Texas State aims to be an emerging research institution

Nov 3 2009 - 12:48am | Christine Mester

Citizens will vote today on a Texas constitutional amendment that could increase research funding for public universities, but not Texas State.

Proposition 4 would allocate money from the Higher Education Fund to emerging research institutions who meet specific requirements outlined in the amendment if passed. The amendment is part of an effort to develop more public universities in Texas into national research institutions.

Bill Covington, associate vice president for research and federal relations, said the university is working to become an emerging research institution.

“I’m optimistic we’ll be an emerging research university soon,” Covington said. “It’s one of our goals. We are working to become part of that list, and I hope it happens within a year or sooner.”

The requirements to be considered an emerging research institution include awarding 20 or more doctoral degrees in at least 10 disciplines annually, and generating research expenditures in the tens of millions of dollars.

Covington said the university satisfies the research expenditure requirement and is working toward increasing the number of doctoral degrees awarded and programs offered.

Seven public universities in Texas are considered emerging research institutions.

Twenty-four doctorates were awarded in 2007, nine in 2008 and 17 this year, according to Joseph Meyer, Office of Institutional Research director.

“Although there was a drop in doctorates awarded at Texas State in 2008, I think things are generally going up,” Meyer said in an e-mail. “They will continue to do so with the new doctoral programs that have been added or are being planned.”

The university currently offers eight Ph.D. programs, plus one special professional program where a doctor of physical therapy degree can be earned.

Recently added Ph.D. programs including criminal justice, math education and physical therapy should increase the amount of doctorates awarded, Meyers said.

There are 266 students enrolled in Ph.D. programs and 80 students enrolled in the doctor of physical therapy program this fall.

Robert Gratz, special assistant to the president, said the new Ph.D. programs are one way the university is working toward becoming an emerging research institution.

“Every year we’re getting closer to becoming an emerging research institution,” Gratz said. “We’re moving toward that category, but I don’t think we’re there yet.”

Approximately 55 percent of current research funding comes from the state, 40 percent from the federal government and the remaining amount from industry foundations, Covington said.

“The university has moved a long way in the level of research taking place on this campus,” Covington said. “It’s active now, it’s a growing enterprise. The faculty has been responding to the president’s requests we do more research and it’s happening. It’s beginning to speed up and grow on its own.”

The funds that will be distributed if Prop 4 passes come from the Higher Education Fund.

Universities deemed emerging research institutions must work to meet higher requirements in order to receive funding including, awarding 200 Ph.D.’s annually and meeting a $400 million endowment.

Covington said it is unclear when Texas State will meet those additional requirements.

“Depending on what happens with this constitutional amendment, at some point in the future we’d like to be able to try to tap into those other dollars,” Covington said. “How long will it take us as an institution to get where we could have these kind of numbers? I think realistically, you’re talking multiple years before we would get anywhere near this.”

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