By John Sharp
“Hullabaloo! Caneck! Caneck!
“Do you support reinstating the Texas A&M University vs. University of Texas rivalry game on our non-conference football schedule?”
That’s the question the Texas A&M Student Senate will ask the student body on Thursday.
The Texas A&M-UT rivalry is part of our legacy at Texas A&M. It inspired our Aggie War Hymn and many of our most beloved traditions. Proposed legislation to revive the game has early support from Gov. Greg Abbott and a wide bipartisan group of lawmakers, not to mention former students and fans. Leaders at both universities also support resuming the game.
But reviving a rivalry is not my main priority this legislative session. Instead, I am focused on narrowing the funding gap between Texas A&M and UT, which is more than $850 higher per student per year at UT. That’s not a level playing field at all.
How did this happen?
The funding formula for higher education is based on student semester hours, rewarding institutions for educating more and more students. As Texas A&M University grew over time, the University of Texas chose not to grow, capping its enrollment. But last session, the Legislature funded UT as though it were still growing — to the tune of an extra $55 million per biennium. Before that, we had been funded equitably.
This year’s proposed appropriation bills continue that practice.
I am not trying to take anything from UT, but unless the per-student funding gap is closed, Texas A&M will be shortchanged again this legislative session.
We are proud of our success at Texas A&M. We have increased enrollment by 17,000 students, or 33 percent, in the last decade to keep pace with the growth of the state of Texas. We have also maxed out our current resources to do this because we believe an educated Texas workforce is the key to our state’s continued economic miracle.
Texas A&M is also graduating our students more efficiently than ever. Over the past 10 years, the number of degrees awarded is up 40 percent. This year alone, applications to attend Texas A&M are up 20 percent.
Our impact on the state, the nation and the world is undeniable. As our research expenditures approached $1 billion last year, we achieved numerous scientific breakthroughs, such as the commercialization of a new strain of cotton that can help feed half a billion hungry people across the globe while doubling the income of cotton farmers.
Funding for Texas A&M is probably the best investment lawmakers can make in the future of Texas. That is why I am focused on funding, and not necessarily football, this session.
“Hullabaloo! Caneck! Caneck!” is the beginning of the best college fight song in the nation. Many long to see a return to the gridiron rivalry of the past.
I understand that, but we should tackle the football issue as we address this inequitable funding gap.
I am calling on all lawmakers who want to see Texas A&M and UT play football again to please also consider leveling the playing field for us in the budget. We cannot continue to serve a growing Texas, as legislators have asked, without adequate and equal support.
Equity funding for Texas A&M University is our top priority if we are to continue meeting the growing needs of Texas.
Sharp is chancellor of the Texas A&M University system.