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THECB approves programs, contracts and consent items including several new doctoral and professional programs
Summary
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved a package of consent items and separate motions including program approvals for multiple doctoral and professional degree proposals, a loan‑servicing software contract and routine minutes and consent calendar items.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board took a series of formal actions April 24, approving consent calendar items, multiple new degree programs, a major software contract for student loan servicing and a resolution honoring the outgoing student representative.
Among the actions the board recorded during the meeting:
- Approved a resolution of appreciation for outgoing student representative Luke Schwartz; the resolution was read into the record and approved by voice vote.
- Approved the minutes of the Jan. 23, 2025 quarterly board meeting and motioned the consent calendar (nonrule and rule items) including data reports and housekeeping rule changes; the chair called the voice votes and the motions passed with no recorded opposition.
- Approved multiple degree program requests after staff presentations and site‑visit summaries, including (motion outcomes listed as approved): Tarleton State University — Ph.D. in Counseling; Tarleton State University — Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology; Tarleton State University — Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT); Texas A&M University‑Texarkana — Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT); Texas Southmost College — Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Organizational Management; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) in Clinical Psychology. Presenters for the program items included institution provosts and program directors; staff noted accreditation plans and faculty hiring commitments where applicable.
- Approved a multi‑year contract (up to a maximum six‑year term, structured as a four‑year base with two one‑year options) with Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (doing business as VIA/PHEAA) to provide loan‑origination and loan‑servicing software and implementation services for the board’s student loan programs, in an amount not to exceed $11,500,000. Agency staff explained the contract includes licensing, maintenance and front‑loaded implementation costs and that the optional renewals are the vehicle for the stated six‑year maximum term.
- Approved certification, program approval and other routine items brought forward by staff (for example, certificates of authority, approvals of rules repeal where items were marked for consent, and grant receipt authorizations noted on the consent calendar).
How votes were recorded: most actions were approved by voice vote (“aye” recorded on the roll). Several items were moved and seconded on the record; the meeting transcript records the motions and seconders in many but not all cases. The board did not record roll‑call tallies for each item in the transcript supplied; the minutes and agency records will hold formal vote tallies if required for audit.
Ending: the meeting adjourned at 11:49 a.m. after completion of the agenda. Staff noted follow‑up work on implementation items, including onboarding for the loan‑servicing vendor and next steps for program implementation and accreditation activity for approved degree programs.
