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June 6, 2012 Issue 115, Volume 77
TIER ONE
UH to be awarded state research funds University grows closer to coveted Tier One status Max Gardner
THE DAILY COUGAR
Access to the National Research University Fund is granted to universities that have proven themselves as emerging research institutions. This accomplishment helps further the university toward Tier One status. | Hendrick Rosemond/The Daily Cougar
The State Auditor’s Office announced May 25 that the University of Houston is one of two schools to meet the state’s requirements to gain access to the National Research University Fund. “The mandatory review by the state auditor’s office is complete, and we are on the verge of accessing additional state money from the National Research University Fund,” said UH President Renu Khator in an email. The NRUF was established in November 2009 under HB 51 as a replacement for the Higher
Education Fund. Its purpose is to encourage state universities to dictate a stronger focus on research and, ultimately, to create more designated Tier One universities within the state, according to the official document. The bill requires that a university achieve four of six set benchmarks as well as have a minimum annual research expenditure of $45 million in order to become eligible for the award money. With a yearly research expenditure of $55 million and four of the required benchmarks achieved, UH is one of two schools out of six total competitors to meet the necessary requirements this year. “I want our university and our
I want our university and our city to be nationally and globally competitive, and this money will help us fullfill that committment.” Renu Khator, on receiving the award money city to be nationally and globally competitive, and this money will help us fulfill that commitment,” Khator said. While there is no confirmation yet of the amount that will be STATE FUNDS continues on page 3
SGA
Senate bill aims to update system of governing bylaws Max Gardner
THE DAILY COUGAR The Student Government Association Senate will introduce and have the first reading of a bill to reform the organization’s bylaws in their fifth meeting 7:30 p.m. today in the Rockwell Pavilion of the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library. The proposed SGA Governance, Accountability, and Integrity Reform Act of 2012 states that the current bylaws are outdated and have contradictory and redundant clauses. It aims to replace the old governance system with one that contains an updated document of bylaws and a bylaws edits document which would strike unnecessary information from the original document. “We took apart the whole bylaw starting from the top
and going through the entire thing,” said SGA President Cedric Bandoh. “We removed a lot of redundant phrases and changed some things, making us more efficient and allowing us to understand our system better.” Another notable change the bill proposes is the removal of the trial period in the Court of Appeals in response to the questions raised after last semester’s appeals process in the SGA election scandal, said Bandoh. Special reports will be presented by Bandoh and Assistant Vice President for UH Health Initiatives Kathryn Peak. Senator Eduardo Reyes will move to suspend a bylaw concerning interim appointments in order to allow Bandoh to appoint Jeanette Rivera to the position of Director of Public Relations. news@thedailycougar.com
Khator receives 2 Light of India Awards
P
resident Renu Khator was honored with the Light of India Jury and People’s Choice Awards, making her the only candidate to win in both categories she was nominated in. The Light of India Award recognizes the exemplary work performed by Indians living abroad. “I was fully aware that I was receiving this recognition for the University of Houston, for it is the university’s success that defines my success,” said Khator. | Richard Bonnin/The Daily Cougar