TCU-UNTHSC separation agreement over medical school detailed

Leaders of TCU and the University of North Texas Health Science Center are putting positive spin on the recently announced split over Fort Worth’s allopathic medical school. But the separation agreement between the schools highlights the reality of an institutional divorce. A 14-page separation agreement between TCU and UNTHSC, obtained by the Star-Telegram on Thursday, breaks down the logistics of splitting a medical school in two. The agreement, which went into effect on Jan. 1, addresses everything from student ID cards and library access to insurance coverage and custodial services. The document also hints at the deeper question of why the institutions are parting ways.

The two universities issued a joint announcement of the separation on Wednesday but did not provide any details about what led to the split. Press releases and official comments instead heralded the separation as “the next evolution in the advancement” of the school. But the separation agreement says that HSC and TCU couldn’t agree on how to work toward joint accreditation for the medical school, which is an M.D. program. “Although the Parties have explored various paths towards a joint medical degree program, the Parties have not been able to agree on pursuit of a specific path toward a joint medical degree program,” the agreement reads. HSC spokesperson Laken Rapier said in an email that there “was no one reason that led to the decision to transition” the medical school to TCU. Both TCU and HSC representatives told the Star-Telegram that the decision to part ways had been in the works for several months before its official announcement this week.