As we move through the spring semester, I want to begin by thanking each of you for your continued engagement, thoughtfulness, and commitment to our students and to one another. Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to listen, learn, and connect through conversations across WTC, and I am grateful for the openness and care you bring to this work every day.

This month’s update includes several state-level developments that will shape the broader environment in which Texas community colleges operate and help frame the planning work currently underway at WTC.

On January 21, the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) held its Quarterly Board Meeting, where updated interim charges for all 50 community colleges in Texas were discussed. These charges focus on three key areas:

• implementation of the state’s outcomes-based funding model under SB 1786, including credentials

  of value, wage thresholds, and short-term credential pathways;

• dual credit incentives and pathways, with attention to funding alignment, student momentum, and

  recent legislative changes;

  and

• workforce education grants and tri-agency coordination, emphasizing alignment with high-demand

  regional workforce needs, rural CTE expansion, and the potential impact of Workforce Pell.

In addition, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has formally launched the Office of the Ombudsman and its new Students First website and complaint portal pursuant to SB 37. The Office serves as an intermediary among institutions, the public, and the Legislature and is responsible for investigating alleged institutional noncompliance with specific statutory requirements related to general education review, faculty governance, DEI provisions, leadership evaluation, and grievance and hiring authority. While the Office is not a general-purpose grievance body, unresolved findings may carry funding implications.

Together, these state-level developments provide important context for the planning and decision-making underway at WTC as we work to align our people, spaces, and resources in support of our mission. As part of this work, WTC is preparing for the conclusion of Title V grant funding at the end of April 2026. This transition underscores the importance of proactive planning for the future use of facilities, the sustainability of successful initiatives, and the identification of opportunities to retain talented personnel currently supported through the grant.

This work aligns closely with insights emerging from my Listening Tour, which is well underway and continues to provide valuable input from across WTC and our service area. Conversations with faculty, staff, and students have surfaced meaningful opportunities to better organize our physical campus in ways that strengthen business operations, improve workflows, and enhance cross-unit collaboration. These perspectives are helping to inform future planning related to space utilization and operational efficiency.

Throughout January, I worked closely with Administrative Staff to develop a plan to address these needs through WTC’s organizational structure and office space locations. We have reached a collective proposal and are now ready to share it with the college community for review and feedback. The Listening Tour is also beginning to surface common themes that will help shape future priorities and guide our work together. These early themes reflect both the strengths of our institution and opportunities to further strengthen how we support students, collaborate across units, and steward our resources responsibly. I encourage you to review the draft materials and share your feedback as we continue refining this work together.

A WTC Town Hall will be held February 20 from 10-11:30 AM in the Fine Arts Theater to provide an opportunity for discussion, questions, and continued dialogue. I hope you can join! In addition to ongoing campus conversations, I look forward to connecting with faculty, staff, students, and community members at the upcoming community meet-and-greet on February 19 from 5:00-7:00 PM in the Westerner Room at the WTC Coliseum. This event will offer another opportunity for dialogue, questions, and shared reflection as we move ahead. Your perspectives continue to shape this work, and I encourage you to stay engaged, ask questions, and share your ideas. Everything we do—our planning, our conversations, and our decisions—remains grounded in our commitment to students and the communities we serve.

I am deeply grateful for your partnership and for the energy you bring to WTC every day as we move forward together!

Dr. Laurie Sharp

People first. Purpose always. Forward together.