Star Awards
About
Through the 2025 Star Awards, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) celebrates outstanding institutional contributions to a talent-strong Texas. This year’s awards highlight institutions demonstrating exemplary support for students pursuing postsecondary pathways, aligned with the theme “From Classroom to Career: A Future-Ready Texas.” Institutions will be recognized for their contributions in the following categories:
Student Success
Celebrating institutions demonstrating measurable improvements in student progression and credential completion.
Criteria:
- Demonstrated increases in credential attainment and program completion
- High-impact advising, coaching, or early alert systems supporting student persistence
- Scalable models that support transfer, adult, or returning students navigating postsecondary pathways
- Use of data-informed strategies to monitor outcomes “that led to institutional change”
- Institutional change that focused on affordability and demonstrated student success
Workforce Education
Recognizing institutions enhancing workforce-aligned programs and pathways that lead to credentials of value.
Criteria:
- Creation or enhancement of workforce education programs aligned with high-demand occupations and regional labor market needs
- Partnerships with employers, workforce boards, or industry associations that bolster academic program design and student placement
- Growth in delivery of short-term, stackable, or credentials that increase workforce participation
- Integration of work-based learning opportunities (e.g., internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training)
- Innovative course or program design that maximizes the value of academic and career pathways
- Innovative course or program design that increases student affordability
Career Development and Transitions
Celebrating institutions preparing students for a 21st-century workforce through innovative career development, employer partnerships, and the integration of emerging technologies such as AI.
Criteria:
- Creation or expansion of short-term workforce education and training programs in high-demand occupations
- Strategic use of AI tools or platforms to enhance students’ career exploration, advising, job matching, or skills development
- Productive partnerships with local/regional employers, economic development corporations, workforce boards, or trade associations that led to institutional change in how students are supported on campuses
- Promotion of a culture of continuous learning and upskilling to help learners adapt to evolving technologies, including artificial intelligence, and remain competitive in a rapidly changing labor market
- Innovative course or program design that increases student affordability
Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged. This year the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is excited to award both a Community College and 4-Year University Award for each category. Star Awards recipients are invited to briefly present at board meeting on October 23, 2025 and will be announced at the annual Texas Higher Education Leadership Conference, Higher EDge, on December 9, 2025.
Contact
Inquiries regarding Star Awards should be sent to the Star Awards team.