Signs indicate the Texas Legislature will not designate funds this session to increase the number of state universities considered tier-one in research. This should not stop the seven state schools vying for that high status symbol.

Being tier-one means a university receives at least $100 million a year to conduct research. Money comes from federal, state or private grants, and in turn means a community with tier-one status reaps a plethora of economic benefits.

The University of Texas at El Paso is halfway there, having made giant strides in just the past few years. But there's much more. We continue to believe UTEP is best suited for this designation because there is so much new research to be done in border affairs -- and UTEP is the lone school among the seven located on the border.

- Diseases begging for more study, namely diabetes, are prevalent right here. UTEP is already engaged in those studies.
- The Pentagon is turning El Paso's Fort Bliss into its most scientific military base. It's been given the multi-billion-dollar mission of inventing the most modern methods in which to conduct future combat. UTEP is involved.
- UTEP is already a major base for border security studies, having been named so by the Department of Homeland Security.

Presently, there are three tier-one universities in the state: The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University and private school Rice. Vying to join them, along with UTEP, are: Texas Tech in Lubbock, UT Arlington near Dallas, UT Dallas, UT San Antonio, the University of Houston and the University of North Texas, also near Dallas.

UTEP President Diana Natalicio says UTEP can fare well against all challengers, calling it a horse race to "tier-one" that she feels her school, and El Paso, can win.

The fear, however, is that the Legislature, not having the money this session, will designated one of the seven as it's "to-be tier-one school" when funding is available, perhaps in 2011.

It's important that all seven remain in the running. Don't set parameters that could knock some contender out. Don't just give the nod to the bigger cities -- just because they're the bigger cities. Look at all the pluses at each school. And, after doing so, we believe UTEP will prove to be the best choice to be the next tier-one university in Texas.