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UTB-CBIRD Report: “At the Crossroads” Conclusions & Recommendations 156
additional funding to build needed facilities and to hire needed faculty to grow
existing programs and to build new graduate programs and centers of research
excellence. In Fall 2002, Texas Southmost College went to the community with a
bond request as an investment in the future of the region and to enhance the
educational resources and opportunities for UTB/TSC students – to help “close
the gaps.” Programs to be supported included the West Campus Technology
Center and Binational Business Incubator, student housing, biomedical research,
child development, library expansion, and expanded student services. In part,
because of the lack of regional awareness for the importance of these initiatives
to accelerated development, the Bond was defeated.
TSTC has no regional tax base for funding support. It relies on the State of Texas
to provide needed financial resources. The college is challenged to recruit, train
and retrain faculty and for the development of new technology-based programs
for 21st Century Texas-based industry. Tech Prep needs funds for school-tocareer
programs and for subcontracts to school districts and colleges to provide
incentives for program implementation.
Strategies for Action
Don Brown, the Commissioner of Higher Education Coordinating Board for Texas
states, “While legislators, higher education leaders and supporters, and interest
groups will have to expend energy on traditional challenges [in 2003], the
framework for their debates should be that of “Closing the Gaps.” Every
significant proposal to add, expand or reduce appropriations, authority and
programs should be measured against the contribution it would make to close
the four gaps in participation, success, excellence, and research… We cannot
afford not to succeed.” 1
State Senator and Vice Chair of Senate Education Committee, Judith Zaffirini
underscores this concern, “Higher Education in Texas is in dire shape… We must
increase funding for higher education, not reduce it… it’s too important to the
state. Everything in Texas is impacted by education.” 2
In addition to increased state appropriations for education-based initiatives, this
report advocates the development of “Partnerships for Excellence” between
regional business and academia to accelerate the growth of targeted regionallybased
industry clusters as well as building centers of education and research
excellence. “Partnerships for Excellence” have proven to be a viable strategy for
such regions and their local universities as Stanford and Palo Alto, CA; MIT and
Boston, MA; and The University of Texas at Austin to:
⇒ Increase education and research excellence
⇒ Accelerate regional economic development
⇒ Identify the region as an important national and international
technology and entrepreneurial center
“Partnerships for Excellence” can benefit the larger community in terms of
increased tax income, real estate development, sales of consumer goods and
services, and national and global alliances for accelerated technology-based
1 Don W. Brown, Commissioner of Higher Education Coordinating Board, Austin American Statesman,
Insight, September 1, 2002, p. H5.
2 Judith Zaffirini, Vice Chair of Senate EducationCommittee, State Senator, Laredo, Austin American
Statesman, Insight, September 1, 2002, p. H5.
Una Region, Un Futuro
Four-year universities
throughout this country
have tried to maintain an
academic high ground,
often forgetting the
significant contributions
of two-year colleges.
Yet, there exists a
continuum of academic
opportunity between
these two… Two-year
and four-year institutions
must develop
agreements and
programs that enable
successful transition to
four-year universities…
including a new category
of scholarships… the
return on investment is a
larger, energized and
more diverse workforce.
David Smith, Chancellor
Texas Tech University System
Austin American Statesman
January 10, 2003, p. A13