December 10, 2015

The Legislature
State of Texas

Mr. William McRaven

Chancellor
The University of Texas System
601 Colorado Street, 4th Floor
Austin, Texas 78701-2982
VIA ELECTRONIC DELIVERY

Dear Chancellor McRaven,

As always, thank you for your dedicated service to the state in your role as Chancellor for the University of Texas
System (System). As a diverse, bipartisan group of Houston-area legislators, many of whom are proud alumni of UT
System institutions, we write to express our concerns with the Systems plans surrounding the purchase of 332 acres
in south Houston.
The area is already well-served by strong 4-year public institutions like University of Houston (UH) and Texas
Southern University (TSU), as well as by private schools like Rice University. UH is a fast-rising public research
institution, looking to continue its evolution as the state's newest Tier 1 institution. TSU, a historically black
university and Houstons first state university, is one of states few remaining independent public universities. UH
and TSU are upwardly mobile schools that, like other public universities in Texas, depend on a multitude of funding
streams including state funding to achieve and expand their missions.
It follows that any significant expansion plans such as those the System are currently contemplating with a new
institution in southwest Houston, have the potential to strip away from existing resources, both public and private,
that the area institutions depend on. While it is true the System is able to access the Permanent University Fund
(PUF) to seed its new institution, it will still be a serious initial outlay of public capital that will likely take years to
develop to bring up to the programming levels and efficiencies and similarly fulfill the role of other institutions in
Houston. To avoid stunting the growth of and potentially cannibalizing existing institutions, rigorous collaboration
and planning with local and state leaders, both in higher education and the community at large, to ensure a new UT
campus would truly serve Houston and the state better.
We do not intend to disparage the System and the tremendous contributions it has made to Houston over the years,
as exhibited by its huge alumni network in the Houston area or the indispensable health-related institutions in UTHouston and MD Anderson. But it appears many steps in planning have already been taken without consulting key
stakeholders and leaders. Accordingly, we respectfully ask for the System to step back and work with these local and
state leaders, including the legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, before taking any major
steps, including the purchase of the land.
We have tremendous respect for how your diverse background and peerless service to the country informs your
strong and responsible leadership of the University of Texas System. Thank you for your time and consideration.
We are confident that we can reach a resolution that best serves and grows Houston and the state of Texas.
Sincerely,

Dennis Bonnen
State Representative, House District 25

Dwayne Bohac
State Representative, House District 138

Rick Miller
State Representative, House District 26

Sylvester Turner
State Representative, House District 139

Ed Thompson
State Representative, House District 29

Armando Walle
State Representative, House District 140

Phil Stephenson
State Representative, House District 85

Senfronia Thompson
State Representative, House District 141

Patricia Harless
State Representative, House District 126

Ana Hernandez
State Representative, House District 143

Dan Huberty
State Representative, House District 127

Carol Alvarado
State Representative, House District 145

Dennis Paul
State Representative, House District 129

Garnet Coleman
State Representative, House District 147

Mike Schofield
State Representative, House District 132

Hubert Vo
State Representative, House District 149

Sarah Davis
State Representative, House District 134

Debbie Riddle
State Representative, House District 150

Gary Elkins
State Representative, House District 135
CC:

University of Texas Board of Regents Members