The Del Mar College Board of Regents unanimously approved a resolution of support for the Texas Commission on Community College Finance during a special meeting on Jan. 31.
In October 2022, the commission proposed recommendations for the 88th Texas Legislature that included a shift toward basing state community college funding on measurable outcomes, such as the number of transfers to four-year universities and the rate of students graduating with what the proposal referred to as credentials of value. The commission recommendations also include an increase in funding toward Texas Educational Opportunity Grants, as well as providing financial aid toward dual credit programs.
The full report to the 88th Texas Legislature can be found on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website at https://www.highered.texas.gov/media-government-relations/news-media/texas-commission-on-community-college-finance/.
The resolution of support was paired with the adoption of the state and federal legislative priorities established by the Texas Association of Community Colleges and the Community College Association of Texas Trustees.
The TACC and CCATT’s state priorities included many of the TXCCF’s primary recommendations, as well a call for improved cybersecurity, IT modernization, and addressing the state’s nursing shortage.
Mary McQueen, vice president of Advancement and Government Relations, presented the resolution to the board.
“We are looking to get on equal footing with the Texas grants and provide students who need financial assistance additional assistance from the state of Texas,” McQueen said regarding the TEOG recommendations.
The full list of legislative priorities can be found in the called meeting’s agenda: https://www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/called-meeting-1-31-23.pdf.
At the beginning of the special meeting, the board also swore-in Regent Carl E. Crull. Crull was elected to office unopposed in the 2022 election but was unable to attend the board’s Dec. 13 regular meeting. His term will last through 2028.
The Board of Regents may be acting regarding the vacant at-large seat in its regular meeting on Feb. 14.
