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THECB approves multiple program and contract actions; board certifies TRIP gifts
Summary
At its Jan. 23 meeting the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved an increase in marketing funding for My Texas Future, certified gifts for the Texas Research Incentive Program, and approved several new degree programs and rule amendments; most items passed on voice votes or consent.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on Jan. 23 approved a package of formal actions that included a contract increase for the My Texas Future marketing campaign, certification of gifts under the Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP), several program approvals for new degree offerings and a set of rule changes.
Contract increase for My Texas Future
The board approved increasing the agency’s contract with Hahn Media Incorporated from $750,000 to $3,000,000 to expand marketing of the My Texas Future student‑facing site. Glenna Bruun, associate commissioner for public affairs, told the board the additional funds will extend statewide digital and TV outreach and support a separate direct‑admissions campaign with creative assets aimed at teens. Anthony Infantini, the agency chief financial officer, said the introduced House and Senate budgets include funding for My Texas Future for the 2026‑27 biennium.
Motion: moved by Mr. Wilson; second by Mr. Novartis. Outcome: motion passed by voice vote.
TRIP gift certification
The board adopted committee recommendations to certify 39 private gifts as eligible for TRIP matching. Andy McLaurin, assistant commissioner for funding, said the certified gifts total $23,400,000 and would trigger a state match of $18,600,000 if the legislature appropriates matching funds. The introduced budget bills released by both the House and Senate included language funding the existing TRIP backlog and contingent language related to program changes.
Program approvals and funding model change
The board approved multiple program requests and a funding model change:
- University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley: Doctor of Optometry, in‑person, proposed start Fall 2027 (approved). UTRGV told the board the program is intended to address health‑care access gaps in the Rio Grande Valley. - Texas A&M University: Doctor of Philosophy in Visual Computing and Interactive Media (VCIM), in‑person, proposed start Fall 2025 (approved). A&M described a multi‑campus delivery plan and state and private capital commitments for facilities and faculty support. - Texas A&M University: Doctor of Education in Bilingual/English as a Second Language and Dual Language Education, online, proposed start Fall 2025 (approved). A&M said the degree addresses the state’s rising K‑12 English learner population and will aim for wide online access. - University of Texas at Austin: Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and Writing Studies, in‑person, proposed start Fall 2025 (approved). UT‑Austin described this as a transfer of an established graduate concentration into a standalone Ph.D. in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. - University of Texas at Tyler: request to change the Doctor of Pharmacy funding model from self‑supporting to formula funded (approved). Elizabeth Mayer, assistant commissioner for academic and health affairs, said the change aligns with recent statutory repeal of a restriction that had previously prohibited formula funding for the program.
Rules and other formal actions
The board adopted multiple rule actions, including a non‑substantive amendment to the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program rules that sets a six‑year funding maximum (to align with the statutory six‑year graduation expectation and to accommodate ROTC commissioning timelines), and amendments to Texas First Scholarship rules that reorganized and clarified appeals and FAFSA/TASFA requirements. Dozens of noncontroversial items were approved on the consent calendar, including approval of minutes, committee appointments, and routine program and rule repeals and updates.
Votes, motion makers and procedure
Many items were approved on voice votes or by unanimous consent. The meeting recorded motions and seconders for key items (for example, Mr. Wilson moved and Mr. Novartis seconded the My Texas Future contract increase) and repeated “aye” responses; no roll‑call rollouts with individual recorded tallies were shown in the transcript. Committee actions (for instance the TRIP certifications) were presented in committee and forwarded to the board for approval.
Legislative and budget context
Board staff noted several actions are contingent on broader legislative decisions. For example, TRIP certifications are eligible for matching only if the legislature appropriates funds; introduced House and Senate budget language included a rider to address the TRIP backlog, and some appropriations were described as contingent on statutory changes. The board’s program approvals and funding model changes were presented as aligning with recent statutory changes or with existing statutory mechanisms for formula funding.
What passed and where to follow up
The board’s approved items expand health‑care education capacity (UTRGV optometry, UT Tyler pharmacy funding change), add graduate research and professional programs (A&M VCIM and EdD programs, UT‑Austin PhD), and increase the agency’s capacity to promote student choices through My Texas Future. Staff said they will return with implementation details and regular updates where legislative action or the timing of funding requires follow‑up.
