Media Releases
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THECB Grant Helps Address Critical Nursing Shortage in Texas
AUSTIN – Sam Houston State University’s School of Nursing School and four Houston-area hospitals have developed and are scaling up a unique and promising teaching model that could help ease the critical nursing shortage facing Texas. The program, Shared Nursing Academic Practice Partnership Initiative (SNAPPI), tackles the statewide nursing shortage…
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THECB Issues Cease and Desist Letter to Illegal TexAM Entity
AUSTIN – At the direction of Governor Abbott, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) today sent a letter (see full copy) demanding that an entity calling itself Texas American Muslim University at Dallas (TexAM) cease all operations. The entity claims it is an educational organization offering higher education courses and degrees…
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Governor Abbott, THECB Announce $17 Million In Grants To Support Workforce Education And Training Programs
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that applications are opening for nearly $17 million in state grants to support new, redesigned, or expanded short-term workforce education and training programs geared toward high-demand occupations. “The success of our state stems from higher education institutions who educate and train the future…
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Three Schools Win Inaugural Awards for Helping Students Plan Career Paths
AUSTIN – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has awarded two Texas high schools and one middle school the My Texas Future School of Excellence award for their energetic efforts to help students plan their educational futures by using the state’s My Texas Future website to facilitate their advising. The winners of these awards, presented for the first time, are: …
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THECB Ombudsman Announces Ryan D. Walters as Deputy Director and General Counsel
Contact: communications@highered.texas.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN — The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman announced today that Ryan D. Walters, who previously served as Texas Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy, has joined the office as Deputy Director and General Counsel. “Ryan is a distinguished lawyer and policy…
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Governor Abbott Announces $5 Million In Grants For Psychiatry Fellowships To Advance Mental Healthcare Education Across Texas
(From the Office of Governor Greg Abbott) March 23, 2026, Austin, Texas Governor Greg Abbott today announced $5 million in state grants for the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program, expanding support for mental healthcare across Texas. “Texas remains steadfast in increasing access to mental healthcare across our state,” said Governor Abbott.…
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Texas Begins Work to Help Expand Federal Financial Aid for Short-Term Workforce Training
AUSTIN – Several state agencies will be assisting the U.S. Department of Education in implementing a new Workforce Pell Grant program, which could help Texans apply for federal grant funding to finance short-term workforce training programs. Established by the Trump Administration as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, the new program is a historic expansion of how Pell Grants can be used. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board…
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Texas Armed Services Scholarship Accepting Appointments for 2026–27 Academic Year
AUSTIN – The appointment process is now open for students to receive annual $30,000 scholarships while training to serve in the military. The Texas Armed Services Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for high school seniors headed to college, or students already enrolled in higher education to receive scholarships. To qualify,…
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THECB Ombudsman Launches Website
AUSTIN – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman has launched a new website, giving the public easy access to file complaints and provide feedback regarding Texas higher education institutions: www.studentsfirst.texas.gov. Brandon L. Simmons, whom Governor Greg Abbott appointed to lead the Office, also began conducting introductory meetings with public university leaders across the state. The newly…
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Higher EDge Conference Boosts Partnerships for Workforce Readiness
Austin, Texas – More than 500 people attended the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s annual conference this week as Texas continues to foster partnerships for student success in every region of the state. The Higher EDge conference was a great opportunity for attendees to discuss programs and ideas on strengthening higher education pathways from workforce certificates to doctoral degrees. More than 60 panelists spoke in sessions on topics specific to this year’s…