The UT System Board of Regents called for negotiations to resolve a dispute over the border fence, raised funding distribution and approved additional construction projects in its Wednesday and Thursday meetings at UT-Pan American in Edinburgh.
The regents acted to prevent a lawsuit by the federal government against UT-Brownsville. The federal government declared it intended to sue the school over President Juliet Garcia's refusal to allow surveys for the border fence, which would cut off 166 acres of the campus.
Regents unanimously adopted a resolution that expresses support for border security but says that the fence would "negatively impact numerous campus buildings and projects and would disrupt educational activities." The resolution calls for cooperation and more negotiations.
"I am gratified by the regents' actions," Garcia said through a spokesperson. "We continue to discuss the matter with government representatives and are hopeful that the government will agree to an approach that would be less disruptive to the campus."
Regents also voted to raise the Permanent University Fund distribution rate from 4.75 percent to
5 percent. The rate determines how much money is transferred to the Available University Fund for use by academic excellence programs at UT System schools.
Board Chairman H. Scott Caven said rising energy costs and good returns on investments made by the University of Texas Investment Management Company allowed the board to release more money from the fund. The fund is worth
$12.1 billion, and regents expect the rate change will make an additional
$27 million available in 2009.
"The board's decision to increase the payout in the short-term will help our campuses meet strategic goals, such as growing and retaining faculty and infrastructure needs," UT System Chancellor Mark Yudof said in a press release.
The regents' approval of 18 new construction improvements include projects at UT-Arlington, UT-San Antonio, UT-Dallas and three of the system's medical schools.
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