University of North Texas Requests for Legislative Appropriations For Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 Page: 4 of 116

                                
Administrator's Statement                                            10/15/20
83rd Regular Session, Agency Submission, Version 1
Automated Budget and Evaluation System of Texas (ABEST)
752 University of North Texas
PRIORITY ITEM REQUESTS
Formula Funding at 100%
UNT's greatest need and highest priority is to ensure that the formula is funded at 100%. The formula is the most effective way of ensuring that the state's support goes
directly to students. Fully funding the formulas is critical for UNT to continue providing a high-quality education and helping students achieve success, which translates
into a strong workforce and intellectual capital for Texas. Sustained GR is needed to:
-Support student success through growth in services and need- and merit-based scholarships
and aid
-Increase and improve academic programming
-Continue recruiting high-quality faculty to strengthen academic and research programs and to
maintain a healthy student-faculty ratio
Waivers and exemptions
Like many public universities, UNT is experiencing increased participation by its students in unfunded state-authorized tuition and fee waivers and exemptions. UNT
operates on a relatively thin budget and the rapid growth of exemptions and waivers has created additional pressure, reducing revenue and expenditures unexpectedly and
making budget planning more uncertain.
EXCEPTIONAL ITEM REQUESTS
Increased funding for UNT's Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science
The Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) is a statewide center of excellence. After 24 years, nearly 3,400 graduates and countless student research
awards, TAMS is the go-to place for talented young researchers to get their start. TAMS students simultaneously complete their first two years of college while finishing
high school. They are known for breaking records, with more becoming Goldwater Scholars than students at any other Texas university. They repeatedly stand out in the
prestigious math- and science-oriented Intel and Siemens competitions. Mentored by UNT faculty and researchers from around the nation, about 80% of TAMS students
go on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in STEM fields. They end up as doctors, engineers, scientists, researchers and more. TAMS is one essential way that
UNT is boosting STEM education for the good of Texas and its industries.
The TAMS student body represents the breadth of Texas regions and ethnicities, and the program aggressively recruits economically disadvantaged students from all
areas of Texas. However, costs frequently discourage these promising students from attending TAMS. UNT is contributing significantly, but cannot cover the entire cost
for these deserving students. Economically disadvantaged families struggle to cover the additional costs. The result has been that fewer of these students can attend
TAMS. Texas has a goal of encouraging more economically and educationally disadvantaged students to pursue careers in STEM fields, so providing scholarships to a
more diverse group of students would help to achieve that goal and ensure that they remain in Texas to study and work.
The proposed Exceptional Item would support scholarships targeted to economically disadvantaged students currently underrepresented at TAMS.
Funding: UNT is seeking $1,439,205 for this initiative.
Sustainability Initiative: Funding for Engineering Energy Efficient Buildings
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