HOME Legislature Lawmakers OK school money, pending Perry

Lawmakers OK school money, pending Perry

Written by Jason Boyd, The Shorthorn news editor

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 06:47 PM

The university could benefit in the future from the Texas Legislature’s 81st regular session, according to President James Spaniolo. In a letter to the university community, Spaniolo highlighted nursing, financial aid and Tier One as beneficiaries. Nursing The university could receive $5 million through 2012 to fund the Regional Nursing Education Center in the School of Nursing, if the governor signs the appropriations bill. Gov. Rick Perry has 20 days after the close of a session to exercise his veto powers, and has not done so yet. The session ended June 1. From there the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will dole out the funds, keeping track of the nursing school’s budget, until 2012. “Capitalizing on the simulation capabilities of the Smart Hospital, this funding will enable the school to double enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in nursing program from 400 to 800 students,” Spaniolo said. One problem it might fix is a lack of faculty, because this money will help pay more salaries, School of Nursing Dean Elizabeth Poster said in an e-mail. It could also help fix a statewide problem. “We currently have 8,000 to 12,000 qualified applicants to Texas schools of nursing annually who are not admitted because of funding and lack of faculty,” she said. “By doubling our already large enrollment, we will be doing our part to lessen the nursing shortage and decrease this situation.” All this will happen in the Smart Hospital, taking advantage of the simulation technology. More faculty will help increase the use of this technology. Simulation lets teachers plan patient scenarios that students experience, instead of random opportunities on a clinical round. It also allows instructors to use objective, structured competency evaluations. Nursing freshman Jose Sanchez works in the Harris Methodist Hospital Emergency Room as a patient-care technician. He said the nurses there could use more simulated training, because it has helped him get ahead. He said expanding the program as an example for the rest of Texas is a great idea. The school has had the Smart Hospital in two phases of operation since 2005. Phase one was a small space in the School of Nursing building. In summer 2007, the Smart Hospital opened, which was phase two. Poster said the third phase, in the undetermined future, will expand the hospital to a 60-bed example of the advantages of simulated teaching to the other 14 schools of nursing in the North Texas region, she said. Financial Aid Spaniolo said the university anticipates a $6.4 million total increase in direct appropriations during the next two years. “Increases in formula funding and various financial aid programs, such as the Toward Excellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant Program, will enable us to continue to provide a first-rate education that is affordable and accessible,” he said. Financial Aid Director Karen Krause said her office has not received any specific allocation information for the next year, because after the overall budget is finalized the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board determines how much each university receives. Architecture graduate student Cody Allen received financial aid, including the TEXAS Grant, throughout his undergraduate career. He said the grant constituted about a quarter of his financial aid, but paid only half a semester of housing costs. So, if students could get more from the grant individually, he’s in favor. “It would be grand if that was increased,” he said. The Texas Legislature reviewed legislation to cap tuition but let it die during deadlines. The UT System Board of Regents set a 4.95 percent cap on tuition increases at its universities, including UTA, Spaniolo said. “We are very sensitive to the impact past and future tuition increases have on our students and their families,” he said. “We will continue to do everything possible to minimize the impact of tuition increases, while continuing on our trajectory to become a national research university.” Tier One The Legislature passed a bill that would set aside $680 million. If approved by Perry, Texans will vote on $425 million of that in November. Spaniolo said the legislation establishes a framework for the state’s seven emerging research universities to compete for incentive funding. The funding could help one of those universities become a national research institution — commonly referred to as Tier One. “This will not be easy, and it will not happen overnight,” he said. “We look forward to earning our way to Tier One status, and receiving additional funding from the state will make that goal more attainable.” Views: 1451 | E-mail   Be first to comment this article Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com All right reserved

Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 August 2009 10:29 AM )

 

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