Can I take an hour? Only three minutes? Okay, in that case, let me start with the bottom line.
This new Pell mechanism, which we have come to call either Short-term Pell or Workforce Pell, is a game changer. For quite a long time, we have been studying the notions of re-skilling or up-skilling. We have been looking at ways in which we can get Texans into a great paying job through a pathway that is quick, fast. Not everyone has the ability to take two years, to set their life aside and get an associate's degree, but a quick pathway is something that can be truly beneficial.
I'll give you an example. The senator (John Cornyn) just mentioned the enormous data center that's going into Abilene. Well, TSTC is a state system of technical schools, and we have a campus in Abilene. So, as soon as that project got announced, there was a phone call placed to Cledia Hernandez saying, will you train our workforce? And this kind of short-term help will allow her to take people who have related but not specifically targeted skills for a data center, and then, in a very fast way, train them to have great paying jobs in these new facilities.
That's one example of what you could find all the way across Texas… as our economy continues to be the fastest growing in the United States. So, this rounds out the array of post-secondary offerings in Texas and makes it possible for those for whom a modest amount of tuition stands between them and a great new life.
So, once again, this is a game changer. Thank you, Senator.
Editor’s Note: The above commentary was provided by Texas State Technical College Chancellor and CEO Mike Reeser during a roundtable discussion at TSTC-Harlingen. The event was hosted by US Sen. John Cornyn to discuss an expansion of the Pell Grant program. Cledia R. Hernandez is vice chancellor and chief external relations officer at Texas State Technical College.
