In Texas, less than 20 percent of eighth-graders go on to complete a higher education credential within six years — and for low-income and minority students, this percentage can dip below 10 percent. Yet of the 11.6 million jobs created nationally since the recession, 11.5 million require such a credential. The Texas Student Success Council 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 Council, 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 Council 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 Council:
- 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 |
| Kim Alexander |
Roscoe Collegiate |
| HD Chambers, Vice-Chair |
Alief ISD |
| Walter Jackson |
Brenham ISD |
| David Vinson* |
Wylie ISD |
| Brian Woods |
Northside ISD |
| COMMUNITY COLLEGES |
| MEMBER NAME |
COLLEGE |
| Steve Head |
Lone Star College |
| Brenda Hellyer* |
San Jacinto College |
| Russell Lowery-Hart* |
Amarillo College |
| Joe May |
Dallas County Community College District |
| Richard Rhodes |
Austin Community College |
| William Serrata, Chair |
El Paso Community College |
| UNIVERSITY |
| MEMBER NAME |
UNIVERSITY |
| Guy Bailey |
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley |
| Katie Brock |
University of Texas at Austin |
| James Hallmark, Vice-Chair |
Texas A&M University System |
| John Hayek* |
Texas State University System |
| Ray Martinez |
Independent Colleges & Universities of Texas |
| BUSINESS / WORKFORCE |
| MEMBER NAME |
ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY |
| Tony Bennett |
Texas Association of Manufacturers |
| Drexell Owusu |
Dallas Regional Chamber |
| Justin Yancy* |
Texas Business Leadership Council |
| PHILANTHROPY |
| MEMBER NAME |
FOUNDATION OR ORGANIZATION |
| Kristin Boyer |
Trellis Foundation |
| Adrianna Cuellar Rojas |
United Ways of Texas |
| Charles Glover |
Meadows Foundation |
| Sue McMillin |
Greater Texas Foundation |
| Wynn Rosser |
TLL Temple Foundation |
| EX OFFICIO |
| MEMBER NAME |
AGENCY OR COMMITTEE |
| Brandon Creighton |
Senate Higher Education Committee |
| Harrison Keller |
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Mike Morath |
Texas Education Agency |
| Chris Turner |
House Higher Education Committee |
| AFFILIATE MEMBERS |
| MEMBER NAME |
FOUNDATION OR ORGANIZATION |
| Kevin Brown |
Texas Association of School Administrators |
| Jennifer Esterline |
Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium |
| Cynthia Ferrell |
Texas Success Center |
| Jacob Fraire |
Texas Association of Community Colleges |
| Linda Garcia |
Center for Community College Student Engagement |
| Carolyn Landel |
Charles A. Dana Center |
| Rissa McGuire |
Council for Public University Presidents and Chancellors |
| Mark Milliron |
Civitas Learning |
| Evelyn Waiwaiole |
Center for Community College Student Engagement |
*Work Group Co-Chair
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