Support the recommendations of the Texas Commission of Community College Finance which includes the following:
State Funding for Outcomes
- Develop a modern community college finance model that distributes the majority of state funding based on measurable outcomes aligned with regional and state workforce needs and state goals for Building a Talent Strong Texas.
- Ensure community colleges across Texas can access foundational levels of funding for instruction and operations through a state-funded guaranteed yield for colleges with low taxable valuations.
- Ensure transition to the new funding model does not negatively impact students or community colleges, being mindful of the need for funding prerogatives aimed at hard to serve student populations and the provision of funding resources necessary to meet the needs of community colleges as they provide student support services, including mental health resources and other vital services, for their Hold harmless funds should be made available to facilitate transition to a dynamic, primarily outcomes-based funding formula.
Affordability for Students
- Increase funding for Texas Educational Opportunity Grants (TEOG).
- Provide financial aid through colleges to cover tuition and required fees in dual credit courses for economically disadvantaged students.
- Expand partnerships among colleges and private employers for paid work-based learning, including work-student, apprenticeships, and internships related to students’ programs of study, utilizing the work- based learning strategic framework developed by the Governor’s Tri- Agency Workforce Initiative.
Investments in College Capacity
- Provide one-time seed grants for programs in high-demand fields to support community colleges in rapidly standing up or expanding programs to meet regional and state workforce needs.
- Support and facilitate shared services and stronger inter-institutional partnerships
- Update state policies, and build upon the recent work by individual colleges, to help community colleges across the state provide high- quality non-credit credential programs that are convertible and stackable with credit bearing programs.
Continued Support for Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
Small Business Development Centers help small businesses which are the backbone of Texas. There are four main centers across Texas, with Dallas College’s SBDC serving over 45 counties through various field and satellite offices. SBDC helps businesses, in myriad ways, including:
- Over 60 centers statewide strategically located in rural, urban, and suburban communities throughout the Lone Star state
- SBDC customizes a client’s experience and addresses their needs from financing to exploring new markets, SBDC staff has the knowledge and access to tools and resources to help small businesses succeed
- SBDC's experienced professionals provide confidential business consulting -- at no cost to the They also provide affordable training to help businesses at every stage of development
- From 2021-2022 North Texas SBDC has helped create 2,001 new jobs and protected (retained) 17,081 jobs
Local Control
Maintain local control for the elected officials who govern Dallas College to act in the best interest of those they serve
AS A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES (TACC) THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE TACC BOARD
- Community College Finance Reform – Support legislation developed from the Final Recommendations of the Texas Commission on Community College Finance.
- Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) – Support flexibility for the required matching funds community colleges must meet to access Texas Education Opportunity Grants, with an eye toward equal requirements with TEXAS Grants.
- Cybersecurity and IT Modernization – To the extent available, utilize one-time funding opportunities for critical IT infrastructure modernization at community colleges. Avoid unfunded mandates for community colleges to meet state cybersecurity requirements with the Department of Information Resources.
- Clinical Nursing Sites – Address the shortage of clinical sites and hours for community college nursing students statewide.
- Texas Transfer Framework – Seek statutory authority for THECB to improve implementation and accountability of the new Texas Transfer Field of Studies initiative, specifically with acceptance and applicability of credit hours upon transfer.