NEW BEGINNINGS ISSUE Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Texas State seeks state funds, approval to issue bonds By Amanda Venable News Editor Texas State could have a new Music Recital Hall and Theatre Center and Round Rock Health Professions Building, if the legislature votes in the university’s favor. Members of the President’s Cabinet said gaining approval to issue bonds and state dollars to build the two buildings are top priorities going into this legislative session. Part of the Campus Master Plan, the buildings are two of five revenue projects the administration outlined in their Legislative Appropriations Request this summer and discussed at a hearing Oct. 9. William Nance, vice president of finance and support services, said the legislature appropriates these types of projects every few biennia, but whether the university’s requests are granted depends on the legislative leadership making it a tuition revenue bond session. Nance said the legislature appropriated $1.6 billion in 2006, which means this legislative session may take a different focus. The administration is hoping legislators will consider at least the first two of the projects requested if this is an appropriations session, Nance said The five revenue projects detailed in the Legislative Appropriations Request total to approximately $341 million. Also on the list is $79 million for a new Music Building, $53 million for a second Round Rock Health Professions Building and $84 million for an Engineering and Sciences Building. “No university in the state has ever gotten five, sometimes you get two (revenue projects approved),” Nance said. “We have gotten two in the past because of the needs at the Round Rock campus.” Nance said the first Health Profession Building on the list costs $73 million and would accompany the Nursing Building, which broke ground in August and is set to open fall 2010. The building would be the third at the Round Rock campus, housing four departments: Communication Disorders, Physical Therapy, Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Respiratory Care – complementing its neighbors, the Seton Medical Center and the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. “We want to create some synergy up there,” Nance said. “It would be a medical complex, with Austin Community College, our program and A&M training doctors.” Robert Gratz, special assistant to University President Denise Trauth, said gaining approval to issue bonds and state dollars to build a Music Recital Hall and Theatre Center is of equal priority to the administration. He said the Recital Hall and Theatre Center will address “major deficiencies in the departments” and be “better for the demand and quality.” “The current Music Recital Hall was built in 1956 as a gymnasium and then transformed into a recital hall,” Gratz said. “It’s a small facility with no backstage and only one access to seating areas.” He said the new recital hall would seat 300 people and the theatre center 400. The current Theatre Center – a circular, dark red brick building surrounded by water – will be converted to a larger black box theatre/rehearsal space, if the new building is approved, said Gratz. Gratz said the university is asking the legislature to issue $52 milSee BONDS, page 7
Legislators claim funding for universities is priority By Allen Reed Assistant News Editor Gov. Rick Perry announced with Lt. Gov. David Dewherst and new Speaker Joe Strauss that state funding will be tight this legislative session. The 81st legislature, which convened Jan. 13, holds the power to appropriate funding to state institutions, such as Texas State. The university is now calling on elected officials for support. State Rep. Patrick Rose (D-45) represents Texas State-San Marcos and the 45th district. A 59.3 percent majority re-elected Rose last November, who first won office in 2002. Rose said he is looking forward to the upcoming session, despite the tight budget. “Over the years, we have enjoyed a great relationship with the students and the administration,” Rose said. Rose said he spoke with University President Denise Trauth about ways to help Texas State further its goals “The state needs to increase its funding for higher education,” Rose said. “That’s the only way we can truly make college more affordable. That will be a priority of ours.” Rose said increasing the accessibility of online textbooks is a priority and “saving students’ money on textbooks is important” to him. Rose and State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R- San Antonio) worked together in 2005 to help pass the “student regents bill,” allowing an undergraduate to sit on the board of regents. Rose said the bill was a move in the right direction, but it is their goal this session “to empower this student with the right to vote.” Rose said he helped get funding for the nursing school last session. He said capital improvements and procuring funding are projects he will focus on this session. “The Music Recital Hall and Theatre Center will be a priority for us this semester,” Rose said. “This is particularly important for us at Texas State because we have grown so much that we are a space-deficit institution and that impacts everything from academics to parking access.” Rose said higher education is one of the issues he will be working on and cited job creation and road improvements as others. “Our goal as we approach each session is to build a Central Texas where Texas State is strong and where we can go to school, graduate and live a quality life,” he said. Wentworth has been representing Texas State and the 25th district since 1993. The legislator said he plans to introduce multiple bills. Wentworth met with university officials Jan. 5 to discuss new buildings and improvements, which he said he will fight to get appropriated. “I introduced 135 (bills) last time we met,” he said. “I’m not sure how many I’m going to introduce this session, but it probably won’t be that much.” Wentworth said he plans to introduce a bill affecting students throughout the state, the topic of which has been of much debate on the Texas State campus — the abilSee FUNDING, page 8