Media Releases

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 advisor who is known and…

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 (THECB) will collaborate with the Texas…

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, students would need to be:  …

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 launched website features a portal…

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 conference theme: From Classroom to Career. Examples of…

Austin, Texas – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has awarded $9.9 million in grants to Texas higher education institutions across the state through the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant Program.   The grants help public higher education institutions create, redesign, and expand short-term workforce education and training programs in high-demand occupations.  “These career and technical education programs are aligned to jobs available today in Texas’s robust and diverse economy,”…

Austin, Texas – Six colleges and universities received the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) 2025 Star Awards for their forward-thinking approaches to help students transition from classroom to the workforce.  The awards were given in three categories to South Plains College; the University of Texas at San Antonio; Lone Star College; the University of Texas at Arlington; the…

Austin, Texas – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) released preliminary numbers today showing more than 1.6 million students enrolled this fall at Texas colleges and universities — an all-time high. The preliminary fall numbers cover undergraduate, graduate, and professional program students enrolled at two-year technical, state, and community colleges; four-year public and independent…

Aug. 29, 2025, Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) today announced Free College Application Week Oct. 13-19, 2025. “Texas prioritizes opportunities for students to pursue the best education they need to succeed in high demand, good-paying jobs after graduation,” said Governor Abbott. “During free college application week, Texans can apply to…