Strategic Planning & Institutional Analysis

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Strategic Directions 2007-2013

Strategic Direction 1
Educate health professionals and scientists in a diverse and interdisciplinary academic community

Objective 1
Increase the number and diversity of enrolled students to meet the future healthcare needs of the State of Texas

According to the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas’s population is expected to rise by nearly 50 percent between now and the year 2040. This period of growth will also witness dramatic shifts in the state’s racial/ethnic composition and in the age of its citizens. Assuming migration rates equal to those from 1990-2000, the racial and ethnic composition of Texans will change dramatically:

In addition, the number of Texans aged 65 or older are expected to increase 295.5 percent during the same period. This growing and aging society, coupled with anticipated high rates of retirement by those in the health professions, requires UTHSC-H to embark upon a plan to increase the number of health professionals and scientists that successfully enter into and graduate from the health science center.

UTHSC-H’s enrollment plan is as follows:

Assuming that state formula funds will not cover all costs associated with increased enrollment, determine, on a school-by-school basis, the level of ongoing costs necessary to support increases as noted above including formula funding and other sources.

Provide the necessary infrastructure to support such enrollment growth such as student services, staffing, and space.

Ensure that regional campus growth occurs in conjunction with the main campus (SPH).

Please refer to Attachments A-1 to A-4 for data related to annual enrollment increases per school and student-related financial assumptions, Attachment A-5 for Fall 2005 enrollment by level and ethnicity, and Attachments F-1 to F-9 for overall plan-related financial projections.

1 DB totals for FY 2006-2013 include 34 students enrolled in Advanced Dentistry programs (Gen Dent and OMFS). While these students are not currently included in formula funding calculations, they do require the same infrastructure and faculty needs as our formula-funded students. UTHSC-H’s Fall 2005 certified enrollment is 3,587.

2 projections are based on maintaining the current student/faculty ratio in light of expected increases in faculty size as the Replacement Research Facility and IMM and other units increase the numbers of their faculty.  Enrollment will not increase as projected without commensurate faculty increases.

3 includes 20 students enrolled in the Clinical Research Master’s Degree program for the years 2006-2013. The MD entering class size grows from 200 to 220 in FY 2007 then to 230 from FY 2008-on.

<< previous | next >>

last updated: September 6, 2006