Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to create a working group to develop a statewide framework for threeyear bachelor’s degree pathways.
“Every semester adds tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, and other living expenses and delays students’ ability to begin their careers,” said Abbott. “Texas students deserve the option to receive a degree in a high-demand, high-wage field in less time. I direct the coordinating board to develop a statewide framework for threeyear bachelor’s degree pathways.”
“Three-year bachelor’s programs could help motivated students enter high-demand fields a year earlier,” said Texas Higher Education Commi s s ioner Wynn Rosser. “This will lower the cost of education and help satisfy workforce demands in the Texas economy.”
Abbott directed the working group to develop recommendations regarding academic standards and requirements for three-year bachelor’s degree programs; degree programs and high-demand occupations for which accelerated degrees may be most appropriate; student demand and employer workforce needs; accreditation and institutional approval requirements; and statutory, regulatory, or may be necessary for implementation.
THECB will convene public institutions of higher education, employers, accrediting organizations, faculty leadership, and other relevant stakeholders to participate in the working group and submit recommendations and proposed implementation framework to the governor by Dec. 31.
Abbott will work with the legislature’s next session to codify an accelerated three-year degree pathway.