State of Higher Education

Ensuring accurate metrics, college readiness, and appropriate admission guidelines while eliminating DEI will build a more robust higher education system.

House Committee on Higher Education

In 2015, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board launched the 60x30TX strategic plan, which set outcome-based goals to improve higher education across the state by 2030. The THECB would provide monthly updates on progress toward the goals of 60x30TX until 2022, when the plan was updated and replaced by the Building a Talent Strong Texas strategic plan. The final progress report determined that from the initial implementation of 60x30TX to the 2020-2021 academic year.

The current iteration of the BTST indicators either do not adjust for population growth, have already been completed, or do not adequately portray an achievement. To correct this issue, the legislature should direct the THECB to amend all fixed numbers to adjust with population growth. (e.g., 7,500 research doctorates, 550,000 students, etc.) Additionally, the definition of “manageable debt” must be changed to reflect a meaningful standard and not the federal one.

The 88^th Legislature passed Senate Bill 17 (88R, Creighton), which prohibited universities from maintaining employees who carry out the duties of a DEI office and conducting activities designed in reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. This terminated many of the Critical Race Theory (CRT) and DEI activities that were being practiced at universities. This included laying off DEI staff, ending university-run “cultural graduations", and prohibiting the requirement of diversity statements. However, the enforcement of this legislation required considerable audits on the state’s behalf, as those who wish to forward CRT and DEI continued to seek out new paths to ensure that students were exposed to their hateful and often segregationist rhetoric.

The 89^th Legislature continued the work of removing DEI and CRT from universities through the passage of Senate Bill 37 (89R, Creighton). The bill made significant reforms to higher education as it related to the duties and powers of THECB, faculty senates, and training for the governing boards of these institutions. However, most notably, the bill included the creation of curriculum reviews for certain degree and certificate programs.