Relating to the appointment of a nonvoting faculty regent to the board of regents of each state university or state university system.
Impact
If enacted, HB 330 would directly affect the composition of the board of regents for the University of Texas System. According to the proposed changes, one member of the board would need to be a current faculty member from one of the system's institutions. This adjustment is viewed as a step toward fostering greater inclusiveness and transparency within university governance, potentially leading to improved academic policies that reflect the viewpoints of faculty members who are directly involved in teaching and research.
Summary
House Bill 330 proposes an amendment to the Texas Education Code to include a nonvoting faculty regent position on the board of regents for the University of Texas System. This initiative aims to enhance faculty representation within the university governance structure. By implementing this role, the bill intends to ensure that faculty perspectives and interests are considered in board decisions, particularly those impacting academic and educational policy within the state university system.
Contention
While the introduction of a faculty regent may be seen as a progressive movement towards shared governance, it could also spark debates regarding the balance of power on university boards. Critics might argue that adding a nonvoting position does not substantially alter the decision-making dynamics and could serve to placate faculty concerns without providing meaningful influence. This could lead to discussions on whether more substantial reforms are necessary to adequately represent faculty interests within higher education governance.
Proposing a constitutional amendment creating a university research fund to support emerging research universities in The University of Texas System or The Texas A&M University System and disqualifying all component institutions of those university systems from receiving money from the national research university fund.
Relating to the creation of a new university in Nacogdoches, Texas, within The University of Texas System and the allocation of the annual constitutional appropriation to certain agencies and institutions of higher education; abolishing Stephen F. Austin State University.
Relating to the creation of a new university in Nacogdoches, Texas, within The University of Texas System and the allocation of the annual constitutional appropriation to certain agencies and institutions of higher education; abolishing Stephen F. Austin State University.
Proposing a constitutional amendment to entitle all component institutions of The Texas A&M University System and The University of Texas System to participate in the income and other benefits of the permanent university fund.
Relating to the administration and investment of, and distribution and use of money from, certain constitutional and statutory funds to support general academic teaching institutions in achieving national prominence as major research universities and driving the state economy; redesignating the national research university fund as the Texas University Fund.
Proposing a constitutional amendment reducing The University of Texas System's share of the income and other benefits of the permanent university fund, transferring to the national research university fund and general revenue fund a portion of the annual distribution made from the permanent university fund to the available university fund, appropriating the portion transferred to the national research university fund, and dedicating the portion transferred to the general revenue fund to provide for the support and maintenance of public institutions of higher education.
Require at least one person of the WVU Board of Governors and of the West Virginia State University with a background in agriculture or agricultural field