Votes at a glance: THECB Agency Operations Committee adopts ethics policy, approves student loan software contract and consent items

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Agency Operations Committee on April 23, 2025, approved several administrative items, including a revised board ethics policy and a contract for student loan management software not to exceed $11,500,000 over a maximum six-year term. The committee also approved routine consent items and its meeting minutes.

The actions were procedural but carry operational significance for the agency’s procurement and governance. Committee Chair Robert (Bobby) Wilson Jr. opened the meeting at 10:35 a.m. and the committee took votes on routine and substantive items later in the session.

Key outcomes

- Approval of meeting minutes from Jan. (motion made and seconded; motion passed). The minutes were approved by voice vote after a motion to approve was moved by Ashley Thomas and seconded; the committee recorded a unanimous voice vote in favor.

- Approval of the consent calendar, which included Agenda Item 5(a) (report on grants and contracts). The motion to approve the consent calendar was moved by Ashley Thomas and seconded by a committee member identified in the record as “Mr. Clement.” The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

- Adoption of revisions to the board’s ethics policy as presented by Nicole Buckner Henderson, general counsel. The committee voted to adopt the updated ethics policy; the motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

- Approval to contract with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to provide loan management software and related services in an amount not to exceed $11,500,000 and a maximum contract term not to exceed six years. The motion to adopt the recommendation to contract with PHEAA was moved on the floor and passed by unanimous voice vote.

All recorded committee votes were taken by voice; no votes in opposition were recorded in the meeting transcript. The committee membership present for the roll call included Chair Robert Wilson Junior; Vice Chair Richard Cover; Fred Farias; Juan Morales; Ashley Thomas; Emma Wolfson; Emily Wolfson; and student representative William Swartz.

Procedural details and provenance

The motions and votes are recorded in the committee transcript and materials for April 23, 2025. The contract authorization instructs staff to complete final procurement steps and return to the board with a signed contract per statutory procurement processes. The adopted ethics policy incorporates updates required by state law and the governor’s executive order mentioned in the meeting record.

The committee adjourned at 11:13 a.m.