Oct. 22 THECB Meeting Highlights

Resources:

Board Approves Revised TSI Exam
The THECB’s board approved (agenda/webcast) an updated version of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) exam that is used to determine if students are ready for freshman college work — and agreed that 100 percent of students who are found to not be college ready as reflected on their TSI scores can go ahead and take entry-level college courses for credit while receiving developmental education support.
more info


Process to Revise Higher-Ed Goals Begins
The board was briefed (webcast) on the process that has just started that will likely lead to what is called a “refinement” of the five-year-old 60x30TX higher-ed goals for Texas.
more info


Higher-Ed COVID-19 Federal Funding
Higher-ed Commissioner Keller told the board (webcast) that of the $103.5 million in federal pandemic-related funding allocated to the coordinating board by Gov. Abbott, the first $57 million was distributed over the summer to maintain much-needed major financial aid programs.

The remaining $46.5 million will allow higher-ed institutions to provide financial assistance to Texas students to cover tuition and fees to support students who are close to postsecondary credential completion — and to support displaced Texas workers who will need to “reskill or upskill” to get back into the workforce. The coordinating board is currently accepting applications from colleges and universities for this program.

The THECB also announced (Oct. 27) that it is accepting applications from colleges and universities for a program, also funded by federal pandemic funds allocated to the governor, for the state’s new Open Educational Resources (OER) initiative (info here) to provide free online college course materials and related services.