North Texas receives access to Texas University Fund

[Cerebus]

Quote

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I am thrilled to share with you this morning that Texas voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 5 creating the Texas University Fund (TUF). This is a historic moment for UNT — and for Texas. The TUF is a transformational investment in UNT, Texas higher education, and the state’s economy.

With 95% of Texas polls reporting results, media outlets are reporting that 66% of voters voted in favor of establishing TUF, which will be a $3.9 billion permanent endowment to ensure sustainable funding for eligible universities — including UNT — that do not receive benefits from the Permanent University Fund (PUF). Four universities are expected to receive funding and were determined by objective criteria based on research expenditures and doctoral degrees awarded on an annual basis with funds being distributed on a merit-based system that correlates to each institution’s research expenditures. We will learn more in the coming weeks.

UNT is committed to helping meet Texas’ needs, and we are prepared for the opportunities this new fund will bring to our university and the communities we serve. With nearly 47,000 students, UNT is now the 3rd largest university in Texas — behind only Texas A&M and UT Austin. Our university has accounted for 52% of the growth in new enrollees across all public universities in Texas since 2019, and we are making a difference in our students lives as each of you helps them achieve their educational goals to follow their dreams.

You also know that UNT has a known track record for meeting the demands of students, families, and employers, and helping drive the economy in our rapidly growing North Texas region. TUF will help us accelerate our research innovation, keep more of our top talent in Texas, elevate our national rankings, and propel UNT to greater national prominence.

This truly is an exciting moment for us. Thank you for all you do to support our students and to ensure we continue to move forward and have a positive impact on our region and state.

UNT Proud, 
Neal Smatresk
UNT President

 

Folks this is a big deal, this will bring in tens of millions a year in new funding.

[cousin oliver]

This is fantastic news!  Thank you for sharing this.  How soon will the money be dispersed?

[Big Z]

receives* wink 

[untphd]

Article from Forbes

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2023/11/08/texas-voters-approve-new-39-billion-university-research-endowment/?sh=4e98f73533a2

[keith]

This is great news.  Anyone know what the value of the PUF is that UT and A&M share?

[El Paso Eagle]

According to The Texas Tribune, initial estimates are that Texas Tech University would receive $44 million in the first year; the University of Houston would receive $48 million; Texas State University’s distribution would be $22 million and the University of North Texas would receive $21 million.

[El Paso Eagle]

10 minutes ago, keith said:

This is great news.  Anyone know what the value of the PUF is that UT and A&M share?

As of 2023, the PUF is valued at over $30 billion.

[golfingomez]

2 hours ago, Cerebus said:

 

Folks this is a big deal, this will bring in tens of millions a year in new funding.

This is great, i'm excited to hear that we will be able to lower tuition for all of our students!

[ADLER]

This will help us and the other elite Texas "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" schools to further distance ourselves from the lower class "R2: Research 2 Doctoral Universities – High research activity"

 

.

Edited November 9, 2023 by ADLER

[wardly]

20 hours ago, golfingomez said:

This is great, i'm excited to hear that we will be able to lower tuition for all of our students!

Right.....

[outoftown]

UNT was already very much on its way to being a more and more respectable research university. Smatresk achieved quite a lot in that regard. This will do a lot to help UNT, Tech UH and TSU close the gap to A&M and UT.

I doubt Baylor, TCU and SMU are thrilled though.

 

Edited November 9, 2023 by outoftown

[untjim1995]

22 hours ago, El Paso Eagle said:

According to The Texas Tribune, initial estimates are that Texas Tech University would receive $44 million in the first year; the University of Houston would receive $48 million; Texas State University’s distribution would be $22 million and the University of North Texas would receive $21 million.

Any reasoning for how the distributions get calculated? It seems weird for a school with the 3rd largest enrollment to get the least amount in distributions...

Edited November 9, 2023 by untjim1995

[untphd]

38 minutes ago, untjim1995 said:

Any reasoning for how the distributions get calculated? It seems weird for a school with the 3rd largest enrollment to get the least amount in distributions...

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2023/04/20/leveling-playing-field-texas

I brief explanation is given in the 7th paragraph under spreading the oil wealth. 75% is going to these universitys, with tech and houston each getting  a third and one third split between unt and texas state.

[untjim1995]

4 minutes ago, untphd said:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2023/04/20/leveling-playing-field-texas

I brief explanation is given in the 7th paragraph under spreading the oil wealth. 75% is going to these universitys, with tech and houston each getting  a third and one third split between unt and texas state.

I guess I am wondering why Tech and UH get 2/3 of the funds and we have to split our 1/3 with Texas State…

[Cougar King]

1 hour ago, untjim1995 said:

I guess I am wondering why Tech and UH get 2/3 of the funds and we have to split our 1/3 with Texas State…

It's just part of the political food chain, UNT and Texas State don't have as many alums in the state legislature like Tech and UH does. This was created because Tech and UH went to war with UT and A&M over the PUF.

As a concession, this was created.

[NT80]

Do these funds go to the Systems or the Main campus?    I don't trust the Texas legislature to not just ding us $21 mil on yearly budget requests to make this a non-increase.

[3XNTGRAD]

The distributions relate to current research expenditures. When we hit a certain threshold for two consecutive years, our allocation basically doubles. Tech and UH have already met that threshold and we are potentially close to do so.

[untjim1995]

14 minutes ago, 3XNTGRAD said:

The distributions relate to current research expenditures. When we hit a certain threshold for two consecutive years, our allocation basically doubles. Tech and UH have already met that threshold and we are potentially close to do so.

Thank you...

[meanJewGreen]

4 hours ago, outoftown said:

UNT was already very much on its way to being a more and more respectable research university. Smatresk achieved quite a lot in that regard. This will do a lot to help UNT, Tech UH and TSU close the gap to A&M and UT.

I doubt Baylor, TCU and SMU are thrilled though.

 

It is wild how different of a university academically we are from when I started in 06.

Our football program on the other hand.....

[untphd]

Houston in 2022 had 388 doc degrees awarded

Tech had 424

UNT had 315

Houston 2022 research expenditure 250 million

Tech 315 million

UNT2019 was 43 million

2020 was 84 million

I couldn't find 2022 for unt

These were two of the criteria

Hope that helps explaing the funding

[Hunter Green]

8 hours ago, outoftown said:

UNT was already very much on its way to being a more and more respectable research university. Smatresk achieved quite a lot in that regard. This will do a lot to help UNT, Tech UH and TSU close the gap to A&M and UT.

I doubt Baylor, TCU and SMU are thrilled though.

 

Those three privates have their own niche.

[El Paso Eagle]

2 hours ago, Hunter Green said:

Those three privates have their own niche.

Good point. Different agendas.

Question - So UT and A&M system schools are not eligible for this new fund, correct?

[Hunter Green]

5 minutes ago, El Paso Eagle said:

Good point. Different agendas.

Question - So UT and A&M system schools are not eligible for this new fund, correct?

I believe that is correct. 

[DentonLurker]

31 minutes ago, El Paso Eagle said:

Question - So UT and A&M system schools are not eligible for this new fund, correct?

That’s correct UT/A&M have the Permanent University Fund

[NT80]

Are these $$ for the UNT System, or UNT @ Denton?