Texas Senate Bill SB1849

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/16/09
• Voted on by Senate: 4/21/09

Caption

Relating to the student endowment scholarship and internship program fund at The University of Texas at El Paso.

Impact

The implementation of this bill is intended to enhance funding for scholarships and internship programs at UTEP, thus improving financial accessibility for students. It aims at creating a dedicated fund that can support various educational initiatives and opportunities that would otherwise be underfunded. With this financial structure in place, the university can potentially leverage these funds to offer more robust scholarship packages and internship options for students, thereby enhancing the overall educational experience.

Summary

SB1849 addresses the establishment of a student endowment scholarship and internship program fund at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). The bill empowers the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose a student endowment fund fee on each student enrolled at UTEP. This fee, which cannot exceed $1 per semester, would be collected only if approved by a majority vote of the students through a general election. This mechanism is designed to ensure direct student participation in decisions regarding additional financial contributions towards their education.

Contention

While the bill promotes student involvement and fiscal responsibility, there may be concerns regarding the financial burden placed on students, even if it is nominal. The requirement for a majority student vote illustrates a commitment to student governance; however, dissenting opinions may arise from those who believe that additional fees, regardless of how small they may be, could deter enrollment or disadvantage students who might already be struggling financially. Ultimately, the success of this program will depend largely on student engagement and perceived value of the provided benefits.