Texas State University hopes to relocate College of Health Professions to Round Rock
The life cycle of the 2012 election is barely post-mortem, but Texas politicians are already lining up to see what kind of political capital they have inherited.
The first signal that the 2013 Texas legislative session is approaching came Nov. 12 when state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-District 21, filed 30 new bills for consideration. First on the list was a bond funding package that could have a lasting effect on Williamson County. Specifically, Senate Bill 26 would authorize the state to issue tuition revenue bonds [TRB] to fund, among other things, the construction of a $48.8 million College of Health Professions building on the Texas State University Round Rock campus.
Although heavily outnumbered by Republicans in the Senate, Zaffirini's support adds weight to the bill. A seven-term incumbent whose district constituency includes the Texas State San Marcos campus, Zaffirini is the second-highest ranking state senator in Texas and is the co-chairwoman of the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency.
"Filing legislation early is critical to advancing the priorities of Senate District 21 families," Zaffirini said in a written statement. "Count on me to continue to champion early and higher education "
Zaffirini's early support offers the strongest backing the Texas State administration has received of late to continue expansion of its programs beyond San Marcos.
"Since 2007 we've been asking for a [TRB] to build this next building, and it's almost 2013, and we still don't have the funding," said Gene Bourgeois, Texas State provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. "So it's continuing to knock on the door, state our case, and hopefully someone will listen. Hopefully the legislators who represent our community will get on board and persuade other legislators to commit funds to support this project."
Round Rock expansion
The impetus to build and expand the Texas State Round Rock campus is part of the university administration's long-term strategic plan developed years ago.
TSU first arrived in the city in 1996 when the university began offering classes at Westwood High School. The program took off and eventually grew to include 15 portable structures on the high school campus.
"We knew we had a need for a more permanent presence," said Robert Gratz, Texas State University special assistant to the president. "Through collaborative support we were able to bring the first building—the Avery Building, which opened in 2005."
To make the idea of Texas State in Round Rock a reality, the Avery family donated a 101-acre tract off of University Boulevard in North Round Rock for the campus, the city agreed to fund the infrastructure and road improvements needed to develop the land, and the Legislature passed a TRB to fund the construction of the 125,000-square-foot Avery Building.
"Back in 2003 we were in a session where the Legislature said they had no money, either," Round Rock Mayor Alan McGraw said. "But because of the gift of [101] acres and the city paying to extend the utilities to the property, all of the sudden that got the Legislature's attention, and they were willing to fund that first building.
"They were willing to fund that even though they were in a really tight legislative session. That was the seed that got planted, and had that not happened, I don't think you would see everything ... you see today."
What stands on the land today includes the original Avery Building and the 77,740-square-foot St. David's School of Nursing building, which opened in 2010. The Texas State Round Rock campus now offers eight bachelor's and 11 master's degree programs, and hosts approximately 2,000 full-time students, said Edna Rehbein, Texas State at Round Rock campus director. Texas State at Round Rock works in collaboration with Austin Community College to provide students all of the upper-and lower-division classes needed to achieve a degree—without having to leave Williamson County.
The city and Texas State administration hope the next development involves making the Round Rock the permanent home of the College of Health Professions, which currently operates out of San Marcos.
"We identified the next major step in the growth of the Round Rock campus being [home to] all of the programs in our College of Health Professions," Gratz said.
The first step in the process of relocating the college is securing $48.8 million in funding needed for the new building, tentatively named Health Professions Building No. 1. If financing is approved by the Legislature, the building would host three of the seven programs within the College of Health Professions—communications disorders, physical therapy and respiratory care. A second new building is in the school's long-term plans to host the remainder of the programs.
"We would be bringing with this first building 400 full-time students and about 40 full-time faculty," said Ruth Welborn, dean of Texas State's College of Health Professions. "There is a place for us to build two buildings. The second building will help us bring the entirety of the College of Health Professions to the Round Rock site. I am ready for both buildings to be funded, but I know I need to be patient. Maybe the Legislature won't even fund this one, but I know there is a lot of support from the community."
Location, location, location
The benefit of relocating the College of Health Professions to Round Rock is mutual for the city and school.
"We set about years ago trying to diversify the Round Rock economy," McGraw said. "Health care and education is a great place for us to put our efforts. We've been very good at it, and we want to continue those efforts.
"We've talked about destination retailers in the past—where people come from outside the region to spend their dollars. We're also talking about destination health care, where people come into Round Rock for their health care needs as well. That's
an economic driver. If we are training health care professionals here, there is a very good chance they will stay in this area, and that helps the economy. It helps build small business."
One advantage for Texas State to make Round Rock its permanent home for health profession degrees is the proximity to major medical facilities.
"Because of the growth of health care and medical services in the Round Rock community, moving our entire [College of Health Professions] to Round Rock would assist us in providing educational experiences," Welborn said.
Bourgeois said the indicators are clear that Round Rock and Williamson County will continue to grow as a regional medical hub.
"The plan to relocate our College of Health Professions grew out of a ... strategic plan," Bourgeois said. "This was for a number of good reasons, not the least of which would be to take advantage of a growing cluster of [health care] activities and services that are being located in Round Rock and Williamson County. We're trying to make sure we are a part of that and we are a player in that emerging sector."
Legislative hurdles
Legislative support can be a difficult barometer to gauge. The issue is compounded when balanced with the funding needs of K–12 education, highways and health care amongst a stretched budget.
"Generally I'm behind it, but you've got to look at the budget in total context, and this will be part of that whole discussion," said Rep.-elect Tony Dale, R-District 136. "But I think its a favorable program, and hopefully we'll be able to get support for it.
"I'm one of 150, but the higher education in Williamson County and the health sciences in Williamson County is important to me. I intend to work to support the schools."
Bourgeois believes it is in the state's best interest to step up financial support for Texas State, which he said has seen expanding enrollment for 15 consecutive years.
"We've been warned it is going to be very tough but it is imperative that we make the argument, that we articulate our university's needs," Bourgeois said. "I remain very optimistic; I believe someone will ultimately listen.
"You can't be a university with 34,229 students ... and still be neglected in terms of building more facilities so you can enhance your capacity. At some point, someone has to say, 'That university needs some help.'"
