McAllen Quick-Look Assessment Implementation

Conduct a Presidential Focus Session to articulate a vision for the Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) and follow with clear tasking to the McAllen Tiger Team — HECM Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Executive Vice President (EVP) and Provost of Texas A&M, Deans’ representatives, Texas A&M Interim COO, Texas A&M AVP for Facilities and Energy Services, Texas A&M Health Interim COO and Vice President (VP), Texas A&M Chief Financial Officer (CFO), VP for Planning, Assessment and Strategy and VP for Student Affairs.

• Lead: Susan Ballabina
• Deadline: Jun. 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: Focus sessions have been scheduled.

The Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) will lead a task force with Texas A&M Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness (HROE), Marketing and Communications (MarComm) and Technology Services representatives to establish a timeline and milestones for transitioning HECM staff to report locally in a unified structure under the direction of the HECM AVP and COO. This task force will also examine the HECM leadership structure to ensure appropriate leads over major areas (e.g., Student Affairs, MarComm) report directly to the HECM AVP and COO.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: Jul. 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: On April 8, the HECM AVP and COO circulated an email to leadership at the main campus requesting their participation as members of the task force. Efforts are underway to coordinate the initial meeting. The HECM AVP and COO has conducted initial conversations with the HROE and Technology Services leads in anticipation of the larger task force conversation. Effective April 1, the HECM MarComm lead will report directly to the HECM AVP and COO.

The Executive Vice President (EVP) and Provost will form a committee of the faculty in McAllen, and with college leadership in College Station, to address the reporting structure for faculty that includes a matrix approach for issues that need to be handled locally, such as course offerings and scheduling. This committee will develop a recommendation that clearly identifies the lead and required authorities for academic and academic support issues in McAllen. The Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Chief Academic Officer (CAO) should report directly to the EVP and Provost and have a dotted line responsibility to the HECM Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO). We should consider an academic program lead for each college represented at the HECM.

• Lead: Alan Sams
• Deadline: Jul. 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: The discussions to identify leadership for this group have begun. It should be noted that because faculty input is so critical for this aspect of the Quick-Look Assessment, the final outcome will likely be delayed through the summer.

The Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) will form and lead a task force with the Texas A&M Interim COO, Texas A&M Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Vice President (EVP) and Provost representatives to develop the HECM Master Plan for presidential and System review/approval.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: Jan. 1, 2025
• Status:
  • April 12: On April 8, the HECM AVP and COO circulated an email to academic, administrative and operational leadership at Texas A&M’s main campus requesting their participation as members of the task force. Efforts are underway to coordinate the initial meeting. Discussions continue with Facilities and Energy Services related to the engagement of a firm to assist in the development of the Master Plan.

Comprehensive and Campus Master Plans, as well as related policies and processes, must reflect that Higher Education Center at McAllen(HECM) facilities management is under the HECM Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO). The HECM AVP and COO, Texas A&M Interim COO, Texas A&M Health Interim COO and Vice President (VP), and Executive Vice President (EVP) and Provost will coordinate on the process to identify these requirements.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: Jan. 1, 2025
• Status:
  • April 12: On April 8, the HECM AVP and COO circulated an email to academic, operational and administrative leadership at Texas A&M and Texas A&M Health requesting their participation as members of the task force. Efforts are underway to coordinate the initial meeting.

The Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and HECM Assistant Provost will coordinate to identify the responsible office/individual to oversee course and classroom scheduling.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: May 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: The individual designated to oversee the course and classroom scheduling will be the HECM Assistant Provost. Interviews for the position are underway.

The Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs will form a task force with deans and the Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Assistant Provost to develop the recommended faculty mix at the HECM and options for graduate programs and resulting teaching assistants and/or graduate assistants.

• Lead: N.K. Anand
• Deadline: Aug. 1, 2024

The Executive Vice President (EVP) and Provost will establish a task force to review core curriculum delivery options for the Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) students, to include face-to-face and remote delivery, as well as faculty and space requirements to execute the plan.

• Lead: Alan Sams
• Deadline: Oct. 15, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: The task force leadership has been identified and is being established. While there will be faculty representation on this group, there will also be a staff presence, allowing work to continue over the summer.

The Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs will lead a task force with college and the Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) representation to develop recommended faculty workload and professional advancement options/recommendations for HECM faculty.

• Lead: N.K. Anand
• Deadline: Aug. 1, 2024

The Space Allocation Plan should address the needs for student spaces being a priority in the third building. The recommendations and decisions from that planning effort must be included in Comprehensive and Campus Master Plans.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: Aug. 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: The task force listed under Facilities Planning No. 1 and 4 will address this recommendation.

The Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) will submit proposed staff additions for community engagement to the Strategic Budget Council for consideration.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: May 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: On April 11, the HECM AVP and COO convened a meeting with the HECM Executive Director, HECM Executive Assistant, Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness lead and Student Affairs lead to discuss the need for additional staff to assist in community engagement. The team will meet next Thursday to draw a consensus and make a recommendation.

The Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) will work with the Executive Vice President (EVP) and Provost to develop recommendations for student career and graduate school planning support at the HECM. The recommendations will be submitted to the Strategic Budget Council for consideration.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: May 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: On April 11, the HECM AVP and COO met with the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs regarding a HECM faculty representative to participate as a member of the team.

The Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) will coordinate with the Vice President for Student Affairs and HECM Assistant Provost to develop a phased proposal to expand HECM Student Affairs support to include student affairs staff, global engagement, disability services, mentoring/tutoring program support, etc. The proposal will be submitted to the Strategic Budget Council.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: May 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: On April 8, the HECM AVP and COO circulated an email to main campus and HECM representatives requesting their participation as members of the task force. Leadership for the Division of Student Affairs has requested additional members of the team be added, and scheduling of the initial meeting is underway.

The Texas A&M Vice President (VP) and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMO), in coordination with the Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), will lead development of a comprehensive marketing and recruiting plan for HECM, which includes specific recommendations on staffing support. The staffing request will be submitted through the Texas A&M Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to the President for consideration.

• Lead: Ethan Braden
• Deadline: Jun. 1, 2024

The Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) will lead the development of a unique value proposition for prospective students in collaboration with Marketing and Communications and Texas A&M Office of Admissions. The final product will be shared with the entire HECM team, as well as Texas A&M leadership, and must be included in the comprehensive marketing and recruitment plan for the HECM.

• Lead: Manny Vela
• Deadline: May 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: On April 10, the HECM AVP and COO met with the admissions team at the main campus to initiate discussions regarding this recommendation. The group will reconvene April 18 to review the initial draft.

The Texas A&M Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will coordinate with the Texas A&M Associate Vice President (AVP) for Scholarships and Financial Aid to provide an analysis and recommendations regarding increasing the Aggie Assurance Program for the Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) up to at least $125K. Options and recommendations will be submitted to the Strategic Budget Council.

• Lead: John Crawford
• Deadline: May 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: An analysis has been completed resulting in an estimated increase in annual cost of $175,000 based on current enrollment numbers. Complicating how this increase might be funded is the uncertainty in how awarding of aid shifts with the FAFSA changes for the 2024-2025. Further discussions regarding options and recommendations are ongoing.

The Texas A&M Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will review any issues in McAllen contracting processes and determine if recent changes in processes in College Station have resolved those concerns. Those results will be reported to the Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President.

• Lead: John Crawford
• Deadline: May 1, 2024
• Status:
  • April 12: The Division of Finance Business Services unit has reviewed McAllen contract history and has initiated discussions with the COO to determine and address any concerns.