8/20/2019 Greater Houston Delegation Letter to UT System - Signed, Final (CORRECTED)

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The Legislature

State of Texas December 10, 2015

Mr. William McRavenChancellor The University of Texas System601 Colorado Street, 4th Floor Austin, Texas 78701-2982

 VIA ELECTRONIC DELIVERY

Dear Chancellor McRaven,

 As always, thank you for your dedicated service to the state in your role as Chancellor for the University of TexasSystem (System). As a diverse, bipartisan group of Houston-area legislators, many of whom are proud alumni of UTSystem institutions, we write to express our concerns with the System’s plans surrounding the purchase of 332 acresin south Houston.

 The area is already well-served by strong 4-year public institutions like University of Houston (UH) and TexasSouthern University (TSU), as well as by private schools like Rice University. UH is a fast-rising public researchinstitution, looking to continue its evolution as the state's newest Tier 1 institution. TSU, a historically blackuniversity and Houston’s first state university, is one of state’s few remaining independent public universities. UHand TSU are upwardly mobile schools that, like other public universities in Texas, depend on a multitude of fundingstreams including state funding to achieve and expand their missions.

It follows that any significant expansion plans such as those the System are currently contemplating with a newinstitution in southwest Houston, have the potential to strip away from existing resources, both public and private,that the area institutions depend on. While it is true the System is able to access the Permanent University Fund(PUF) to seed its new institution, it will still be a serious initial outlay of public capital that will likely take years todevelop to bring up to the programming levels and efficiencies and similarly fulfill the role of other institutions inHouston. To avoid stunting the growth of and potentially cannibalizing existing institutions, rigorous collaborationand planning with local and state leaders, both in higher education and the community at large, to ensure a new UTcampus would truly serve Houston and the state better.

 We do not intend to disparage the System and the tremendous contributions it has made to Houston over the years,

as exhibited by its huge alumni network in the Houston area or the indispensable health-related institutions in UT-Houston and MD Anderson. But it appears many steps in planning have already been taken without consulting keystakeholders and leaders. Accordingly, we respectfully ask for the System to step back and work with these local andstate leaders, including the legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, before taking any majorsteps, including the purchase of the land.

 We have tremendous respect for how your diverse background and peerless service to the country informs yourstrong and responsible leadership of the University of Texas System. Thank you for your time and consideration. We are confident that we can reach a resolution that best serves and grows Houston and the state of Texas.

Sincerely,

8/20/2019 Greater Houston Delegation Letter to UT System - Signed, Final (CORRECTED)

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Dennis BonnenState Representative, House District 25

Rick Miller

State Representative, House District 26

Ed ThompsonState Representative, House District 29

Phil StephensonState Representative, House District 85

Patricia HarlessState Representative, House District 126

Dan HubertyState Representative, House District 127

Dennis PaulState Representative, House District 129

Mike SchofieldState Representative, House District 132 

Sarah DavisState Representative, House District 134

Gary ElkinsState Representative, House District 135

CC: University of Texas Board of Regents Members

 

Dwayne BohacState Representative, House District 138

Sylvester Turner

State Representative, House District 139

 Armando WalleState Representative, House District 140

Senfronia ThompsonState Representative, House District 141

 Ana HernandezState Representative, House District 143

Carol AlvaradoState Representative, House District 145

Garnet ColemanState Representative, House District 147

Hubert VoState Representative, House District 149

Debbie RiddleState Representative, House District 150