The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce hosted the State of the Texas Tech University System luncheon on Tuesday. Leaders of the universities discussed opportunities they will pursue during January’s legislative session.
Projects they hope to prioritize include the vet school, dental school, mental health institute and increasing their student retention rates.
“Once we enroll students, we see that they graduate. So, we want to provide additional funding to support our students’ enrollment,” said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec.
Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and interim chancellor of the University System, said many people throughout the university and state are on board to help, including former chancellor Robert Duncan.
“Bob has expressed an interest in working with the folks in Austin. The way we are all looking at this from the board to the system to the university and donors is we need everybody’s help in moving our initiative forward,” said Mitchell.
The university system plans on asking for more than $1 billion at the legislative session to fund their various projects for the four institutions in the TTU System for base funding support, which includes formula funding and infrastructure funding for academic buildings. In addition, the TTU System’s exceptional items request will total $50.1 million.
This includes expanding research, the university infrastructure, and building Veteran Affairs Center.
Upfront costs are being funded by fundraisers and community donations before they address the state for support. When in operation, tuition will also help assist in the costs.
“What we’ll be asking the state to do is give us some of the bridge funding. That’ll take us just until the formula funding kicks in,” he said. Formula funding is provided by the state per every student enrolled in the university.
The legislative session begins in January.
