The Learning Technology Advisory Committee’s operations subcommittee recommended that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board staff and commissioner approve four institutions’ Institutional Plans for Distance Education (IPDEs) after finding the submissions met requirements in the Texas Administrative Code.

The recommendation — read by Dr. Luke Dowden, chair of the operations subcommittee — covers Angelo State University, Midwestern State University, Texas Woman’s University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso. “After a diligent review of the institution’s narratives and supplemental information, the subcommittee has found that each of the IPDE submissions provide evidence compliance with the principles of good practice for distance education,” Dowden said. The committee then voted; chair Patrick Plush announced the motion carries.

Why it matters: LTAC’s endorsement is the formal step that forwards the subcommittee’s recommendation to coordinating board staff and then to the commissioner, who issues the final notification to institutions. The committee also used the first full IPDE cycle under the new rules to surface process improvements intended to reduce reviewer workload and make submission materials easier for reviewers and institutions to use.

Subcommittee findings and vote
The operations subcommittee reviewed four IPDE submissions this cycle and recommended that LTAC forward approvals to staff for the commissioner’s decision. Dr. Dowden presented the recommendation to the full LTAC and the motion carried; the committee recorded the action in the meeting minutes and will transmit its recommendation to coordinating board staff as required by rule. Formal notification to institutions will come from the commissioner once the commissioner acts. The meeting record did not include a roll-call tally of individual votes.

How the process was carried out and what changed
LTAC staff and the subcommittee described this as the first cycle operating under the revised IPDE process. Dr. Andrew Lofters (coordinating board staff) and subcommittee members said the review used a Smartsheet submission form and supplemental folders; reviewers found the initial Smartsheet layout difficult for side-by-side review. Committee members said staff reformatted submissions so each question had a narrative response in a single document with links to supplemental materials, which reviewers found easier to evaluate.

Committee members emphasized two operational safeguards used this cycle: (1) institutions that had representation on the review committee recused themselves during consideration of their own submissions, and (2) staff acted as the liaison to request and collate supplemental information from institutions when reviewers had follow-up questions.

Volume and timelines going forward
Committee members reported there were seven institutions expected in this cycle overall, with four already submitted and reviewed. The group said there are two regular submission periods tied to institutional reaffirmation schedules (June and December). Preliminary estimates provided at the meeting projected about eight IPDEs in 2026 and roughly 13 in 2027, though staff cautioned those counts could shift depending on institutional accreditation timelines. The subcommittee recommended forming additional review teams to spread workload as volume increases.

Public access, membership access, and records
Staff explained that IPDE submissions are not posted proactively to a public website; they are treated like other institutional proposals and are available through public information request processes. The coordinating board maintains an internal Microsoft Teams space where LTAC members can access submissions; staff said there remain occasional access issues for members outside the board’s domain that they will continue to resolve.

Clarifications and next steps
Staff reiterated the procedural path: the review subcommittee compiles a recommendation, LTAC receives the subcommittee recommendation, staff forwards the LTAC recommendation to the commissioner, and the commissioner issues the formal notification letter to institutions. The subcommittee and staff plan additional process improvements, including clearer guidance to institutions about submission timing and improved file formats for reviewer consumption. Committee members said they will continue to identify and share exemplars and best practices to help future institutions prepare clearer submissions.

Ending
LTAC accepted the operations subcommittee’s recommendation and will forward it to coordinating board staff for the commissioner’s decision. Subcommittee members and staff said they will return to the full committee with process-improvement proposals as the next submission cycle moves forward.