Texas Tech University System Achieves Historic Success in 86th Texas Legislature
TTU System highlights include legislative support and startup funding for two new professional degree programs (dental medicine and veterinary medicine)
June 17, 2019 | Contact: Brett Ashworth
The Texas Tech University System completed a historic 86th Texas Legislature with legislative support and startup funding for a new veterinary school and dental school. Once opened, this would make the system one of only nine in the country whose universities are offering programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education. Governor Greg Abbott signed the legislation and appropriation bills Saturday (June 15).
Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell“This was one of the most important and successful legislative sessions in the history of the Texas Tech University System,” Texas Tech University System Chancellor and TTUHSC President Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell said. “The funding we received will go to programs that address needs of this state, as well as providing greater access to affordable education for Texas students.”
Texas Tech University received $17.35 million and legislative direction to establish a School of Veterinary Medicine. This will be the first veterinary school in the state in more than 100 years and will help meet the unmet demand for rural, large animal veterinarians across the state. The school will be in Amarillo.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso received $20 million to establish the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine. It will be the first dental school in the state in 50 years and help address a shortage of dentists in the border region.
Angelo State University received funding for the second consecutive biennium supporting the university’s academic and student success initiatives to continue its positive trends in retention and graduation. The university has sustained record enrollment growth with more than 10,000 students.
Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC), celebrating 50 years of providing medical education and research, received $5 million to replace prior grant funding for a key mental health program (TWITR – Telemedicine Wellness, Intervention, Triage and Referral Project). TWITR is part of the university’s focus on mental health and will provide continued support to rural school districts.
I’d like to thank Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, in addition to our West Texas delegation and all members of the Legislature, for supporting public higher education and the Texas Tech University System’s legislative priorities,” Mitchell said. “We appreciate the Legislature entrusting us with this responsibility. We also wish to thank our countless supporters for their unwavering support of our vision. Without their generosity and advocacy, these historic initiatives would not have been possible.”
The TTU System Board of Regents supported the TTU System’s legislative priorities during the session.
Chairman Chris Huckabee“I’d like to congratulate Chancellor Mitchell for leading the Texas Tech University System to an unprecedented and historic legislative session,” TTU System Board of Regents Chairman Christopher M. Huckabee said. “On behalf of the Board of Regents, I’d like to thank the Texas Legislature, Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick and House Speaker Bonnen for a resounding vote of confidence in our universities’ solutions to issues that affect not only our region, but the entire state.”
About the Texas Tech University System
Established in 1996, the Texas Tech University System is one of the top public university systems in the state of Texas and nation, consisting
of four universities—Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.
Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the TTU System is a $2 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 20,000 employees, over 54,000 students, more than 340,000 alumni and an endowment over $1.3 billion.
In its short history, the TTU System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating on 17 campuses statewide and internationally. Under the dynamic leadership of Chancellor Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell, the TTU System has set forth a bold vision of excellence, collaboration and innovation and continues to prove that from here, it’s possible.
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