Automated Budget and Evaluation System of Texas (ABEST)
8/4/2022 4:26:42PM
954 Blinn Junior College
88th Regular Session, Agency Submission, Version 1
Administrator's Statement
Legislative Budget Board and the Governor’s Office, Budget Division. State support remains critical to the District as it continues to fulfill its statutory role and mission to
offer vocational, technical, and academic courses for certificate, transfer, and degree programs. Together with Texas’ other 49 community college districts, we will
continue do much of the heavy lifting in the State’s efforts to achieve the Building a Talent Strong Texas strategic plan . Expanded state investments in community
colleges will support dual credit courses that give high school students an early start in postsecondary education; initiatives to recruit uncredentialed Texans and support
them through graduation; and the creation and expansion of programs built on the skills necessary for gainful employment and Texas’ continued economic growth .
Blinn College District Institutional Strategies for achieving the goals of 60X30TX:
State funding will enable Blinn College District to address the specific postsecondary education and workforce training needs of our local communities. With increased
State funding, Blinn College District would make investments in:
• Implementation of Texas Guided Pathways Project, Pathways Project, and Co-Requisite Model for English, Reading, and Writing Courses.
• Additional equipment and program support for area targeted occupation training.
• Expansion of articulation agreements with four-year universities.
• Expand the "lost graduates" project, whereby students who have completed an award or are near completion of an award are identified and advised concerning
completion of the award, so the award may be conferred.
• Implement additional opportunities for applying reverse transfer courses from four- year colleges and universities to students' certificate and degree plans and confer
these awards.
• Work with the local ISDs within the District's service area to have students complete the FASFA and Apply Texas applications, with a particular focus on schools
where the percentage completion rate and college-going rate has decreased.
• Move non-credit trades programs with industry credentials to credit programs so that students can achieve both a nationally recognized industry credential and a
college award.
• Blinn College District would like to expand advising and training for students in several areas. Blinn College District would expand dual credit at high schools with a
high economically disadvantaged student count. The College District believes that an advisor will be needed to work with the students and the ISDs to prepare and inform
students on what is necessary to participate in the dual credit program to increase participation. The advisor would also work with ISDs to improve the student completion
of the FASFA and Apply Texas applications. Additional funding would enable the District to identify students who are near completion and advise them of a pathway to
completion. Moreover, Blinn College District believes by implementing a holistic and proactive advising model, there will be an overall increase in student success, while
expanding the work with four-year universities to create a more seamless pathway for students to transfer.
• Furthermore, funding would support value-added functions to improve the teaching and learning environment, including continued curriculum and faculty
development, improved student training on financial literacy to reduce the level of student loan debt, and additional resources to support the College's 60x30 initiatives.
Reimbursement for Hazelwood Exemption:
Blinn College District appreciates the first step taken by the 83rd Legislature (the passage of HB 1025) in the process of extending financial relief to institutions of higher
education from the rising costs associated with the Hazelwood Exemption. During FY 2019, FY 2020, FY2021, and FY2022 Blinn College District has incurred $1,683,004,
$1,913,899, $1,637,301, and $1,477,670 respectively in Hazelwood Exemption expense. Hazelwood is one of several exemptions that higher education institutions are
responsible for and Blinn College District requests the Texas Legislature recognize the hardship this program places on the individual colleges and asks for increased
State funding to assist in off-setting this rising expense.
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