Minutes
Blinn College District
Brenham Campus Advisory Committee Meeting
Friday, February 13, 2026
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
The Brenham Campus Advisory Committee met on February 13, 2026, in the Banquet Room of the Student Center, located at 1007 Walter Schwartz Way, Blinn-Brenham Campus.
Committee Members Present: Mr. Jon Hill, Dr. William Loesch, Ms. Jamie Rankin, and Mr. Brandon Roznovsky.
Committee Members Absent: Judge John Durrenberger, Mr. Clay Gillentine, and Ms. Micah Goebel.
Representing Blinn College present at the meeting were: Dr. Mary Hensley, Mr. Leighton Schubert, Dr. Becky McBride, Dr. April Kinkead, Mr. Myron Dippel, Mr. Richard Bray, Mr. Marshall Rich, Mr. Mark Feldhake, and Ms. Debbie Stevens.
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Jon Hill at 12:19 p.m.
Foundation Staff Introduction
Mr. Dippel introduced Mr. Gentry Woodard, Executive Director of Blinn College Foundation and Resource Development. Mr. Woodard shared a brief overview of his work experience, as well as his history with Blinn College as a former student and faculty member. He expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead for the Foundation. He also noted the renovations currently underway at the Whigham House and highlighted the upcoming Washington County Chamber of Commerce event, Connect After 4, which the Foundation will host in May 2026.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the October 7, 2025, meeting were approved with a motion by Dr. Loesch and seconded by Ms. Rankin.
Enrollment Update by Dr. Becky McBride, Vice Chancellor of Student Services
Dr. McBride shared that the Spring 2026 enrollment at the Brenham Campus exceeded the Spring 2025 headcount by 167 students and represents an 11% increase compared to 2/2/2026. She also noted that 80% of the current enrollment of 1,672 students on the Brenham Campus are enrolled in 16-week classes. Also mentioned was an increase of 21.6% for Spring 2026 Dual Credit.
Dr. McBride also shared April 10, 2026, as the next Preview Day on the Brenham Campus. She noted that families enjoy attending Preview Days, as it is an opportunity for the whole family to learn more about Blinn College. Students are already registering for Preview Days across the Blinn College District, and Dr. McBride stated Blinn typically serves at least 1,000 students and their families during these events.
Dr. McBride further reported residential housing on the Blinn-Brenham Campus is currently 78% leased, representing 1,374 beds leased out of an available 1,767—an increase of 166 beds leased from Spring 2025. This number is also representative of an 81.2% retention rate from Fall 2025 to Spring 2026. She noted this is our highest spring semester occupancy since Spring 2020. Dr. McBride also noted that 80% of all students on the Brenham Campus live in on-campus housing.
Brenham Independent School District (BISD) and Dual Credit Update by Dr. Becky McBride, Vice Chancellor of Student Services
Dr. McBride continued with an update on Blinn’s involvement with Brenham ISD. She noted an increase of 45 dual credit students from Spring 2025 to Spring 2026. This brings the total to 208 dual credit students in the Brenham area. With many students unable to attend our campus on their own, we are pleased that BISD brings their students to us.
Upcoming events include a 10th-grade tour of the Blinn-Brenham Campus on April 17, 2026, where students participate in experiments in the Science, Technology, Engineering & Innovations (STEI) Building; the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) Boot Camp on April 27–28, 2026, during which Blinn faculty will lead the instruction; and a 7th-grade tour of the Hodde Center on May 8, 2026. We also provide Blinn staff to meet weekly with BISD students on the high school campus. Dr. McBride also highlighted the importance of Dr. Kinkead helping to prepare dual credit students for college.
Ms. Rankin questioned why Burton Independent School District is not more involved in the dual credit program. Mr. Hill commented that distance from Brenham affects participation. Dr. McBride assured the group that the Brenham Campus would be glad to serve Burton, but it might also be an issue of teacher credentials, as well as distance.
Applied Technology Workforce Community Update by Mr. Marshall Rich, Dean of Applied Technology, Workforce and Economic Development
Mr. Rich provided an overview of the state funding changes under House Bill 8 as they relate to the number of courses and credit hours offered under a dynamic, performance-based funding model tied to specific outcomes. He reported that the Brenham Campus now offers 84 Career and Technical Education (CTE) credentials, including 33 AAS degrees, 18 Level II certificates, 15 Level I certificates, 16 Occupational Skills Awards, and 2 Institutional Credentials Leading to Licensure or Certification (ICLC) programs. He also displayed a detailed listing of each credential available on the Brenham Campus.
Mr. Rich noted that Career and Technical Education enrollment on the Brenham Campus increased from 14.9% in 2021 to 19.2% in 2025. This growth contributes to a 32.2% award rate for the College in 2025 and reflects Brenham’s 27.4% increase since 2021. Sustained growth in these programs has resulted in an average increase of approximately 15 awards per year.
Mr. Schubert added comments on the importance of these credentials. Since Blinn can only offer programs that meet documented workforce needs, Mr. Schubert encouraged the group to help identify the specific needs in the Brenham area. Mr. Hill noted that the automotive industry and local dealerships are in need of technical mechanics. He commended the Hodde Center for its support in this area and encouraged Blinn to broaden its offerings as much as possible. Ms. Rankin added that Waller and areas farther east should also be considered when assessing regional workforce needs.
Questions and Comments
Mr. Dippel stated the fall meeting date would be scheduled at a later time.
With no other comments or questions, Mr. Hill made a motion to adjourn at 1:14 p.m., which was seconded by Ms. Jamie Rankin.