Not good. Slices are going to get smaller the more schools reach this designation. Really isn’t fair that satellite schools are included in this fund, but nothing about the Texas Higher Ed system is fair.
State officials expect UT-El Paso to join the ranks soon, too. UT-Arlington could eventually qualify for the fund as well, although its restricted research dollars were nearing $37 million, according to 2017 spending reported to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
But as more schools participate, that may mean a smaller chunk of the money is available for each: The funds are based on interest earned from a dedicated investment fund. And that overall amount has decreased a bit as officials expect smaller returns from the market.