Agency to carry momentum forward from Dr. Keller’s tenure

This month, we say farewell and best wishes to Dr. Harrison Keller, who has moved on from his post as Commissioner of Higher Education to become the new president of the University of North Texas. The Coordinating Board has made a Texas-sized impact on higher education over the past five years under the visionary leadership of Dr. Keller.

We emerged from the pandemic, where, with the help of GEER funds, the agency invested millions of dollars into programs and grants designed to help institutions and students continue to meet the economic and workforce needs of our state.

The state's new strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas, puts a unique focus on credentials of value, completion, and research. It set a new standard guiding the work across the state and inspired similar discussions across the country.

Building a Talent Strong Texas also laid the foundation for innovative and transformative initiatives and programs aimed at achieving Texas' higher education goals.

We have ushered in a new community college funding model and increased the amount of research funding spread across the state's growing institutions.

With affordability on everyone's mind, we implemented programs such as Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) to bolster dual credit, and the FORWARD loan program for students pursuing high-demand degrees. Initiatives like the ONE Project will lessen the financial burden through new, free online course material for nursing students.

The smooth transition into higher education from high school, or to reskill or upskill, is also a critical area the agency has focused on. My Texas Future is helping students of all ages map their journey through higher education into the career of their choice, and the new ApplyTexas is making it easier than ever to get started.

Today there are 10 fields of study as part of the Texas Direct transfer program, which facilitates smooth transfer by enabling students to receive an associate's degree and transfer their courses as a block applied directly to their selected major. Many more Texas Direct fields of study are expected in the coming year, smoothing the transfer process from two- to four-year institutions across Texas.

Our Texas Leadership Scholars program combines affordability with a peer- and mentor- support structure, increasing persistence rates for high-achieving, low-income students to more than 95 percent. As of this fall, more than 800 students in Texas will be thriving in this program.

Enhanced student supports with the Student Success Program Inventory and acceleration grants will also help keep students focused on the completion goal.

All of these programs rely on insightful, actionable data to make sure we continue to meet the needs of students and the Texas economy. We're powering new tools for the public on our DataBridge website, including the Texas Talent Trajectory (T3) that shows how students transition from secondary through postsecondary education.

Even as we reflect on all these innovations, much more lies ahead, highlighted by the Direct Admissions program, the Opportunity High School Diploma, and the work of the task force on healthcare workforce shortages.

As the Texas economy grows, so will the impact the THECB has as a resource, partner, and advocate to Texas institutions, students, and businesses across the state.

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