Members of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Higher Education questioned a UT Systems representative Tuesday over student affordability and the system’s removal of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and offices to comply with Texas Senate Bill 17.
In its first committee hearing of the 89th Legislative Session, members of the higher education committee discussed student financial outcomes and school programs with representatives from multiple higher education boards, including Archie Holmes, a UT alumnus and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs for the system.
Texas State Rep. Terry Wilson, the chairman of the committee, said this session would influence the committee’s work and the funding for state-sponsored universities.
The state Legislature approved over $450 million a year for UT for the fiscal years ending in 2024 and 2025 in its previous state appropriations bill, or about 13% of the University budget, according to the University Budget Office. The state Legislature is currently drafting its biennial appropriations bill, which will determine how much funding state-sponsored universities, including UT, will receive from the state. It must pass both the Texas House and Senate before approval.
Lawmakers’ questions mainly focused on students’ financial positions after college. A presentation given to the legislators by Holmes showed UT students accumulating approximately $21,000 of student loan debt while earning a four-year undergraduate degree, about $7,000 less than the national average.
State Rep. Stan Lambert asked Holmes whether the student loan statistics reflected the whole picture of students’ finances after graduation.
“Statistics show the University of Texas System doing quite well in terms of keeping those averages quite low, not just (for) all universities in Texas but as well as the national average,” Lambert said during the meeting. “Isn’t Austin a very expensive place to live, and doesn’t this also include the cost of living and obtaining that four-year degree?”
Holmes said UT Systems had implemented programs in the past and is currently looking for ways to make UT more affordable.
“We always are looking at ways, whether it’s through (the financial aid endowment) ‘Promise Plus’ or through other mechanisms, how is it we can ensure that financial issues are not a barrier for students being able to ultimately come to and be successful at our institutions,” Holmes said during the meeting.
State representatives also asked Holmes questions surrounding what programs and services the UT System schools cut to remain in compliance with SB 17, which mandated the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion offices in public Texas universities.
State Rep. Aicha Davis asked Holmes whether there still were programs available at UT System schools to support minority students. Davis cited Holmes’ presentation, which showed relatively low retention rates for Black students at UT System schools.
“Every support that we offer at the UT system is designed for every student to be as successful as possible,” Holmes said. “It is really important for us to meet our students where they are and where they come to us and provide them the support that (they) need. I feel that that is 100% consistent with what we have been charged to do, which is ensure that Texans can get a high-quality education to ultimately graduate with degrees.”
