Email This Story

Editorial: Proposition Four is great addition to research, state

Nov. 13, 2009

Claire Taylor | Lariat Staff

Texas voters made the right move last week when they approved Proposition Four, an amendment to the Texas Constitution that will encourage more high-level research by allowing seven emerging research universities to tap into a multimillion-dollar fund to elevate their programs.

The vote for the amendment creates a $500 million National Research University Fund similar to funding responsible for advancing universities like The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M to Tier One status.

Baylor is not included in these seven potential research universities, but considering its emphasis on the importance of the advancement of research, it should still support the amendment. This will benefit more than just the seven universities targeted -- bolstering the research of more Texas universities will propel the economy of the entire state, which will only help Baylor. Emphasis on research, spin-off enterprises, increased competitiveness and utilization of technology can all have a significant impact on the economy.

Adding two typical Tier One universities to the state by 2035 would create more than 340,000 permanent jobs and generate $4.2 billion in state revenue a year, according to a study conducted by economist M. Ray Perryman and the Perryman group. The analysis strives to show the benefits of investing in the "intellectual infrastructure" of our state. Research institutions cultivate a highly engaged and highly skilled work force, provide a melting pot of diversity and trading of knowledge, as well as encourage entrepreneurship.

This is undoubtedly a long-term endeavor, but it is one the state is rightly willing to take on. Texas lags behind other states in the number of nationally recognized research universities. Currently Texas has only two public universities and one private university, Rice University, that have reached Tier One status. California is trouncing us with nine Tier One universities. As the second-most-populated state in the country, clearly more of these research entities are needed in Texas. We must choose not to leave our state at this competitive disadvantage by cheating ourselves out of retaining the top talent and facilitating the best environment for these high-performing individuals to train.

In the absence of an abundance of resources for research, Texas is forgoing its chance to attract the most talented students nationwide, and even worldwide. With the addition of these students, the state will be significantly benefitted. By affording students this expanded educational opportunity to attend more top research universities, we will develop a highly skilled work force and possibly keep more of them in state.

Research universities are typically adept at developing skills needed to be proficient in the engineering and professional fields, both of which are indispensable in boosting a state's economy. In these shaky economic times, this is exactly the kind of resource we need to hone and retain.

It is also important to note that the money for the fund will come from an existing higher education fund that has remained dormant for years. Taxpayers won't have to worry about getting stuck with another fee since the money will come from this old account. Voters were smart to see that this fund could be put to better use rather than lying infinitely stagnant. And when the state has money waiting to be used, there is no better way to use it than by investing it in something that the state will see a return on in years to come.

Money from the fund won't simply be handed over to these universities with no strings attached. It will be distributed to each university according to its own individual accomplishments. The seven schools tapped for use of the fund will have rigorous standards to meet in order to receive part of the fund, including awarding a certain number of doctoral degrees a year and boosting their individual endowments to $400 million -- no easy task.

The establishment of the National Research University Fund is a critical step in the ongoing process to make Texas a serious national contender in the research realm and generate a more educated population. Though it is a small step along a long road, this amendment can serve as the catalyst for a change that will benefit Texas immensely, including Baylor.

More News ...