SPI Insights

For the first time in history, the Texas A&M System will receive over a billion dollars in new funding from the state of Texas. The $1.19 billion in funding allows the A&M System to act on three priorities: keeping college affordable, keeping Texas prepared to respond to disasters and increasing a state match so Prairie View A&M University could qualify for federal funding.

Courtesy of Texas A&M Engineering

The new spending overall for the A&M System includes $180.9 million for the A&M System institutions’ share of the affordability contingency, keeping tuition at current rates for the next two years. Funding of $43.1 million will support formula and research performance funding for the A&M Health Science Center. An additional $159 million will go towards “Keeping Texas Prepared” and 5% pay increases for agency employees in each of the next two years.

Another $775 million was earmarked for new initiatives, including:

• Texas A&M University System will receive $226.4 million, which includes $200 million for quantum and artificial intelligence chip fabrication; $26.4 million for the Center for Microdevices and Systems at Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station; and $1.5 million for a mental health study.
• Texas A&M University will receive $200 million for constructing facilities adjacent to the Johnson Space Center and $25 million for the Virtual Production Institute in College Station and Texas A&M-Fort Worth.
• Prairie View A&M University will receive $15 million for the Ag Match so the university can qualify for federal funding.
• Texas A&M University Health Science Center, including $15 million for Texas A&M Care Rural Health Care Initiative and $25 million for an education and research facility at the Higher Education Center in Hidalgo County.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research, including $25 million for Research Capability and $15 million for tornado damage at the Vernon Research and Extension Center and the Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation and Seed facility.
• Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, including $30 million for a new Hypersonic Wind Tunnel and $5 million for the ongoing NASA Aerospace Scholars Program.
• Texas A&M Forest Service will receive $2.5 million for aviation support costs, including fire retardant, $146.1 million for reimbursement for response to natural disasters and $2.1 million for vehicles.
• Texas Division of Emergency Management will receive $13.3 million for vehicles.