Governor Greg Abbott recently addressed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) Higher EDge 2023 leadership conference in Austin. During his speech, the Republican governor celebrated the significant achievements of the Lone Star State in higher education.
According to a press release, Governor Abbott emphasized the presence of top-tier research universities in Texas as one of these notable accomplishments. "Over the past decade, we’ve seen Texas rise to be a top state in the nation for Tier 1 research universities," Abbott stated. "This past year, Texas created far more new jobs and is home to more Fortune 500 company headquarters than any other state in the nation."
Abbott further asserted that corporate leaders are attracted to Texas due to its high-quality workforce. "I thank all of you for cultivating our skilled workforce of tomorrow," said Abbott, who was accompanied by THECB Chair Dr. Fred Farias at the event.
The press release reported that over 400 higher education leaders attended the conference. Additionally, Governor Abbott discussed various pieces of legislation related to higher education that he has signed into law. These include House Bill (HB) 8, a community college funding measure, and HB 1595, which established the Texas University Fund.