Regents Authorize $10 Million Fund to BoostUT System’s Emerging Research Institutions

Regents authorized the creation Monday of a $10 million fund to enhance infrastructure at four University of Texas System institutions considered to be among the state’s emerging research universities.

The UT System Research Incentive Program, as it is called, will provide one-time matching funds to help the emerging institutions leverage private gifts dedicated toward expanding research productivity and faculty recruitment. Institutions eligible for program funds are UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT El Paso and UT San Antonio.

“This undertaking adds momentum to the effort to create more Tier One institutions in Texas and illustrates the UT System’s commitment to addressing this critical shortage of major research universities in our state,” said Regents’ Vice Chairman Paul Foster of El Paso.

The program, which will be funded with bond proceeds from the Permanent University Fund, will match single-source gifts to those universities on a scale that increases with the dollar amount of the gift:

• $500,000 to $999,999 matched at 10 percent.
• $1 million to $2,999,999 be matched at 20 percent.
• $3 million to $4,999,999 matched at 30 percent.
• $5 million or greater matched at 50 percent.

“This new program gives us an exceptional opportunity to leverage state support and hasten profound change at our emerging institutions, putting them in the coveted position of being among the most competitive universities in the country,” said UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has identified seven Texas universities – among them four UT System institutions – as emerging research institutions. The Texas Legislature authorized a $50 million matching fund that allowed those universities to draw on additional resources to help them expand research capabilities.

To achieve Tier One status, universities typically must have research portfolios in excess of $100 million, outstanding academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and highly talented faculty, among other factors.

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