Former UT President Larry Faulkner encouraged state leaders Monday to focus on the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas when they select public universities to be raised to tier-one status so that they will serve the largest portion of Texas’ population.
Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, asked Faulkner to speak before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education after reading a report Faulkner wrote last October that called for a focus on larger cities when choosing nationally competitive schools and outlined a plan for strengthening universities.
“The state’s priority should be on Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston,” Faulkner said. “Nearly half of Texas lives in those areas and they are not being served by nationally competitive institutions.”
While what defines a tier-one institution varies, most people in higher education leadership positions would agree Texas only has two public tier-one universities and one private tier-one university: UT, Texas A&M University and Rice University, respectively, Faulkner said.
Four of the seven Texas schools recognized as emerging research schools by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board are in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas: University of Houston, University of North Texas, UT-Dallas and UT-Arlington. The schools recognized by the board are those most likely to receive funding from the state to further their research programs.
Faulkner agreed with the board.
“There are institutions that are already on the road to becoming nationally competitive institutions,” he said. “This is not a two year project. It can take 30 years and a concentrated infusion of capital and outstanding leadership.”
Faulkner also said that Texas Tech has the potential to become a tier-one school, but would face special challenges unique to institutions outside of major metropolitan areas.
“Tech has gone down the road of development; it’s a substantial institution,” Faulkner said. “However, it’s not easy to develop away from a major airport. In order to get a nationally prominent faculty, that faculty will need to travel, and it’s simply a matter of convenience for them.”
David McClure, a spokesman for Texas Tech, said the university doesn’t feel isolated and is prepared to become a tier-one school.
“We’re certainly working very hard to expand research and join national research universities,” McClure said. “It’s just going to take us a lot longer without the additional state funding if we don’t get it.”
Faulkner can lobby but he isn't going to be deciding.