The Learning Technology Advisory Committee on July — during a subcommittee report — voted to keep the operations subcommittee as the review body for the current IPDE cycle and asked staff to investigate fuller use of SmartSheets during the review process.

The vote matters because the operations subcommittee will continue to receive and evaluate institutions' IPDE submissions; THECB staff said five additional submissions are expected by the end of the month. Committee members also asked staff to explore SmartSheets’ additional capabilities beyond application intake to support reviewers.

Luke, reporting for the operations subcommittee, told the committee, “Current operations subcommittee is recommending that we continue to serve as the IPDE review committee for this current cycle.” He added that staff would “investigate SmartSheets beyond the application submission for full use during the review process.”

Patrick, presiding over the session, called for discussion and then a vote. A THECB staff member confirmed the recommendation aligns with the Texas Administrative Code. Patrick called the vote and said the motion carried.

As part of the next steps, the committee scheduled a working meeting for July 31 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to discuss identified process improvements for the IPDE review process and to work with operations and QA subcommittee members on implementation details. The QA subcommittee was asked to prioritize two items — creating “helpful hints” for narratives and clarifying accessibility notes for applicants — and committee members offered to consult with staff during that work.

No formal amendment to the structure was adopted; the committee’s decision was to continue the existing arrangement for the current cycle and to pursue procedural changes by the July 31 working session and future LTAC meeting. The committee also noted that some institutions have cybersecurity constraints that may affect how submissions are accessed and circulated among reviewers, and asked staff to advise on practical options consistent with public‑meeting and records requirements.

Meeting logistics noted during the report: five IPDE submissions expected by the end of the month; the July 31 working meeting is planned as an operational session ahead of the LTAC meeting in August; and staff will report findings on SmartSheets’ capabilities back to the committee.