Jan. 28, 2022, Austin, TX – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) gave final approval at its quarterly board meeting to move forward with the state’s refreshed plan for higher education titled Building a Talent Strong Texas. Under the new plan, Texas will connect more students – including working adults – to college degrees, certificates, and other credentials that offer purpose in the economy, value in the labor market, and opportunities for good jobs and meaningful careers. The plan builds on the previous 60x30TX plan and is organized around three updated goals with expanded metrics.
“Realizing the goals of Building a Talent Strong Texas will require close coordination among the public and private sectors, with input and support from employers, educators, and other key stakeholders across Texas,” said Chairman of the Coordinating Board Dr. Fred Farias. “Building a Talent Strong Texas sounds bold because it is, and by working together we can reach these goals.”
The three goals and corresponding targets include:
ATTAINMENT OF POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS
The new plan expands attainment goals to include all working age Texans. In doing so, the state will increase employment opportunities and income for individuals, create a deeper talent pool for employers, and align skills with the jobs the workforce demands.
Targets:
- 60% of Texans ages 25-34 with a degree, certificate, or other high-value postsecondary credential by 2030.
- 60% of Texans ages 35-64 with a degree, certificate, or other high-value postsecondary credential by 2030.
POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS OF VALUE
The new plan intentionally connects degrees, certificates, and other credentials to the typical earnings of graduates. Texas will be the first state to set higher education goals focused on the value of postsecondary credentials for students’ earnings, while also considering costs and student loan debt. This emphasis on the value of credentials will help students, employers, and the public be even more confident that credentials from Texas institutions of higher education will equip graduates for good jobs, continued learning, and lasting, rewarding careers.
Targets:
- 550,000 students completing postsecondary credentials of value each year
- 95% of graduates having either no undergraduate student loan debt at all or manageable levels of debt in relation to their potential earnings
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION
As the pace of change in the Texas economy continues to accelerate, the new plan calls for increased investment in research and development, including basic and applied research and translating new discoveries into innovations that drive economic development. This goal emphasizes a key component of how colleges, universities, and employers must work together to advance the state’s economic competitiveness for the future.
Targets:
- $1 billion increase in annual private and federal research expenditures by 2030
- 7,500 research doctorates awarded yearly by Texas institutions of higher education
Each of these goals will also be evaluated in terms of how they advance equity in Texas higher education. New data dashboards to be released later this year will provide detailed information by higher education institution and program, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, gender, and income to ensure accountability and monitor progress.
“As we work in partnership with Texas higher education institutions and employers to advance the value of degrees, certificates, and other postsecondary credentials, we must be even more intentionally committed to advancing equity,” said Commissioner of the Higher Education Harrison Keller. “Texas grew more than any other state over the past decade and is one of the youngest and most diverse states in the nation. More than 95 percent of our growth over the past decade was in communities of color. That means if we’re not advancing our goals equitably, we cannot meet our goals.”
The full report for Building a Talent Strong Texas will be published in February.
The mission of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is to serve as a resource, partner, and advocate for Texas higher education, resulting in a globally competitive workforce that positions Texas as an international leader. The agency works to support the state’s higher education goals, found in Texas’ strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas. THECB can be found online at highered.texas.gov.