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