Regents approve new degree programs, housing and meal rates, insurance authority, bond resolution and three honorary degrees

The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved a package of academic program authorizations, student housing and meal-rate schedules, an insurance delegation, a supplemental bond resolution and three honorary degrees during its Feb. 13, 2025, meeting in Austin.

The actions, moved and presented in committee reports and then brought to the full board, affect several component institutions and fiscal matters that will take effect in fall 2025 or in the 2025–26 policy year.

Why it matters: The approvals expand program offerings across the system, set fees students will face in residence halls and meal plans for fall 2025, delegate short-term insurance authority to system leadership for the 2025–26 policy year, and authorize financing steps for system capital needs. The board also used the meeting to honor three individuals with honorary degrees.

Most important board actions and outcomes

- Academic program authorizations: Regent Gordy, chair of the Academic and Health Affairs Committee, moved multiple degree authorizations to take effect fall 2025 and the motions were approved by the board. Among the items the board authorized were: Lamar University to offer a Bachelor of Arts in education (non‑certification) and a Bachelor of Science in leadership studies; Sam Houston State University to offer a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Science in engineering technology and management and to modify undergraduate English‑language proficiency requirements for international students as outlined in agenda item 2(e); Sul Ross State University (transcript: “Saint Ross/Sol Raul”) to offer a Bachelor of Business Administration in global management, a BBA in marketing and new Master of Business Administration options in aerospace and defense, health care management and space commerce; Lamar State College‑Orange to offer an entrepreneurship certificate and hospitality certificates and an associate of applied science in hospitality management; and Lamar State College‑Port Arthur to offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in physical therapy assistant. The motions were made by Regent Gordy and seconded by various regents as recorded in committee and were approved by the full board.

- Student dining and housing rates: Regent Long, chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, moved approval of the proposed meal‑plan schedules and proposed residence‑hall rates effective fall 2025. The board approved both motions (seconded as noted on the record).

- Delegation to bind property insurance: The board approved a motion (moved by Regent Long, seconded by Regent Lee) delegating authority to the chancellor to bind systemwide property insurance coverage for the 2025–26 policy year.

- Bond resolution: The board adopted the “thirtieth supplemental resolution to the master resolution” authorizing issuance, sale and delivery of Texas State University System revenue financing system revenue bonds. The motion was moved by Regent Long and seconded as recorded; the item passed.

- Policies and planning: The board approved revised policies and procedures for planning and construction (motion moved by Regent Scott, seconded as recorded). Informational items presented to the Planning and Construction Committee included the 2024 campus condition report and the quarterly planning and construction report; no votes were required on those informational items.

- Honorary degrees: The board authorized Texas State University to confer honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees on three individuals: Jack Martin (motion moved by Regent Gordy), Taylor Sheridan (motion moved by Regent Gordy) and Natalie Parker Wiseman (motion moved by Regent Gordy). University presidents provided brief remarks in support of each nomination; each motion was seconded and approved by the board.

Procedural notes: Committee chairs reported that action and consent items had been reviewed and approved in committee before being moved to the full board. The board recessed into an executive session in mid‑day under the Texas Open Meetings Act (Government Code, Section 551.071–.074) and reconvened in open session later; the board stated on the record that no votes were taken during executive session.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in meeting transcript)

- Approval of minutes of the Nov. 2024 quarterly board meeting — motion recorded and approved (moved by the chair; second recorded as “Regent Armato/Amato”). - Lamar University degree authorizations — motion by Regent Gordy; second by Regent Long; approved. - Sam Houston State University degree authorizations and international English‑language proficiency modification — motion by Regent Gordy; second by Regent Flores; approved. - Sul Ross State University degree authorizations (BBA and MBA options) — motion by Regent Gordy; second by Regent Vasquez; approved. - Lamar State College‑Orange certificates and degrees — motion by Regent Gordy; second by Regent Flores; approved. - Lamar State College‑Port Arthur AAS (physical therapy assistant) — motion by Regent Gordy; second by Regent Armato/Amato; approved. - Approval of fall 2025 meal plan rates — motion by Regent Long; second by Regent Gordy; approved. - Approval of fall 2025 residence hall rates — motion by Regent Long; second by Regent Flores; approved. - Delegation to the chancellor to bind systemwide property insurance for 2025–26 — motion by Regent Long; second by Regent Lee; approved. - Adoption of thirtieth supplemental revenue bond resolution — motion by Regent Long; second by Regent Austin; approved. - Approval of revised planning and construction policies and procedures — motion by Regent Scott; second by Regent Foske; approved. - Conferral of honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on Jack Martin — motion by Regent Gordy; second recorded; approved. - Conferral of honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on Taylor Sheridan — motion by Regent Gordy; second recorded; approved. - Conferral of honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on Natalie Parker Wiseman — motion by Regent Gordy; second recorded; approved.

What the record does and does not show: The meeting transcript records the motions, who moved them and the fact that the motions passed (typically by voice vote with a recorded “Aye”). The transcript does not include a roll‑call tally with individual regent votes for most motions; where the record lists only “Aye” the board secretary did not read a full roll call into the public transcript. The board also placed a number of rule and contract items on a consent agenda; specific roll‑call detail for items on the consent agenda is not provided in the transcript excerpt.

Next steps and scheduling: The board recessed for the day and announced it would reconvene the following morning at 10 a.m. in open session.