To receive disbursements from the National Research University Fund held outside the treasury.  The money is to be used by eligible institutions only for the support and maintenance of educational and general activities that promote increased research capacity at the institution.  The University of Texas and Texas A&M University are inelligble to receive money from the fund.

The Constitution requires money in the Permanent Higher Education Fund (0346) to be transferred to the National Research University Fund on January 1, 2010. Money may not be appropriated or distributed from the research fund before September 1, 2011.  This fund was originally set up as the National Research University Fund (NRUF). It was renamed and the pupose changed because the NRUF is actually a fund outside the treasury.  The change was effective 5/30/12.