House Bill 8, signed into law during the 2023 Texas Legislature, transformed the way the state funds its community colleges. The reform, which received bipartisan support from lawmakers, was widely celebrated for giving community colleges greater incentives to adapt to ever-changing student and workforce needs at a time of growing skepticism over the value of post-secondary education.
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How are community colleges doing more than a year after the passage of HB 8, what impact are they seeing on enrollment and academic outcomes, and is the legislation changing the narrative about the importance of higher education for today’s workforce needs?Â
Join The Texas Tribune at noon Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Texas Woman’s University in Denton when we’ll also examine what HB 8 has meant for rural and small community colleges, which received additional funding; how free tuition initiatives, dual credit programs and transfer incentives have changed since the legislation was passed; and what other funding community colleges want for the coming biennium.Â
Confirmed speakers include Sean Dardeau, CEO of Texoma Medical Center; Daisy Donjuan, a student at Austin College who transferred from Dallas College; Ray Martinez, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges; and Jeremy McMillen, president of Grayson College. The conversation will be moderated by Alejandro MartÃnez-Cabrera, the Tribune's education and urban affairs editor.
Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. for registration and lunch and the program begins at noon. Lunch will be provided by The Texas Tribune.
PS: Earn CPE credits by attending this event! Through a partnership with the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), teachers earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit by attending these events in person, watching live online, or watching on-demand later.
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This in-person event will be simultaneously streamed for virtual attendees and will be available to watch on demand afterward at texastribune.org/events.
Email us at events@texastribune.org
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