A record amount of new spending around the Texas A and M system has been approved by the governor. A system news release says it is the first time new spending has passed one billion dollars.
A and M system employees will receive a five percent pay raise each of the next two years and the state will pay a higher portion of employee health care costs.
In exchange for more state money, the A and M system board of regents agreed to freeze tuition and fees for Texas undergraduate students.
The system also noted that lawmakers are providing more state money to offset the expense of free tuition for the dependents of veterans and largely adopting the faculty tenure system in place at system universities.