![]() “It’s a distinction that we have here that we’re very pleased to put in the hands of students.If you have a particular interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or Astronomy, you’ll definitely want to know about SkyTitan. “As cities grow, there’s fewer and fewer places where there’s dark skies where you can have a world-class observatory,” Armandroff said. The observatory offers a unique opportunity for students to work with advanced telescopes and other equipment, Armandroff said. He said the president and legislative liaisons are currently working to educate the Senate about the observatory’s mission and resources, but a major cut in funding would still curtail activities. Nelson said she wants to ensure each special item is benefiting the public and fulfilling the core mission of higher education.Īrmandroff said he believes the observatory is one of the University’s main priorities. ![]() The UT System included 13 special items on their Legislative Appropriations Request for 2018-19, including the Texas Natural Science Center, the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas and the Institute for Geophysics. I would argue that some of them aren’t really special or exceptional at all.” “Some of them should’ve expired in the biennium in which they were granted and yet have kept going for years, even generations. “Some of the programs are really worthwhile and have had value,” Seliger said during a committee meeting. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, to lead a work group with the mission of designating a more specific financial plan for special items. Last week during one of several finance committee meetings, Nelson appointed Sen. While the observatory receives funding from multiple outside sources, such as the National Science Foundation, Armandroff said the money received from the state is crucial to sustaining the entity. The Legislative Budget Board defines these items as higher education initiatives “that are not supported through formula funding and support the special mission of the institution.”Ĭommittee chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said the current budget is a starting point and has the potential to change as the legislative session unfolds. ![]() The Senate Finance Committee recently proposed a budget for 2018-19 that would decrease funding for “special items” by around $1 billion. ![]() “We’d try to keep doing as much as we can, but obviously it would have serious impacts on the research and the education that happens in astronomy for the University.” ![]() “If there’s no (state) money, there’s going to be traumatically less activity,” Armandroff said. However, the observatory could potentially be one of the several institutions connected with Texas public universities and colleges to lose a significant amount of funding if the Senate’s proposed budget is approved. UT’s McDonald Observatory, which is home to one of the largest telescopes in the world, is at risk of losing a large portion of its funding.Īs an astronomy hub educating students and training future astronomers, the McDonald Observatory in West Texas has been a part of UT since 1932 and attracts about 90,000 visitors a year, said observatory director Taft Armandroff. ![]()
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