Contact: Michael Warden , (512) 499-4363

Date: May 13, 2004

UT System News Release

Regents endorse roadmap to expand research

AUSTIN -- In what The University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Charles Miller called “one of the most important reports we've ever gotten,” a private advisory group made recommendations about how eight UT System universities can improve and expand their research capacity. The recommendations also included ambitious recruitment of new faculty and increased funding.

“If we can accomplish expanded research within the system within the next 10 to 15 years, it will be an unbelievable asset for our state,” said UT System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof.

In March 2003, Chancellor Yudof proposed and the Board of Regents approved a study by independent experts on how to develop more research universities within the System. The UT System engaged the Washington Advisory Group LLC in July 2003 to examine the research capacities and the potential for expansion at UT System academic institutions. The System's goal in retaining WAG was to develop analyses and plans for improvement of those eight academic institutions and provide recommendations for enhancing their national standings in both research and education.

In its report to the Regents, the Washington Advisory Group focused on four of the system's universities with already-existing graduate programs and large research profiles (UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT El Paso, and UT San Antonio), and on the four developing institutions with few graduate programs and smaller research profiles (UT Brownsville, UT Pan American, UT Permian Basin, and UT Tyler). Because the system's six medical institutions and UT Austin currently offer nationally competitive research programs, they were not included in the report.

WAG teams visited each campus, met with community representatives, faculty, students, and administrators, studied the different histories, demographics, and locations of each university, preparing a full report to the of their findings and recommendations offering both group-wide and university-specific recommendations for enhanced research. All eight universities must expand their own existing strengths, focus on the precise areas of research in which they can excel in, and engage in more collaborative research with UT health institutions, other universities and the private sector, the report said. The report particularly highlighted the new collaborations in San Antonio and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex among the UT institutions there as a promising development in producing more competitive opportunities for research funding.

To become part of the top 100 research institutions in the country, said WAG principal Dr. Frank Press, “will require Herculean effort and resources” from both the universities and the UT System. Beyond increased funding and expansion of their faculties, the eight universities must focus on realistic plans and on greater opportunities for collaboration with other universities, the community, and private industry. In turn, larger and improved university research has been shown to contribute dramatically to the cultural and economic growth of a community – as well as to the state's and nation's growth.

Teresa A. Sullivan, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, assured the Board of Regents that the UT System is poised to help the eight institutions achieve their research goals by aiding in faculty and graduate student recruitment, encouraging campus leadership that will welcome expanded research, and pursuing increased funding from all sources.

The WAG report is a road map, not a report card, said Chancellor Yudof, who counseled patience, as well as determination. “It's darned hard to create a Tier One research university,” he said.

The University of Texas System is committed to the strategic goal of increasing the research capacity and national competitiveness of all its institutions, according to Yudof. For FY 2003, the UT System attracted $1.45 billion in research and research-related expenditures ($480.9 million for nine academic institutions; $969.4 million for six health institutions). In the four-year period between FY 1999 – 2003, total research in the UT System grew 57 percent. Today, research comprises 23 percent of the System's $7.8 billion dollar budget.

The federal government provides the majority (61%) of research and research-related funding to UT institutions. Private (21%) and state (18%) sources provide additional research funding. Texas has risen from sixth to fourth in total research dollars awarded by the federal government.

The University of Texas System has 15 campuses, including nine academic and six health institutions, an enrollment exceeding 177,000 students, more than 87,000 employees, and an annual operating budget of $7.8 billion (FY 2004). The UT System confers one-third of the state's undergraduate degrees and educates three-fourths of the state's health care professionals annually.

The Washington Advisory Group is a nationally prominent consultancy whose principals are members of the various national academies and have broad experience as scientists and administrators and in developing analyses and plans for improvement of institutions.

WAG Issue Brief

WAG Report page

Archived webcast of the meeting of the Board (portion concerning WAG only)

Washington Consultant to be Hired on Developing Research Universities - July 7, 2003