http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/201.../?features

Quote:An influential legislator wants the chancellors of the University of Houston and Texas A&M systems to meet in Victoria in June.

The purpose of the meeting: to discuss issues regarding House Bill 2556, which aims to move the University of Houston-Victoria into the A&M system.

"I've come to determine that we need to explore a resolution to the current dispute," said Rep. Dan Branch, a Dallas Republican who serves as chairman of the Texas House Committee on Higher Education, the group to which the bill was assigned. "I want to see if we can start exploring possibilities."

Supporters and opponents of switching university systems applauded Branch's decision. In addition to the chancellors, Branch also invited to the meeting Sen. Glenn Hegar, a Katy Republican; Sen. Judith Zaffirini, a Laredo Democrat and chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee; and Rep. Geanie Morrison, the Victoria Republican who authored the bill.

I honestly don't really care if UH-V get's taken by the TAMU system. If it happens though, TAMU should pay the UHSystem for the existing infrastructure so we can invest in either UH-Sugarland/Cinco Ranch or one of the UH universities that actually want to be in our system.

(04-24-2011 05:16 PM)canewton Wrote:  http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/201.../?features

Quote:An influential legislator wants the chancellors of the University of Houston and Texas A&M systems to meet in Victoria in June.

The purpose of the meeting: to discuss issues regarding House Bill 2556, which aims to move the University of Houston-Victoria into the A&M system.

"I've come to determine that we need to explore a resolution to the current dispute," said Rep. Dan Branch, a Dallas Republican who serves as chairman of the Texas House Committee on Higher Education, the group to which the bill was assigned. "I want to see if we can start exploring possibilities."

Supporters and opponents of switching university systems applauded Branch's decision. In addition to the chancellors, Branch also invited to the meeting Sen. Glenn Hegar, a Katy Republican; Sen. Judith Zaffirini, a Laredo Democrat and chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee; and Rep. Geanie Morrison, the Victoria Republican who authored the bill.

I honestly don't really care if UH-V get's taken by the TAMU system. If it happens though, TAMU should pay the UHSystem for the existing infrastructure so we can invest in either UH-Sugarland/Cinco Ranch or one of the UH universities that actually want to be in our system.

Ya, I'm not sure how to feel about that either. UH is on the path to achieving Tier 1, and I've heard that UH-V is complaining that the efforts to reach T1 are detracting from their budget/services. I guess they think the grass is greener in the TAMU side of the fence since they're already T1 and A&M has access to PUF money. Dunno what the motivation for wanting to split is...

Actually, I'm not even sure if UH-V is just a drain on the UH system so maybe its worth it to engage in the talks?

I think a campus expansion/creation for UH-V would make UH-V a drain on the system. If the end game is them getting a new campus I would advise UH to bail. UH-V doesn't really offer extensive academic programs that greatly effect the Houston area, which should be the UH System's concern. Plus, a large portion of their student body hails from the UH-Sugarland and Cinco ranch campuses. Drop UH-V and disallow them access to those campuses and their enrollment plummets.

If UH-V really wants a new campus they should try raising the money themselves instead of pulling it away from UH and the Houston based sister campuses. There is no reason to invest in a dying town.