Texas State Technical College Asks for Passage of Funds for Improvements

The deputy vice-chancellor for Texas State Technical College is asking voters to pass an amendment to the Texas Constitution that will allow the college to access funds for capital improvement projects.

TSTC Deputy Vice Chancellor for Government Relations Joe Arnold discussed a proposed constitutional amendment that would give TSTC an $850 million endowment aimed at directly benefiting current and future students.

Both the Senate and the House have introduced resolutions to place the amendment on the November ballot, which would generate funds for capital projects at TSTC.

“This is about a four-year project for us,” Arnold explained. “It first came up in 2022. We discussed it with leadership in the Senate and the House and at the governor’s office, and actually voted a bill out. It passed in ’23, but there were competing bills from the House and the Senate, and it didn’t get out of the conference committee in time. We came back with another shot in 2025, so this has been in the works for quite some time now.”

With more than a million vacant technical jobs across Texas, Arnold highlighted the need for skilled training, particularly in construction, transportation, and welding.

“For us, it’s all about getting every one of our students a job when they leave us. That’s why we have the money-back guarantee. If you don’t get a job, we’ll give you your money back or train you in something else. To date, we’ve never given anyone’s money back,” Arnold shared. “It doesn’t take you far to look to see the need. I mean, it’s out there. Employers are clamoring for well-trained technicians right now.”