(The Center Square) – Gov. Greg Abbott has named a 13-member state working group to design a three-year bachelor's degree he says could save Texas students $15,000 to $35,000 and cut degree costs by a quarter.
“Texas students deserve a clear and affordable pathway to high-paying jobs,” Abbott said in a statement, which is why he created a new Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) working group.
The 13 members he’s selected include deans, high-level administrators and faculty with PhDs working at four-year institutions and community colleges with expertise in academics, administration, accreditation and workforce education, he says.
They are currently employed by the Lone Star College System, Texas A&M University System, Texas State University System, Texas Southern University, University of Houston, Texas Tech University, University of North Texas, Tyler Junior College, South Texas College, Grayson College, Texas Woman’s University and University of Texas System.
Nearly all are white women. Of the four men appointed to the working group, one is of Persian descent, one is Black and one is Hispanic. None appointed are Asian.
“This working group will deliver a statewide framework for three-year bachelor’s degrees to keep Texas a national leader in affordable, accessible, high-quality education,” Abbott said.
It’s the latest higher education initiative Abbott has proposed to reduce costs for higher education students. Last month, he proposed creating a new statewide tuition savings program to lower the cost of summer courses that count toward an undergraduate degree. The plan, he argues, will help undergraduate students at public colleges and universities to earn their degree faster and save money on housing and other expenses.
The plan includes reducing tuition and fees by $500 for students taking 1–5 credit hours and by $1,000 when taking six or more credit hours during the summer, The Center Square reported.
The THECB working group has been directed to develop a statewide three-year bachelor’s degree framework. This includes developing recommendations for academic standards and requirements, accreditation and institutional approval requirements and statutory, regulatory or administrative changes. It also involves ascertaining which degrees and high-demand occupations would be the most applicable, assessing student demand and employer workforce needs.
The initiative builds on a statewide effort to “broader efforts to strengthen education and workforce connections, improve student completion, and ensure that postsecondary credentials provide lasting value to graduates and Texas communities,” Abbott’s office says.
“Every semester adds tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, and other living expenses and delays students’ ability to begin their careers,” Abbott said. "Texas students deserve the option to receive a degree in a high-demand, high-wage field in less time.”
New three-year bachelor’s programs “could help motivated students enter high-demand fields a year earlier” and “lower the cost of education and help satisfy workforce demands in the Texas economy,” THECB Commissioner Wynn Rosser said.
THECB is expected to submit the working group’s recommendations and proposed implementation framework to the governor by Dec. 31.
Abbott says he will work with the legislature next session to codify an accelerated three-year bachelor’s degree pathway.