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Higher Education: Investing in the future of Texas.

 “Middle class families are being priced out of a college education. We must  ensure that the Rose Amendment dollars are directed where they were intended—merit based scholarships for middle class families.”

"The students, faculty and staff at Texas State University–San Marcos have and always will be a priority for my office.  Every dollar that the state invests in our university increases the value of your degree and impacts our local economy greatly."

Rep. Patrick M. Rose  

 

Patrick Rose:  Our Generation, Our Future

As a member of the House Higher Education Committee, Rep. Patrick Rose has worked to make college affordable for middle class families.  As the representative for Texas State University–San Marcos and its 30,000 students and faculty, he understands its economic impact to our region and has championed the university’s legislative agenda in Austin. 

As the state’s share of funding for higher ed has decreased and universities have relied on increased tuition, Rep. Patrick Rose has fought for relief for students from middle class families.  Rep. Rose believes that tuition deregulation should not be the future of funding at our universities and his main concern is its negative effect on the middle class.  Rep. Rose understands that college must be affordable for a strong Texas economy and that higher education is the best economic development dollar we spend. 

Rep. Patrick Rose:  A Record of Results for Texas State students, faculty and staff

 

81st Regular Session of the Texas Legislature

  • Rep. Patrick Rose led the fight in the House to re-regulate tuition in a way that would have ensured that the value of a degree was not diminished — by statutorily linking state appropriations and tuition increases.  This would achieve two primary goals: ensuring that our colleges and universities have the funding they need to be the best, and putting the burden back on the Legislature to fund that need. This effort was supported by Texas State University Associated Student Government, the Texas State College Democrats, UT Student Government and Texas A&M Student Government. 
  • Supported a landmark increase of $259.6 million in funding for student financial aid, an increase of 34.7% over the previous biennium, bringing total financial aid funding to over $1 billion for the first time ever.
  • Co-authored legislation creating an incentive research program and two funds to help create additional national research universities in Texas.
  • Secured $1 million for a special project at the River Systems Institute at Texas State for the 10-11 State Budget.
  • Passed legislation requiring that a study be conducted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which oversees higher education in  our state, to determine cost-savings measures in our colleges and universities. 

 

80th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature

  • Working with the Texas State Associated Student Government, Rep. Patrick Rose passed legislation creating an athletic fee and giving students a majority representation on the committee that determines how the money is to be spent.  In 2005, the ASG approved a resolution proposing this fee and then in 2006, 81% of students supported the fee in a non-binding referendum. 
  • Passed legislation strengthening the ability of the Higher Education Coordinating Board to create a five-year master plan for higher education.
    • Secured $2 million in start-up funding for Texas State’s nursing program.
  • Secured $9.8 million for programs at Texas State in the 08-09 State Budget. 

79th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature

  • Rep. Patrick Rose passed HB 1968, legislation creating a non-voting student regent position on the boards of regents of all public university systems in Texas.  The first student regent bill was filed in 1969 and Rep. Patrick Rose finally passed it in 2005.  

  • Secured $42.7 million for construction of an undergraduate academic center at Texas State – San Marcos campus and $36 million for construction of a nursing building at the Texas State – Round Rock campus.

  • Passed legislation requiring boards of regents to allow public testimony at all of their regular meetings.

  • Secured $5.8 million for programs at Texas State in the 06-07 State Budget.

     

     

    78th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature

      • Faced with a $10 billion deficit and resulting across-the-board cuts at all state agencies, including a 7% cut at institutions of higher education, the Legislature chose to give tuition flexibility to institutions rather than have them face additional cuts.
      • Rep. Rose amended the tuition deregulation bill to require that 20% of the revenue increases resulting from tuition deregulation go to fund scholarships.
      • The Rose Amendment has created over $12.7 million in new scholarship funding at Texas State University.
        • Rep. Patrick Rose authored legislation with Sen. Wentworth changing the name of Southwest Texas State University to Texas State University.
          • Secured $7.6 million for programs at Texas State in the 04-05 State Budget.