Former UH regents oppose local UT plans

Thirty five former University of Houston regents have signed a letter opposing the University of Texas' planned Houston expansion.

The letter says UT's purchase of 100 acres of land -- and planned purchase of 200 more acres -- sets a "dangerous precedent" because UT didn't ask for the state leaders' input first. It is addressed to Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Joe Straus, the state Senate, the state House of Representatives, and members of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

UT's expansion in Houston, the letter argues, could duplicate resources and impede UH's progress as a rising research university. UT already has an unfair edge, the letter argues.

"The playing field in Texas higher education is tilted in (the UT system's) favor because they have almost exclusive access to the Permanent University Fund," the letter says, adding that if the expansion is permitted, "the University of Houston should be granted access to the PUF fund or another permanent funding source of equal value."

UT has said it does not intend to compete with UH and offered the school a spot on a task force forming a plan for the land. UH declined.