Governor Greg Abbott announced last week that the State of Texas will invest an additional $94.6 million in federal funds to support higher education. Last year, the Governor allocated $175 million to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to support Texas higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal funds come from Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) dollars that were made available through passage of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
This next round of funding will continue to provide meaningful support to ensure Texas students have the skills they need for tomorrow’s jobs, while bridging access for adults, transfer, and low-income students, and increasing capacity for high-value programs and credentials. This includes:
■ $48.1 million to rapidly expand capacity for high-demand and highvalue educational opportunities, including $5 million for workbased learning and apprenticeships.
■ $28.5 million to accelerate enrollments, support high-potential students, and provide financial aid for critical student populations.
■ $10 million to establish the My Texas Future program to provide curated one-stop advising resources to help traditional Texas students and adult learners to connect with higher education opportunities across the state.
■ $4 million to expand outreach and engagement of adult learners to meet workforce demands of the state and its employers.
■ $4 million to bolster Tri-Agency data information security and accessibility.
“This additional funding in higher education is an investment in job opportunities, our state’s economy, and a brighter future for Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “As we move forward from the pandemic, it is critical that we continue to support higher education to ensure more Texans are trained to face dynamic and unique challenges that will set them apart from others, and make them more competitive, in their field.”
“Higher education is more important than ever to better train and prepare Texans to enter our state’s dynamic post-Covid economy. This funding will help ensure our higher ed institutions are able to equip our students quickly to take their place in the Texas workforce and ensure our global economy continues to prosper,” said Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
According to a press release from Gov. Abbott’s office, this investment in higher education will help ensure more Texans are qualified for available jobs while providing the necessary aid and supports for critical student populations. This strategic backing of Texas’ students and its workforce will continue to accelerate the state’s economic recovery, improving the lives of Texans.
—Citizen staff report