Legislature Clears Way for More Tier 1 Universities

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The Texas House and Senate have approved a bill that would help some Texas universities become major research centers.

The final version of the proposal approved last night also includes $150 million in bonds for the hurricane-ravaged University of Texas Medical School at Galveston. Hurricane Ike ripped through the island campus on Sept. 13, putting the school’s trauma center and more than half the hospital’s beds out of commission.

The heart of the bill creates funding pools and incentives for emerging research universities to advance to nationally recognized Tier One schools. Supporters say Texas is behind other large states like California, which has nine. Texas has three.

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