THECB awards $18.1 million in Texas Reskilling Grants to higher education institutions as agency opens second-round applications

THECB awards $18.1 million in Texas Reskilling Grants to higher education institutions as agency opens second-round applications

 

Dec. 18, 2020, Austin, Texas – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has awarded $18.1 million to Texas higher education institutions as part of the first round of awards under the Texas Reskilling Support Fund Grant Program. Through a competitive process, 40 applicants representing 49 institutions were selected for the awards.

Reskilling grants will allow Texas public colleges, technical schools, and universities to provide financial assistance to Texas students to cover tuition and fees. The grants are designed to support displaced Texas workers who need to reskill or upskill to get back into the workforce, and to support students who have previously stopped out of higher education complete a postsecondary credential. The program is supported by a portion of the $175 million allocation to the THECB from the Governor’s Emergency Educational Relief (GEER) Fund.

"These strategic investments, supported by Governor Abbott and our Texas legislative leadership, will play an important role in supporting Texas students and driving the recovery of the Texas economy. We can help students who have previously stopped out of higher education without completing a postsecondary credential as well as help displaced Texas workers who need to reskill and upskill and complete a higher education credential so they can rejoin the workforce and get back on their feet,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller. “Our Texas institutions are making significant commitments to create programs that keep more students on track to enter the workforce with the high-value credentials and education that tomorrow’s economy will demand."

To further its commitment to workforce education, the Coordinating Board welcomed Tina Marie Jackson as its new assistant commissioner of workforce education. Dr. Jackson will work on all aspects of career and technical workforce initiatives and programs, including administration of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Dr. Jackson’s previous roles include district director of developmental education at Collin College, statewide coordinator of community college programs at The University of Texas at Austin, and associate dean of science, technology, engineering, & math (STEM) at Dallas College. 

Dr. Jackson will oversee the THECB reskilling initiative as the agency launches its second-round request for applications (RFA) for the grant program. Applications open today and are due by Jan. 15, 2021. Texas public community colleges and universities are encouraged to apply, and institutions that received funding through the first round of grant funding are eligible to apply for round two funding.

2020 Reskilling Grant Round One Awardees

 

Institution	Consortium Partners	Grant Amount
Alamo Colleges		$300,000
Austin Community College		$300,000
College of the Mainland		$300,000
Collin College (Consortium)	North Central Texas College, Texas A&M Commerce, Texas Woman's University, University of North Texas, University of Texas Dallas	$1,287,500
Dallas College		$1,500,000
El Paso Community College		$1,500,000
Galveston College		$750,000
Grayson College		$300,000
Hill College		$112,500
Houston Community College		$750,000
Kilgore College		$750,000
Lamar State College Orange		$112,500
Lamar State College Port Arthur		$300,000
Lamar University		$300,000
Lone Star College System		$750,000
McLennan College		$112,500
Midwestern State University		$112,500
Odessa College		$1,500,000
Panola College		$112,500
Prairie View A&M		$300,000
Ranger College		$300,000
San Jacinto Community College District (Consortium)	Alvin Community College and Lamar Institute of Technology	$761,842
South Texas College*		$112,500
Stephen F. Austin University		$112,500
Tarleton State University		$750,000
Tarrant County Community College District		$112,500
Temple College (Consortium)	Central Texas College and Texas A&M	$1,024,605
Texas A&M International		$112,500
Texas A&M Kingsville		$112,500
Texas A&M Texarkana		$300,000
Texas Southmost College		$112,500
Texas State Technical College System		$300,000
Texas Tech University		$750,000
Trinity Valley Community College		$300,000
University of Houston Clear Lake		$112,500
University of Houston Downtown		$750,000
University of Texas Arlington		$112,500
University of Texas El Paso		$300,000
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley		$112,500
University of Texas Tyler		$112,500
TOTAL		$18,111,447

* *Pending executed contract.

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THECB Mission Statement

The mission of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is to provide leadership and coordination for Texas higher education and to promote access, affordability, quality, success, and cost efficiency through 60x30TX, resulting in a globally competitive workforce that positions Texas as an international leader.

• THECB reskilling grant awards RFA II FINAL.pdf