ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MINUTES
Friday, November 6, 2026
10:00 a.m.
Via Teams Meeting
- Meeting Call to Order
Dr. Becky McBride, Vice Chancellor for Student Services, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. - Approval of Minutes for the May 1, 2026, meeting
This committee previously approved the Minutes electronically on May 6, 2026, and posted to the website. - Legislative Update
Mr. Leighton Schubert, Executive Vice Chancellor, provided an overview of the upcoming legislative session and discussed the potential impact of the recent statewide election results on community college funding and legislative priorities.
The election results will bring significant changes to the Texas Legislature, including many new state officeholders and legislators transitioning into different leadership positions. Although several races remain undecided, the legislative landscape in Austin is expected to look considerably different. As new leadership teams and transition teams are announced, the priorities for the upcoming session will become clearer. Between now and the beginning of the legislative session in January, statewide leaders are expected to outline their priorities. Regardless of changes in state leadership, community college funding challenges remain a significant concern.
Mr. Schubert explained the funding process under House Bill 8 and the outcomes-based funding formula used for Texas community colleges.
Each May, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board provides projected funding estimates for each of the state's 50 community colleges for the upcoming fiscal year. These projections are based on anticipated student outcomes, including:- Associate degree completions.
- Student transfers.
- Credentials of value.
- Other performance-based outcomes.
The Coordinating Board's projections have consistently underestimated the actual outcomes being achieved by community colleges. Because the Coordinating Board uses these projections to determine its legislative funding requests, the resulting appropriations have not been sufficient to cover the actual performance of the colleges.
The significant funding gap facing Texas community colleges:- $160 million: The estimated amount needed to bring the 50 community colleges up to their projected foundational payments.
- $600 million: The estimated total funding gap when accounting for additional funding owed to colleges for exceeding projected outcomes.
- $1.3 billion: The approximate annual state funding allocation for Texas community colleges.
Obtaining approximately $600 million in additional funding will be a significant challenge, as it represents nearly 50% of the current annual community college funding appropriation. Without sufficient supplemental funding, community colleges may not receive all the state funding they have earned through their student outcomes.
Two primary legislative priorities for the upcoming session:- Full Supplemental Funding: Request that the Legislature provide the full supplemental appropriation needed to address the current community college funding shortfall. Any supplemental funding received would directly increase the state funding available to community colleges for the current fiscal year.
- More Predictable Funding Formulas: Request revisions to the Coordinating Board's funding projections and formulas to create a more consistent and predictable funding model. Mr. Schubert noted that recent funding fluctuations have made it difficult for community colleges to develop and maintain reliable budgets.
Meetings with state leaders are already underway. The initial focus will be educating new legislators about community college funding, the current funding shortfall, and the importance of adequate state support.
Community colleges face a challenging legislative session ahead but expressed confidence that additional funding can be secured. The outcome will depend on legislative priorities and the willingness of state leaders to address the funding needs of community colleges.
Dr. Kinkead asked whether there was a possibility that the tuition and fees freeze would be lifted during the upcoming legislative session.
Mr. Schubert explained that the tuition freeze, implemented under Governor Greg Abbott, has been in place for more than two years and has significant financial implications for Blinn, as approximately 70% of the College's revenue comes from tuition and fees.
With the anticipated change in state leadership, Mr. Schubert indicated that the freeze could potentially be lifted or modified, although discussions are ongoing and no decisions have been made. He noted that even modest tuition increases of $1 to $2 per semester credit hour could generate millions of dollars in additional revenue for the College. Blinn is advocating for the removal of the tuition freeze during the upcoming legislative session, which could provide additional flexibility in addressing the College's budgetary needs.
Dr. Kinkead asked Mr. Schubert whether Advanced Placement (AP) courses and dual credit courses offered through independent school districts (ISDs) are weighed equally in determining students' class rankings. She noted that AP courses currently carry a greater weight than dual credit courses, giving students who take AP classes an advantage in their class rankings. Dr. Kinkead asked whether there was an opportunity to establish equal weighting for AP and dual credit courses to provide students with the same academic ranking benefits.
Mr. Schubert explained that legislation passed during the previous session requires Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit courses to be weighted equally when calculating high school students' GPAs. However, he noted that the requirement does not appear to have been fully implemented, creating some confusion regarding its application. He indicated that the implementation process through the Texas Education Agency may be contributing to the delay. If the requirement has not been fully implemented, additional legislation may be introduced during the upcoming session to reinforce the equal weighting of AP and dual credit courses.
Dr. Hensley commented that the weighting of Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit courses has been a recurring topic of discussion during legislative sessions for approximately 20 years. She noted that she has personally testified on the issue and that the requirements and approaches have varied from session to session. Dr. Hensley agreed with Mr. Schubert's explanation of the current situation.
She added that this issue, along with several other topics, will likely be considered during the upcoming legislative session. Given recent developments involving the Governor and the Texas Education Agency Commissioner, she noted that it is difficult to predict what actions may occur. With legislation expected to begin being filed this month, additional clarity should emerge soon. Dr. Hensley concluded that previously considered issues, recently passed legislation, and new proposals are all likely to come forward, making for an interesting legislative session. She thanked Dr. McBride and Mr. Schubert for their contributions. - Academic Affairs Update
Dr. April Kinkead, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, gave an update on the Academic Affairs: Expanding Partnerships, Increasing Enrollment, Supporting HB8 Strategic Goals.
Dr. Kinkead’s presentation is attached hereto and made part of these Minutes. - Facilities Update
Mr. Mark Feldhake, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Facilities, Planning, and Construction, presented the facilities update on the Waller campus and Brenham proposed facilities.
Mr. Feldhake’s presentation is attached hereto and made part of these Minutes. - Additional Comments
Dr. Hensley thanked Mr. Feldhake for his informative presentation and encouraged everyone to promote attendance at the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony by encouraging faculty and staff to participate.
She noted that the event will take place two weeks from the meeting date and will feature hamburgers, hot dogs, refreshments, and other food. The event will have a casual atmosphere, and attendees are encouraged to wear apparel representing their favorite sports teams.
Dr. Hensley also explained that the groundbreaking will take place regardless of weather conditions. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Kruse Center. She then invited Mr. Bray to share any additional comments.
Mr. Bray added that the groundbreaking will be a casual event and expressed enthusiasm about welcoming community members to the campus site. He reminded attendees that access to the event will be through the Apple Drive entrance. A map showing directions from the Brenham campus was included in the most recent Blinn Announcement.
He also noted that buses will be available for transportation from the Bryan and RELLIS campuses. Employees interested in reserving bus transportation should email Mr. Bray. A list of reservations is being maintained, and several individuals have already signed up to attend.
Dr. Hensley expressed her appreciation to everyone for their time and contributions, noting that Blinn College is a wonderful institution because of the people who make up the College community. She thanked everyone for their continued dedication, wished the group a wonderful weekend and continued success throughout the fall semester, and encouraged everyone to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on the 20th in person, wearing their favorite sports apparel and ready to enjoy the food and festivities. - Adjournment
Vice Chancellor McBride asked if there were any further questions or comments. No further questions or comments were made, and the meeting was adjourned at 11:07 a.m.
Members present: Mr. Jay Anderson, Mr. Richard Bray, Dr. Clen Burton, Ms. Madison Cross, Mr. Mark Feldhake, Mr. Brandon Franke, Dr. Mary Hensley, Dr. April Kinkead, Dr. Becky McBride, Ms. Victoria Parnell, Mr. Leighton Schubert, Mr. Keith Sylvester, Mr. Alex Tran, Ms. Margaret Joseph Turner, and Ms. Anna Hall-Zieger