The School of Nursing Newsletter

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The School of Nursing Newsletter - From the Office of Dean Patricia Starck


May 22, 2009

The new students for summer semester have arrived for orientation.  It’s always inspiring to see the bright, eager faces as students begin their exciting educational journey.  I want to thank our Student Affairs Staff who handled a wonderful graduation ceremony, and didn’t take a breath between that and getting ready for the new class.  Our faculty as well, attended graduation, and without missing a day, came back to the office to get ready for next semester, as well as writing grants and other scholarship work.

On Wednesday, I, along with other deans, had a chance to give a brief presentation about the School to some new Development Board members, including Larry Kellner, Chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines, Julius Glickman, attorney, and Brad Deutser, who has a consulting firm.  Also joining the Development Board is Dr. Irma Gigli, who is retiring from the Institute of Molecular Medicine.

Our school recently received notice that we have been awarded $93,057 in advanced nurse traineeship funds, an increase from last year.  These funds are available for graduate students, either full or part time (if within their last 12 months) and can be used for tuition, fees, books, and reasonable living expenses.  The amount is up to $8,800 per student per year.  Thanks, Dr. Brosnan, for writing this grant.

On Wednesday, May 20, the annual President’s Scholar Awards Luncheon was held.  This year’s recipients were Dr. Cheves Smythe for Teaching and Dr. Frank Arnett and Dr. Hebert Dupont for Research.

President Kaiser held a town hall meeting on Thursday, May 21, giving an update on various aspects of the university and answered questions on the branding initiative, stem cell research, plans for hiring delays we now have in place, and infrastructure maintenance.  He gave specific information on legislative efforts, emphasizing that we still have a few more days before we will know for sure.  At this time, what we know (detailed information furnished by Sabrina Midkiff) is:

  1. Formula Funding and Graduate Medical Education:  $21.5 million total formula funding increase for FY2010/FY2011 over current biennium.  Funding includes a $1.8 million increase in funding for graduate medical education.  (Compare to $13.6 million total formula increase in last session.)
  2. Special Items: $9.5 million/biennium for School of Public Health Expansion. This appropriation was the largest single special item funded this session.
  3. Nursing Shortage Coalition:  $30 million total/biennium for nursing expansion statewide and $14.7 million for Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Act.  Our School of Nursing will receive funding for an increase in students of 12% in FY 2010 and 18% in FY 2011.  We have not yet seen the dollar detail.
  4. Harris County Psychiatric Center: $8.5 million biennium for opening additional 24 bed unit.
  5. Stem Cell Rider: Proposed language limiting embryonic stem cell research in Texas was not adopted.
  6. Trauma Funding:  Still pending consideration is an $8.5 million appropriation in the supplemental appropriations legislation which includes $8.3 million for trauma services at the Medical School. The supplemental appropriations bill will be considered in Senate Finance later today and is still working its way through the process. Statewide Trauma Funding for uncompensated trauma care in hospitals increased from $60.2 million per year to $84.1 million per year. 
  7. Children's Learning Institute: Maintained base funding of $15 million/biennium for early childhood school readiness, maintained base funding of $2 million/biennium for professional development partnerships, and received minimum of $23.4 million/biennium through the Texas Workforce Commission for early childhood programs representing a new "floor" in funding. New accountability and reporting language for the State Center was added to the appropriations bill.
  8. Forensic Assessment Center Network (at Medical School): base funding maintained at last year's level.
  9. Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas: Authorized debt service for $450 million in bonds.
  10. Emerging Technology Fund:  Appropriated $92 million plus unexpended balances.
  11. Tuition Revenue Bonds:  The Legislature did not consider Tuition Revenue Bonds in this session.

Students will be back next week!  Or I should say classes will begin on May 26, many of which are online.

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.


Dean Starck