ASUFrisbeeStud
05-16-2007, 12:12 AM
AUSTIN - Legislation to move Angelo State University into the Texas Tech University system passed the Senate unanimously today, according to an e-mail from the Concho Valley's Texas senator.
House Bill 3564 by Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, and Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, will now go to Gov. Rick Perry for his consideration. It passed the Senate Education Committee--also unanimously--last week.
Late last month, the Texas House voted to realign Angelo State University with the Texas Tech University System by September of this year, by a margin large enough to withstand any gubernatorial veto.
Perry has said that, in general, he favors realigning the state's universities to enhance educational opportunities for students.
Darby filed the bill at the request of ASU supporters and alumni, who said they had grown disenchanted with the Austin-based Texas State system and desired closer ties with Lubbock-based Texas Tech. They see Tech as a stronger institution that can provide ASU students with more opportunities and help the 6,200-student university more quickly meet its goal of growing enrollment to 10,000.
The effort to take ASU out of the sprawling Texas State University System is supported by leaders in San Angelo and Lubbock but opposed by the Texas State Board of Regents.
Texas State officials have cited concerns that ASU's portion of the university system's debt may not be easily separable from the whole, and that ASU tuition may rise because of an alignment with Texas Tech.
Proponents and at least a few observers say the debt question is a non-issue because it can be easily addressed, and that while tuition at ASU will probably rise at some point, it won't be because of its breaking away from the Texas State system.
House Bill 3564 by Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, and Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, will now go to Gov. Rick Perry for his consideration. It passed the Senate Education Committee--also unanimously--last week.
Late last month, the Texas House voted to realign Angelo State University with the Texas Tech University System by September of this year, by a margin large enough to withstand any gubernatorial veto.
Perry has said that, in general, he favors realigning the state's universities to enhance educational opportunities for students.
Darby filed the bill at the request of ASU supporters and alumni, who said they had grown disenchanted with the Austin-based Texas State system and desired closer ties with Lubbock-based Texas Tech. They see Tech as a stronger institution that can provide ASU students with more opportunities and help the 6,200-student university more quickly meet its goal of growing enrollment to 10,000.
The effort to take ASU out of the sprawling Texas State University System is supported by leaders in San Angelo and Lubbock but opposed by the Texas State Board of Regents.
Texas State officials have cited concerns that ASU's portion of the university system's debt may not be easily separable from the whole, and that ASU tuition may rise because of an alignment with Texas Tech.
Proponents and at least a few observers say the debt question is a non-issue because it can be easily addressed, and that while tuition at ASU will probably rise at some point, it won't be because of its breaking away from the Texas State system.