How New Laws are Affecting Texas Community Colleges

The Texas Tribune ^ | 12/20/2023 | Sneha Dey,

[deport]

In 2023, Texas legislators dramatically overhauled how community colleges receive state funding with the passing of House Bill 8. The bill shifts the state’s funding structure to be based on how many hours students are in class instead of by how many students graduate or transfer to a four-year university.

Community college leaders welcomed the change with open arms, saying the new system will incentivize degree completion and better workforce preparation. How has it been implemented and how is it going, since it went into effect on September 1st?

[deport]

How the state now funds community colleges, how campuses are implementing these changes
and what outcomes they’re already seeing.

[Menehune56]

So this report hasn’t happened yet?

[Lockbox]

The bill shifts the state’s funding structure to be based on how many hours students are in class instead of by how many students graduate or transfer to a four-year university.

I predict that the number of hours to complete a community college course will increase for some reason….. 🧐

[Migraine]

This is more about a webinar in January for interested parties. My SIL, a nurse and Community College instructor in infusions, is doing her part. All of her classes are in person.

[Svartalfiar]

Wait, what? Funding based on class hours instead of graduation/pass-up rates will increase that graduation rate? How does that make any sense?

All this will really do is likely increase the number of useless classes that people take for fun, as they only count as hours, not something to help people graduate.

[Svartalfiar]

I predict that the number of hours to complete a community college course will increase for some reason…..

Maybe bumping 3-hr course up to four hours, or changing labs from 1-hr to 2-hr, but that's it.

Most people heading to a four-year school only take the classes they know are going to transfer, so if community colleges try to add in more useless crap like extra liberal arts courses or stuff, the only people that'll take them are those that are just taking classes to waste time or for fun. This won't increase the graduation rate at all.

[pierrem15]

Of course the CC's welcomed the change: they get paid whether a student graduates or moves onto a four year school or not.

Basically, money for nothing. Look for them to recruit anyone who can fog a mirror & lots of illegals who can't even speak English.

[Lockbox]

This won't increase the graduation rate at all.

and that’s the problem…

[Professional Engineer]

The intent is to better fund programs that directly benefit trades and other certifications, and not just focus on students going on to universities.

[Svartalfiar]

The intent is to better fund programs that directly benefit trades and other certifications, and not just focus on students going on to universities.

Ah true, I wasn't really thinking of those; although if you get certified in a two-year program (or other short trade program), I would think that would count for the "graduation rate" for funding already, yes..?

[Professional Engineer]

It does now. That was one of the changes in the new law.

[Svartalfiar]

I thought the change was from graduation rates to butts-in-seats basis?