THECB committee approves consent rules, high‑demand program lists and several rule amendments

The Committee on Innovation, Data and Educational Analytics of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the meeting’s consent calendar and voted on several presented items, including a legislatively required data report, a statewide and regional high‑demand field list, and multiple rule amendments to board rules in chapter 22 and other chapters.

Chair Gavin Amor called the roll, the committee approved minutes of the Jan. 22, 2025 meeting, and then moved through the consent calendar. Members approved numerous rule‑making items on the consent calendar, which the staff described as noncontroversial or technical changes intended to improve clarity and align rules with current practice.

Key formal actions recorded in the meeting record included:

- Approval of minutes from the Jan. 22, 2025 committee meeting (agenda item 2).

- Approval of the consent calendar (agenda item 4), which included multiple nonrule and rule items; several subitems within agenda item 5 (5d, 5d2, 5d4, 5d5, 5d6, 5d7 and 5d a through 5 d 11) were approved on consent.

- Approval of the data report required by Texas Education Code sections 51.4003 and 51.434 regarding nontransferable credit and transfer courses (agenda item 5a). Presentation by Melissa Humphreys, assistant commissioner for the data management and research division.

- Approval of the Higher Demand Field list for fiscal years 2026–2027 used for the community college finance program (agenda item 5c). The list, presented by Andy McMorin, assistant commissioner for funding, is based on occupation groups projected to have the most employment growth over the next 10 years using Bureau of Labor Statistics and Texas Workforce Commission data.

- Adoption of proposed rule changes and repeals related to the community college finance system (subchapter changes referenced in agenda item 5d2) and multiple proposed amendments to Chapter 22 (student financial aid program rules, including provisions on scholarship disbursement, compliance monitoring, and terminology updates). Dr. Charles Pendero and other student financial aid staff presented chapters and specific amendments.

- Approval of a substantive change to chapter 22, subchapter B (tuition equalization/grant program) to remove restrictions on participation by religious or theological seminaries and students in degree plans intended to lead to religious ministry; staff said the change responds to recent federal court decisions.

Most items were approved after a motion and second and a voice vote; the transcript records “aye” responses and notes the motions passed. Where public comment was invited, the committee reported no registered public testimony for this meeting’s items.