Editing Texas Tech University (section)

=== Recent history ===
[[File:TTU English Philosophy Building.jpg|thumb|left|Texas Tech's Humanities Building, with the university's signature Spanish Renaissance-inspired architectural style, faces a building of similar construction for the College of Education.]]
In 1996, the [[Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System|Board of Regents of Texas Tech University]] created the Texas Tech University System. Former [[Texas State Senate|State Senator]] [[John T. Montford]], later of [[San Antonio]], was selected as the first [[Chancellor (education)|chancellor]] to lead the combined academic enterprise.<ref name="Perry suggests AT&T executive for UT chancellor job"/> Regents Chair [[Edward Whitacre Jr.]] stated the move was made due to the institution's size and complexity. "It's time," he said, "to take the university into the 21st century".<ref name="TTUS"/> The Texas Tech University system originally included Texas Tech University and [[Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center]]. On November 6, 2007, the voters of Texas approved an amendment to the [[Texas Constitution]] realigning [[Angelo State University]] with the Texas Tech University System.<ref name="Texas Legislature Online"/> [[Kent Hance]], a Texas Tech graduate who had served as [[United States Representative]] and as one of the three elected members of the [[Railroad Commission of Texas|Texas Board which regulates the oil-and-gas industry]], assumed the duties of chancellor on December 1, 2006.<ref name="Kent Hance Officially Named Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System"/>

To meet the demands of its increased enrollment and expanding research, the university has invested more than $548&nbsp;million in new construction since 2000. It has also received more than $65.9&nbsp;million in private donations.<ref name="TTUS"/> In April 2009, the [[Texas House of Representatives]] passed a bill to increase state funding for seven public universities. Texas Tech University was classified by the state as an "Emerging Research University", and was among the universities that received additional state funding for advancement toward "Tier 1" status. Three funds—the Research University Development Fund, the Texas Research Incentive Program, and the National Research University Benchmark Fund—provided $500&nbsp;million in grants and matching funds during fiscal years 2010 and 2011.<ref name="Texas House OKs bill to fund 'tier one' competition'"/> On September 2, 2009, the university announced it had received private gifts totaling $24.3&nbsp;million. Of these, $21.5&nbsp;million are eligible for match under the Texas Research Incentive Program.<ref name="Texas Tech Announces TRIP Funds"/>

In late 2011 and throughout 2012–13, construction began on several new buildings on campus.<ref name="newconstruction"/> The construction included a new $20&nbsp;million Petroleum Engineering and Research building, a new building to house the Rawls College of Business, two new residence halls, a $3.5&nbsp;million chapel, and extensive remodeling of the building that previously housed the Rawls College of Business.<ref name="newconstruction"/> In 2021, construction began on the new $100 million, 125,000-square-foot Academic Sciences Building.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Board |first=AJ Media Editorial |title=Our view: Tech's Academic Sciences Building will have huge impact |url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/opinion/2022/01/05/texas-techs-academic-sciences-building-have-huge-impact/9104053002/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>

The university system's endowment reached $1.043 billion in March 2014, surpassing one billion dollars for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ursch|first=Blake|title=Texas Tech System endowment exceeds $1 billion|url=http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2014-03-30/texas-tech-system-endowment-exceeds-1-billion|access-date=March 31, 2014|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=March 31, 2014}}</ref>

In 2023, Texas voters approved the creation of a new funding mechanism, the Texas University Fund. Its $3.9 billion endowment was created by combining a one-time grant from the state’s budget surplus with the National Research University Fund, interest income from the Economic Stabilization Fund, and charitable contributions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas University Fund|url=https://texasuniversityfund.com|publisher=Texans for More Top Ranked Texas Universities PAC|access-date=2024-11-24}}</ref> Four Texas universities, including Texas Tech, initially qualified to receive TUF funds based on their research expenditures and doctoral degrees awarded annually. Texas Tech received approximately $44 million for fiscal year 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the TUF?|url=https://www.depts.ttu.edu/research/strategicresearch/tuf.php/|publisher=Texas Tech University|access-date=2024-11-24}}</ref>