A&M System Board of Regents approves $33 million budget for A&M-Texarkana
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M University Board of Regents on Aug. 12 approved a $33 million budget to fund operations at Texas A&M University-Texarkana for fiscal year 2016. This represents a 10 percent increase from the 2015 fiscal year.
The increase over fiscal year 2015 is primarily driven by an increase in legislative appropriations, projected growth in enrollment, and additional grant and contract revenue from external sources.
Dr. Emily Cutrer, president of A&M-Texarkana, said the increase in funding for the university will be used to meet the educational needs of the Texarkana region through a number of different initiatives that include
- expanding the university’s nursing program,
- enhancing student-success initiatives such as tutoring and the first-year experience program,
- creating an Office of Professional Development to provide continuing education opportunities,
- developing a community-engagement program and
- implementing additional experiential-learning opportunities.
At the meeting, members of the A&M System Board of Regents approved a total budget of $4.2 billion to fund operations at its 11 universities, seven state agencies and health sciences center for fiscal year 2016. This marks the first time the A&M System’s budget has passed $4 billion.
Revenue from tuition and fees is budgeted to increase 10 percent when compared to fiscal year 2015, but that increase is driven by rising enrollment, a 7 percent increase in non-resident tuition (as set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board) and a slight increase (1.93 percent) in fall 2015 tuition and fee rates.
The 1.93 percent increase affects only students enrolling for the first time in fall 2015. For students already enrolled, fiscal year 2016 is the second year in the A&M System’s guaranteed tuition and fee plan that freezes a student’s rates for four years.
During the past legislative session, Chancellor John Sharp led the A&M System presidents in maximizing formula funding from the state. As a result, the A&M System accounted for almost half of the total statewide increase.
Dr. Cutrer expressed appreciation to Rep. Gary VanDeaver, Sen. Kevin Eltife, Chancellor Sharp and colleagues at the A&M System for their efforts on behalf of A&M-Texarkana.
“Rep. VanDeaver and Sen. Eltife truly championed the mission of A&M-Texarkana at the Capitol,” Dr. Cutrer said. “We are so very fortunate to have their outstanding leadership and representation.”
Dr. Cutrer also thanked local leaders from the chamber of commerce, city and county, students and others who participated in “Bowie County Days” at the State Capitol.
“We simply would not have had this much success without their encouragement, support and advocacy,” she said.
Budgeted expenditures for fiscal year 2016 for other A&M System institutions are as follows:
| Texas A&M University | $1.5 billion |
| Prairie View A&M University | $186 million |
| Tarleton State University | $164 million |
| Texas A&M International University | $107 million |
| Texas A&M University at Galveston | $68.6 million |
| Texas A&M Health Science Center | $347 million |
| Texas A&M University-Central Texas | $34 million |
| Texas A&M University-Commerce | $156 million |
| Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | $183 million |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | $139.9 million |
| Texas A&M University-San Antonio | $53.7 million |
| West Texas A&M University | $128 million |
An executive summary of the FY 2016 budget is available at http://www.tamus.edu/business/budgets-and-accounting/budgets/system-executive-budget-summary/
