Category: Work for Others/Clients
Type: Flyer
Date: December 2009
Directly from UH Alumni Association’s website in support of Proposition 4 for Tier One status:
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Thanks to all your emails, phone calls, and meetings with legislators, this summer, the Texas Legislature passed a bill that proposes a constitutional amendment to take existing funds and make them available to institutions aspiring for Tier One status. Proposition 4, as it is called, calls for establishing “the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.”
As if the political button on the left doesn’t give it away, The University of Houston Alumni Association (UHAA) fully endorses the passage of Proposition 4 and encourages all Texans to vote for the constitutional amendment on November 3, 2009.
When and Where to Vote
First, all alumni need to make sure they are registered to vote in the State of Texas. If you’re not sure, the Texas Secretary of State has a website to help you check. Make sure you’re registered.
If you are not registered to vote in Texas, you can complete the application online or browse a list of voter registration officials organized by county. The alumni association office will also have a number of blank applications for you to complete. The last day to register to vote is October 5, so don’t procrastinate!
OK, so you’re all registered are ready to show your support for Proposition 4. Early voting starts October 19, 2009 with the official election day on November 3, 2009.
Your voter registration card should list a precinct number. In some cases, precincts may be combined to accommodate joint local elections, so always consult your County Clerk or Elections Administrator in the days before an election for the address of the polling place where you should vote. For more information, see who handles election procedure in your county.
Four Things to Know About Proposition 4
To cast an informed vote on Proposition 4, here are four things that are important to understand:
1. Texas has only three Tier One universities, while California and New York have nine and seven, respectively. Tier One institutions have tremendous economic impact, with research expenditures resulting in a 200 percent return on investment. Texas loses $3.7 billion a year—and thousands of our academically gifted high school students who leave for out-of-state colleges—because we do not have a comparable number of Tier One schools.
2. Creation of the National Research University Fund (NRUF) does not call for any taxes to be levied or bonds to be issued. Money in the dormant Higher Education Fund, plus any money added in future years, will become the NRUF.
3. To qualify for NRUF funding, seven schools—UH, Texas Tech, UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, UT-San Antonio, UT-El Paso, and North Texas—will each have to meet benchmarks determined by the Legislature and Higher Education Coordinating Board. Criteria include the amount of research expenditures, the number of doctorate degrees awarded, endowment levels, etc.
4. The enabling legislation behind Proposition 4 received unanimous bipartisan support in the Texas Legislature and has been applauded by major newspapers (Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News) and civic leaders (former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and the Greater Houston Partnership).
Category: Work for Others/Clients
Type: Web layout & logo
Date: August 2009
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