Legislative leaders secure landmark funding for local university

Southeast Texas’ Lamar University routinely outranks mega-institutions like Texas A&M and the University of Texas in educating top STEM professionals, affordability and access. Now, with a Texas Legislative session highly favorable to local initiatives, LU can claim another win over its fellow Texas institutes of higher learning – the largest percentage funding growth in all the state. In fact, as this legislative session came to a close, Lamar University is walking away having earned the highest percentage increase in formula funding among all 38 universities in Texas. Touted by Southeast Texan son and Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan, and recently approved by the state legislature for the next biennium, this boost in funding signifies a growing alignment between the university’s goals and the state’s vision for higher education.

“We were at No. 1 because we’re a school that puts out professionals,” LU President Dr. Jaime Taylor simplified of detailed funding computation that resulted with the local institution in the top position. “Specifically, we were at No. 1 because we had more students taking courses in computer science, engineering, and our professional programs.”

As a computational physicist and from prior work in securing funding at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, Taylor is in a unique position to navigate the university funding metrics that have been a stated top priority in strategic planning ever since he first assumed presidency of LU in 2021.

“Funding formulas can play a crucial role in the long-term success of universities,” Taylor said. During Taylor’s tenure in Tennessee, for example, funding was awarded pursuant to metrics that heavily weighted graduation numbers. In Texas, legislators are looking to fund institutions that train professionals in particular fields of growth. “All states have different funding formulas.

“States put these funding formulas in place to, 1 – make sure they are funding institutions appropriately, and 2 – they also use them to encourage things to happen.”

Engineering and computer science are highly valued fields of study, according to university funding metrics – and LU is at the top of the field in STEM training. Additionally, LU graduates top professionals in an array of professions needed in Southeast Texas – communications, education, nursing...

Taylor attributes LU’s success with the funding formula to its commitment to producing graduates in professional programs that meet the needs of Southeast Texas.

“We worked hard to prioritize the initiatives and programs that truly matter for Texas which, in turn, helped us to secure the highest percentage increase,” Taylor said.

Taylor said the university doesn’t just graduate students, either – it puts those graduates to work. Through partnerships, intern opportunities, on the job training and unprecedented industry access, LU graduates are career-ready and highly recruited after graduation.

“When you see these billboards that they make more than Harvard grads, they really do,” Taylor said of six-figure salaries not uncommon for LU alumni. “We have really great connections with all the different companies in this region. Students spend semesters working at these local industries – and they’re paid really well even in internships.”

Taylor said the working relationship with local industry and enterprise offers invaluable opportunity for students to learn about the inner workings of potential employers.

“But, more importantly, the company learns about them,” Taylor added. “This is true of many programs at LU. Lamar University produces graduates across many disciplines that are highly sought after by emploers.”

“Students want to train in places where they can get a job,” Taylor continued. From what the LU president can see, graduates are getting what they need from the local institution – and the community is getting the workforce it needs to thrive. “That absolutely helps Southeast Texas.”

Also helping Southeast Texas receive the higher education funding it needs to continue to grow, Taylor pointed out that the legislature also increased the overall funding allocated to the formula pool itself.

“This additional funding effectively doubled the percentage increase we earned compared to what we would have received based on our performance alone,” Taylor said, specifically recognizing Speaker of the House Phelan in securing the additional funding allocated to the formula pool.

In addition to formula funding increases, Phelan and other state legislators successfully advocated for enhanced funding for the Hazlewood Legacy Reimbursement and for increased support for health insurance costs. Phelan also secured funding for the establishment of a new Institute for Energy and Petrochemical Industries’ Engineering Needs at Lamar University.

“This boost in resources will enhance our financial reserves and give us more room to pursue innovative financial strategies that align with our mission,” Lamar University Chief Financial Officer Mark Robinson emphasized of the increased funding’s anticipated impact.

Taylor said enhanced funding will allow LU to cultivate a culture inclusive of more student activity on campus – “and things to help our students out.”

“I want to create opportunities on campus for students to engage with each other,” Taylor explained of his vision. “A lot of education takes place outside of the classroom, and I want to make sure this is a student-focused institution.”

Enhancing student offerings without enhancing fees or tuition allows for Taylor to reach his dream of helping students reach their dreams.

“Our first goal is to maintain,” Taylor said of keeping the funding momentum moving, as well as keeping LU studentcentered. “And, we would love to continue to grow in these areas.

“We are getting students in programs where they can get a job. We are producing more graduates that will benefit Southeast Texas. They are two different things – but they are so closely related.

“Across the board, we’re focusing on producing graduates valuable to our community.”