SMU educational opportunities and growth

[SMUfrat]

We all know on this board that SMU once had a medical school. I think that there is a very real possibility that SMU aquires a medical asset to form / create a medical school in the near future. East campus - East of 75 - would be an ideal place if SMU wanted to move the medical school to near campus.

In terms of the effect on our endowment / rankings? This would be a wonderful long term strategy. SMU currently has 7 degree giving schools. I think the possibility of SMU going to 10 degree giving schools is very real. Here is how I have broken it down:

1. Cox School of Business
2. Perkins School of Theology
3. Simmons School of Education
4. Lyle School of Engineering
5. Meadows School of the Arts
6. Dedman School of Law

7. & 8. Dedman College
- ________ School of 'Hard Sciences' - Biology, Chemistry, etc
- ________ School of 'Soft Sciences' - Anthropology, Sociology, Pshycology, etc

9. _______ School of Medicine

10. ______ School of ________ (The space across from Simmons Education that in campus master plan - maybe Nursing)

This growth can ensure SMU ascends to the top 30 / 25 Universities, or at least rivals it. Research monies would explode!

[Digetydog]

I think that it would be very difficult (nearly impossible) to start a medical school from scratch in the Dallas area.

The bottom line is that Texas has some of the best medical schools in the nation. Unless we purchased an existing school (UT-Southwester is excellent), I don't see how we could be competitive anytime soon. While we could probably jump UNT's medical school quickly, passing UT-Southwestern and the Houston-area medical schools would be nearly impossible.

[NavyCrimson]

Doesn't SMU already work with UTSouthwestern quite closely now anyway?

[SMUfrat]

I think that it would be very difficult (nearly impossible) to start a medical school from scratch in the Dallas area.

The bottom line is that Texas has some of the best medical schools in the nation. Unless we purchased an existing school (UT-Southwester is excellent), I don't see how we could be competitive anytime soon. While we could probably jump UNT's medical school quickly, passing UT-Southwestern and the Houston-area medical schools would be nearly impossible.

We need to buy one, hands down.

I am OK with buying one.

[Water Pony]

Almost most all Medical schools, especially in Texas, are public instutitions. Selling one would be highly unlikely.

Starting one up would be very expensive, but not impossible. BTW, there is and will continue to be a shortage of physicians.

[RGV Pony]

Couldve had one down in the valley, but the UT system is about to launch the one that's been clamored for down there

[Digetydog]

Couldve had one down in the valley, but the UT system is about to launch the one that's been clamored for down there

Where?? South Texas always gets the shaft in educational spending.

[EastStang]

Depends if the State needs to make its budget work and needs to jettison an "asset". In Virginia, the Governor talked about selling off the state owned liquor stores for infrastructure needs (until someone pointed out that the liquor stores turned a huge profit since they are a monopoly). Instead, he simple asked that the ABC Board look at raising liquor prices.

[RGV Pony]

Couldve had one down in the valley, but the UT system is about to launch the one that's been clamored for down there

Where?? South Texas always gets the shaft in educational spending.

Somewhere between McAllen/Edinburg and Brownsville, pending a bunch of stuff. We'll know more between now and mid May; legislature opened for biz today

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 098265.php

[Pony^]

Now that Central Texas residents voted to raise their property taxes to support a new medical school and teaching hospital, UT Austin should soon have its medical school.

AUSTIN, Texas - Voters in the Central Health district tonight approved Proposition 1, which will raise revenue to support health care services. The vote will allow The University of Texas at Austin to establish a medical school.

Following is a statement from University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers on the vote:


"This is a historic night for Austinites, the UT community and world-changing medical research. I’m thrilled and grateful that Central Health residents voted to invest in health care and to help us move ahead with a UT Austin medical school.

"I can’t offer enough praise for Sen. Kirk Watson, a true friend of UT who has dedicated himself to improving health care in Central Texas. I also want to thank the UT System Board of Regents for committing the resources that are crucial to a new medical school.

"Now that the vote is over, the hard work of building a medical school begins. Provost Steve Leslie and I will appoint a committee of faculty members and health care officials to help recruit an inaugural dean, choose a location for the school and finalize details with Central Health, Seton and other partners. We hope to have a new medical school building and teaching hospital in place for our first class of 50 students in 2015."

http://www.utexas.edu/news/2012/11/06/d ... al-school/

I'm not saying SMU can't start a medical school too, but it's going to take some big time fundraising to pull it off.

A medical school would surely help SMU obtain AAU status someday as it's very difficult for a private university to become an AAU member without a medical school. Notre Dame and Rice have managed to do so, but they are the rare exceptions.

[Pony^]

The New York Times wrote an article on the proposed UT Pan American/UT Brownsville merger.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/educa ... .html?_r=0

See also Inside Higher Ed.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012 ... cal-school

Plans for the merged university, which Cigarroa referred to as "A University for the Americas in the Rio Grande Valley," call for campuses in Edinburg, where UT-Pan Am is located; Brownsville; and Harlingen, where the system has an academic health center. That health center would likely form the base of the new medical school.

A medical school at the merged university would be a second step in a new model of medical education and research for the system. Until recently, Texas has separated its medical institutions from its universities. But the University of Texas at Austin recently made a bid for building an adjoining medical school, which was approved by the board in 2011.

The new Rio Grande medical school would follow in Austin’s footsteps, placing control of a medical school under the authority of a university administration.

A recent report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board called into question the wisdom of building new medical schools at a time when the state does not have capacity to provide its current medical school graduates with residencies. "Additional medical schools should not be established or opened until the number of first-year physician residency positions exceeds the number of graduating medical school students by 10 percent," the report states.

Administrators for the system have said what the state really needs is more of both medical school slots and residency slots, a goal that is not going to be facilitated by restricting development plans.

[Digetydog]

Couldve had one down in the valley, but the UT system is about to launch the one that's been clamored for down there

Where?? South Texas always gets the shaft in educational spending.

Somewhere between McAllen/Edinburg and Brownsville, pending a bunch of stuff. We'll know more between now and mid May; legislature opened for biz today

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 098265.php

Great news. I would love to see it thrive. Often, kids who get degrees are forced to leave because there are limited opportunities for jobs.

Someday, I will go back home.

[smustatesman]

Why would the Med School have to be located in the US. Put it down in the Caribbean or in Cabo. A foreign Med School with a US based university parent maybe a good drawing card, and an avenue to growth back in Dallas.

[mustangxc]

Almost most all Medical schools, especially in Texas, are public instutitions. Selling one would be highly unlikely.

Starting one up would be very expensive, but not impossible. BTW, there is and will continue to be a shortage of physicians.

So true! I think it would be great for SMU to add a medical school on the other side of Central Expressway.

[couch 'em]

Medical schools cost a fortune. Do we really want to deplete donor funds when we still need an IPF, a football coach, and a swimming complex?