Standing in the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, University of Texas at Brownsville President Juliet García talked about the fortuitous timing of coming to Austin one day after Gov. Rick Perryendorsed a plan to let South Texas have access to the Permanent University Fund.

"There is something providential about all this," García said.

She was joined by University of Texas-Pan American President Robert Nelsen and faculty and staff from their respective institutions, for Rio Grande Valley Higher Education Day at the Capitol. Their top objective was to promote a proposal to combine the two universities to create a new institution that would include a new medical school and have access to the Permanent University Fund.

Spirits were high after the plan received what was for many, an unexpected endorsementfrom the governor in his State of the State address the day before.

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