kyle

 

 

 

"astound people with our boldness."

^^^ this is the way that we do things at TEXAS...

 

All you need to do to make this quote more representative of reality is replace "boldness" with "arrogance".

Using PUF money, to which UH doesn't have access, to buy land in Houston under the guise of a "research hub" without the knowledge, much less approval, of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, only to admit that this "research hub" will offer undergraduate and graduate courses (which sounds a lot more like a university than a "research hub"-- whatever that term is supposed to mean) sounds about par for the course for "TEXAS".

Never mind the fact that the PUF can in no way fund the construction of buildings/labs, the hiring of faculty/staff/researchers, nor the ongoing operations of a 300 acre university, which means that "TEXAS" will be going to the State for new, ongoing funding for this redundant, ego-inflating project of theirs. Where does that money come from?

Yeah... it's astounding alright.

Thanks. This is a better ELI5 since I'm not familiar with state funding. Is money that's appropriated for various institutions proportional to the nearby tax base? In other words, is the pie size fixed for each part of the state?

No, it's not proportional to the surrounding tax base. Otherwise the state flagship universities (UT/TAMU) would not be located in Austin and College Station.

All this talk about state funding. There are how many UH alumni? Does no one ever donate to UH..? What kind of fundraising campaigns does UH have and how successful are they at reaching those goals?

UH has raised over $100 million per year in private donations for the last 5 or so years in a row. Most likely less than UT/TAMU, but more than almost every other school in the state except perhaps TTU, who probably raises a similar amount. The total budget of UH is ~$1 billion per year, if I recall correctly.

The alarmists on this thread make it sound like UH is a crappy school with poor funding who can't compete against UT. If UH is in that bad of shape then your arguments are wanting me to get UT even more. Houston needs top universities and if UH is in that bad of shape then we need UT in this city.

This isn't like United vs. Southwest. This would be like GE creating 2 subsidiaries that operate in the exact same industry and then locating both subsidiaries' headquarters in the same city. And then giving one subsidiary a 5 times larger budget.

UH and UT are essentially owned by the same parent company, i.e., the state. And both institutions' funding comes from the same pie.

Instead of "wanting to get UT even more" because they have better funding, the solution is much more simple, just have the state give UH better funding.

A: Live on campus. Your son will have an exponentially richer college experience this way. And no parking issues.

Distant B: If you can't do that, there's a website and, I believe, an iPhone app that shows available parking in real time:

http://www.uh.edu/police/UHlotmap.html

Study this for a few days and look at different times of day. Figure out when lots are empty. Arrive and park on campus during those times. Use extra time to study, walk around campus, work out, play basketball, or lounge at the pool at the recreation center, socialize, etc.

The idea isn't to create a giant stadium. It's to create a nicer stadium with better amenities and slightly more seats to impress recruits, retain coaches, and position themselves for the next conference re-alignment.

Anyone who's actually been to Robertson knows that the seats and sight lines are great, but the amenities are severely lacking. We're talking about a 75 year old WPA project here. When the football team moved back to campus from the Dome, they never intended on keeping Robertson the way it was. They've made some improvements, but it's time for the next iteration of upgrades.

They should just put it by TSU-- since TSU will be playing in the stadium too. I'd love to see several acres of land by TSU turned into a stadium and parking lots!

I agree it's super ugly, but it's supposed to be made of brick and limestone, which you cant tell from the rendering-- so maybe it'll turn out better than it looks. I think the point is just to get more kids on campus as fast (and as cheap) as possible and not worry about the looks for now.

Is that a goal? Why?

Well, basically the goal is to have enough housing for 25% of the campus population, which is apparently what's necessary to be designated a residential campus.

Which means the goal is for 11,000 beds, since enrollment is expected to grow to 40k+ or so.

My question is, is this out of line with the compensation packages of the leaders of other Texas public schools?

Of course, don't expect Wayne Dolcefino to dig that deep...it would require more effort and would undermine the drama.

UT System's Chancellor: $750k plus a residence

UT-Austin's President: $600k

That's $1.35 Million between Chancellor & President

A&M System's Chancellor: $504k salary, $150k annual deferred compensation, plus a residence provided

A&M's President: $525k plus a residence provided

That's almost $1.3 Million between Chancellor & President

Texas Tech Chancellor: $412k salary, $230k annual deferred compensation, $24k annual car allowance, residence provided

Texas Tech President: $350k salary, $18k annual car allowance, $42k annual housing allowance

Total annual compensation, over $1.07 million between Chancellor & President

There, that took me all of 10 minutes with Google. Apparently that's too sophisticated for Wayne Dolcefino.

Since Renu Khator serves as both President AND Chancellor of the UH System, it sure as hell sounds to me like the story should have been what a GREAT JOB UH IS DOING OF SAVING MONEY COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE TEXAS SCHOOL SYSTEMS!!!

ALWAYS take what Wayne Dolcefino says with a grain of salt. He's not here to give you the full story, just get his face on TV and make a lot of noise.

Sounds like UH got a bargain to me!

Regarding the "6 million dollar" Wortham House:

It was was donated.

Regarding all the "perks":

Even if you add up the cost of all the perks, you are still no where near the compensation level of other comparable positions in the state.

Regarding the, *GASP*, 50,000 cadillac:

Oh no! Someone who makes almost half a mil per year drives a 50k car? How luxurious!

Regarding the argument that UH president doesn't deserve her relatively small compensation package because UH students are "poor" compared to, apparently, every other large school in the state:

UH student tuition money provides only a fraction of the budget of the university. Most of the funding comes from the state. Therefore, all of the taxpayers of Texas are paying Dr. Khator's salary. It has nothing to do with how "poor" UH students are.

The University of Texas and University of Houston groups are separate public university systems which report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. While they are public university systems, they have separate management. The UT system is based in Austin, while the UH system is based in Houston.

In the Dallas/Fort Worth area multiple university systems exist in the same metropolitan area. The Dallas/Fort Worth area, for instance, has multiple university systems. UT operates UTD in Richardson and UTA in Arlington. In addition University of North Texas has a campus in Denton. In the Houston area, there is the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and Prairie View A&M in Prairie View; the last one is far out in periphery in Waller County.

One advantage is that a UT System school could be used as a way for people to transfer to UT Austin. I.E. people at UT San Antonio could transfer to UT Austin after two years at UTSA. People at a Houston campus could do the same.

They have separate management, but both are primarily funded by the state.

I think UT-Austin is big enough without having another feeder school that can transfer after 2 years. Why would we want an institution in Houston whose primary goal is to transfer students to UT-Austin after 2 years. That's what HCC, San Jac, Lonestar are for.

Houston should focus on supporting the efforts of the school we already have rather than drool over being able to transfer to UT-Austin.

Why would the state duplicate efforts by supporting 2 schools in Houston. If they wanted to give more students in Houston access to Higher Ed, then just give more money to UH to build more infrastructure.

I wish the powers that be had allowed the UH system to set up shop at the HP campus instead of having Lone Star college set up yet another location in NW Houston. That area would have been better served by a location at which to finish a degree, rather than another place, in addition to Fairbanks and Barker Cypress, to get your first 2 years of schooling.

I am so confused. Can someone explain how the UH system operates again? Pretty please? How is UHD NOT a part of the system but bears the name while UH-Pearland is part of the UH system? I thought UH-Clear Lake was part of the system, too, but no?

UHD is part of the system. Just like UTSA is part of the UT system. However, they are separate universities that grant separate degrees. Just like UT/UTSA, for example.

All the more reason to remodel Robertson. I think it should be a smaller version of the Westfalenstadion. (Or even the same size, if the Cougars really think they can bring in that many fans.)

great idea. doesn't seem like one they're willing to consider though, for whatever reason.

Yes!

16 team playoff.

11 conference champs

5 at large

Play each playoff game at the different traditional bowl sites. you could even call that particular playoff game, the "whatever bowl" to make it seem less just like a playoff game and more like its own event, only, the winner would keep playing.

So get this...

If you don't dress up stylishly or wear the latest threads at the University of Houston Main Campus, the students there will automatically assume that you're from the surrounding neighborhood, and in class you'll receive curious or disapproving stares. I am not making this up

Sorry, this is my 5th year at UH (grad school now), and I've never experienced anything like this. I wear gym shorts and t-shirts to class every day. Not exactly stylish threads.

Are you sure you're not wearing a UT shirt to class? Now that might actually get you some bad looks on campus.

Are these the cougar place apts?

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&...5&encType=1

no, that's cullen oaks. cougar place is a little bit farther north. just south of the stadium, but north of wheeler.

for those concerned about the new dorms:

http://media.www.thedailycougar.com/media/...e-3160808.shtml

this is the fourth-largest city in the United States, the gateway to Mexico, Central America and South America.

With a soccer-specific stadium downtown, the Dynamo would continue to elevate national and international awareness of our city. When the Dynamo play teams from Mexico and other Central American countries, the games are broadcast to other nations.

With the NBA, NFL and MLB not involved with international competition of "meaning," the Dynamo and soccer hold an important key for bringing global attention to Houston.

More international competition will come the Dynamo's way in the future with the CONCACAF Champions' League, SuperLiga and other tournaments that provide a measuring stick and exposure for MLS teams.

Most of these games are midweek matches that can't be played at Robertson Stadium due to class schedules at UH.

Unless a stadium is built, these games will go elsewhere, costing the city revenue.

With a new stadium the Dynamo would be sure to host the MLS Cup final, All-Star Game, international competitions and collegiate and high school sports. And Houstonians would gain great joy watching professional soccer in a proper facility.

Top youth and adult soccer league events could be played in the new venue.

costing the city revenue or costing the dynamo revenue?

um, the rockets don't bring global attention to houston? have you seen their website?

The rockets - milwaukee regular season game got more views than a superbowl because of china.

china is a little bit more influential than mexico.

i just want someone to explain to me why the dynamo "deserve" a new stadium, especially with help from the city.

unlike the dynamo, which is a privately owned company, UH is a public institution that educates thousands of houston's children, supplies thousands of graduates to the houston workforce, and injects 3 billion annually into the houston economy.

meanwhile, there has been countless academic research proving that pro sports teams do nothing for their surrounding economies.

but the dynamo Deserve public money for a new stadium, millions of dollars.

somehow though, UH can't even get the city to re-pave cullen blvd...

it would be nice if they could put the stadium in the 3rd ward. they'd have room for huge parking lot, a dozen practice/league fields, etc. be nice to also include a regular park there too.

it's about time... it's idiotic for them to keep putting it in memphis year after year after year

the winner of the tourney gets an automatic bid to the NCAAs and giving the conference's best team home field advantage almost guarantees the automatic bid to a team (memphis) who is going to make the NCAAs regardless of the outcome of the cusa tourney...

i can't understand how rice and houston don't team up to put the tourney in toyota center.

i don't know anything about tulsa, but surely there's more to do, more places to stay, and a better arena in houston, even if tulsa's is brand new.

how feasible is it to buy large blocs of land in inner city neighborhoods?

have any large developers ever tried this or is it impossible?

i thought there were supposed to be undergrad housing going on east side of calhoun, kind of disappointing.