special item, is used primarily to meet basic operating needs. However, without this funding the university would have reduced capacity to develop its centers of excellence, such as its Urban Teacher Education program and the UHD Scholars Academy – winner of the prestigious Texas Higher Education Star Award.
With so much of the cost of attending a Texas public university having been shifted to the student, it is critically important that the funding provided through this strategy remain at least at the current level.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $883,159 |
$883,159 |
$883,159 |
$883,159 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $883,159 |
$883,159 |
$883,159 |
$883,159 |
|
Community Development Project
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
This strategy provides continued funding for community development activities on the near north side of Houston. These funds serve as seed money for community–based efforts to revitalize two separate economically depressed north side neighborhoods – the predominately African–American Acres Homes subdivision and the largely Hispanic area bound by downtown, I–45N, 610 Loop North and Highway 59N.
Factors Impacting Strategy
The individual projects include a variety of economic development and community enhancement programs. Each of the funded projects has its own board which provides oversight for implementing the project. Each project must provide semi–annual progress reports to the university leadership.
The Community Development funds serve a vital role in helping UHD develop stronger connections with targeted Houston communities that have low college–going rates. The programs funded through the Community Development initiative strengthen families and communities, focusing on youth programs and economic/business development. Having the UHD name in these communities and associated with these initiatives is very beneficial to the institution.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $332,500 |
$332,500 |
$299,250 |
$299,250 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | 33,250 |
33,250 |
2 |
||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $332,500 |
$332,500 |
$332,500 |
$332,500 |
|
Institutional Enhancement
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
UHD requests continuation of the Institutional Enhancement funding that was first approved by the 76th Legislature. This funding supports UHD’s Academic Support Lab, as well as a number of other initiatives that impact student services and academic excellence. The funds that have been added to this item in recent sessions have been used primarily to meet basic operating needs, which is why most of the expenditures relating to Institutional Enhancement actually show in the Operations Support strategy.
In order to comply with the state directive for a 10% reduction to certain non-formula strategies, the 2008/2009 request for this strategy is $642,974 less than was received for the 2006/2007 biennium. This difference is being requested as part of UHD’s exceptional item titled 10% Restoration.
Factors Impacting Strategy
With steady enrollment growth figured into the future of UHD, and with so much of the cost of higher education having been shifted from the state to the student, it is important that the Institutional Enhancement funds remain part of the higher education funding mix.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $2,136,825 |
$2,102,726 |
$1,798,288 |
$1,798,288 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | 321,487 |
321,487 |
2 |
||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $2,136,825 |
$2,102,726 |
$2,119,775 |
$2,119,776 |
|
Worker’s Compensation Insurance
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
This strategy deals with the costs incurred when an employee is injured on the job.
Factors Impacting Strategy
This strategy is impacted internally by the implementation and enforcement of a sound safety program. A key external factor is the escalating cost of health care.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $211,935 |
$211,935 |
$211,935 |
$211,935 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $211,935 |
$211,935 |
$211,935 |
$211,935 |
|
Tuition Revenue Bond Retirement
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
Continuation of this special item provides funds for debt service on tuition revenue bonds issued for two classroom buildings – UHD’s 147,000 gsf Academic/Student Services Building (Fall 1998) and its 90,000 gsf Commerce Street Building (Fall 2003). It also provides funds to service debt on bonds issued in 1999 for implementation of Phase II of the UHD Campus Development plan.
Factors Impacting Strategy
During the 78th legislative session, a period of budget challenges for the state, the decision was made to provide less than full funding for these fixed obligations. Full funding was restored by the 79th Legislature. The possibility of the state providing something less than full funding (interest only) for future bonds has been discussed. That is something for this and future legislative bodies to decide, but it is imperative that the state continue to provide the funding needed to fully meet the commitments that have already been made.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $3,155,644 |
$3,789,744 |
$3,790,333 |
$3,787,864 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $3,155,644 |
$3,789,744 |
$3,790,333 |
$3,787,864 |
|
Shea Street Building Tuition Revenue Bond Retirement
(New Item)
Description and Justification
Exceptional item funding is being requested to provide for the debt service costs relating to a 132,000 gsf classroom building that UHD already has under construction. Due to growing enrollment and an already existing severe space deficit, UHD moved forward with this project even when TRB funding was denied during the 79th legislative session.
During the April/May 2006 special called legislative session, UHD received authorization to issue $31.6 million of tuition revenue bonds to retroactively fund this project, but no funding was identified to service the debt. That debt service funding is being requested here.
Factors Impacting Strategy
UHD expects to experience steady growth going forward. Given its current space deficit – which is most severe in the categories of teaching space – it is critical that the university add classroom space. UHD’s hope and expectation is that the legislature will provide full funding to meet this obligation.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | |||||
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | 2,462,863 |
2,462,008 |
1 |
||
| Total | $2,462,863 |
$2,462,008 |
|||
Closing the Gaps for Undergraduate Education in Biotechnology
(New Item)
UHD requests exceptional item funding that will allow it to provide unique learning experiences for its biotechnology majors. These efforts would be centered on project–based learning experiences involving Biofilms, Plant Systematics, Microbial Genomics, NanoBio Detectors, and Pathogens of concern to the Texas wine and potato industries.
Factors Impacting Strategy
When successfully implemented, this initiative will produce highly qualified graduates, mostly from groups underrepresented in higher education, in an area of major importance to the future economic growth and development of Texas.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | |||||
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | 350,000 |
450,000 |
3 |
||
| Total | $350,000 |
$450,000 |
|||
