Texas Student Success Council
TSSC 88th Legislative Session Recommendations Document
In Texas, only 23 percent of eighth-graders go on to complete a higher education credential. Yet of the 11.6 million jobs created nationally since the recession, 11.5 million require such a credential. The Texas Student Success Council (TSSC) was created in 2012 to address this disconnect by focusing on polcies that create smooth, streamlined pathways into, through and among institutions of higher education through:
- Improved K-12 and higher education linkages
- Portability of credits and credentials
- Stronger education and workforce alignment
Educate Texas convenes the TSSC, which brings together diverse stakeholders to advance and advocate for policies that promote increased postsecondary student success and prepare them to compete in the 21st century economy. Convened by Educate Texas and chaired by Dr. William Serrata (President of El Paso Community College), the TSSC is composed of state and field stakeholders representing education (K-16), business and philanthropy, and has been fortunate to have the Chairs of the House and Senate Higher Education Committees, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission serving as Ex Officio members. The TSSC:
- Develops policy recommendations based on research, evidence and best practices aimed at addressing key barriers to higher education student success
- Educates and informs policymakers about key policy issues
- Builds momentum for policy changes through collective action before and during the legislative session
This initiative has been highlighted by Jobs for the Future as a national best practice for this work.
Texas Student Success Council Members
| K-12 |
| MEMBER NAME |
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| HD Chambers, Vice-Chair |
Alief ISD |
| Walter Jackson |
La Porte ISD |
| David Vinson* |
Wylie ISD |
| COMMUNITY COLLEGE |
| MEMBER NAME |
COLLEGE |
| Brenda Hellyer* |
San Jacinto College |
| Russell Lowery-Hart* |
Amarillo College |
| William Serrata, Chair |
El Paso Community College |
| UNIVERSITY |
| MEMBER NAME |
UNIVERSITY |
| James Hallmark, Vice-Chair |
Texas A&M University System |
| Guy Bailey |
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley |
| BUSINESS / WORKFORCE |
| MEMBER NAME |
ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY |
| Tony Bennett |
Texas Association of Manufacturers |
| Justin Yancy* |
Texas Business Leadership Council |
| Peter Beard |
Regional Workforce Development Greater Houston Partnership |
| STAKEHOLDER MEMBERS |
| MEMBER NAME |
FOUNDATION OR ORGANIZATION |
| Kristin Boyer |
Trellis Foundation |
| Sue McMillin |
Greater Texas Foundation |
| Sylvia Leal |
TLL Temple Foundation |
| Jennifer Saenz |
E3 Alliance |
By helping students minimize the time and expense of obtaining a workforce-relevant degree or credential, the Council is driving success not only at the student level, but at the community and state level as well.
Policy Briefs