Krusee Files Bill for Higher Education Center
State Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Dist. 52, filed House Bill 2074 Tuesday for legislation relating to the creation of Texas A&M University-Central Texas in East Williamson County.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas East Williamson County would be a general academic teaching institution with facilities located in Bell and Williamson counties. The center would be a component institution of The Texas A&M University System.

The vision for the facility will be an extension of the educational successes of Temple College at Taylor and will provide a portfolio of educational and workforce opportunities for the citizens of rural East Williamson County, according to Chuck McCarter, executive director of the project.

Part of the goal for the center is to create quick and flexible responses to employer needs.

An additional goal of the center is to create strategic partnerships with area school districts, the Texas Bioscience Institute, Temple College, Texas State Technical College and various major universities.

The center's collaborative technology training model will allow it to leverage the strengths and successes of member partners while providing it the autonomy that is required to build a unique regional educational center, McCarter said.

The Texas A&M-Central Texas East Williamson County campus will be a Multiple Institution Teaching Center designed to meet the academic and workforce needs of all Williamson County residents. Memorandums of Agreement have been created and signed that will bring not only academic and technical colleges to the campus but a university as well.

This kind of institution will be the backbone of Texas' workforce and development and can help the citizens of Williamson County gain skills and knowledge needed to help with research and development, product design and manufacturing.

Whether students will want to work in design, testing or repair, the high skill, high wage programs will help the current and future workforce of Williamson County.

“Access to higher education opportunities is critical for both young people and for our current workforce. Accordingly, it has been one of my top priorities. In the 1990s, I worked with the city to bring Temple College to Taylor. In 2003 and 2005, funds were secured to open the Round Rock Higher Education Center. Now, I am working with community leaders to bring a similar facility to East Williamson County,” Krusee said. “By creating these higher education options, we can ensure a prosperous future for coming generations.”

The economic impact for East Williamson County could be huge, according to McCarter.

“The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates that for every $1 spent by the state to educate our youth beyond the high school level, return to the Texas economy is about $5.50. With the growth and the completion of this higher education center, that could mean millions of dollars for the East Williamson County economy,” McCarter said.

Additionally, the creation of a Higher Education Center for East Williamson County supports the state's Closing the Gaps Initiative. This initiative is intended to dramatically increase the number of individuals from traditionally underserved populations who participate and succeed in higher education.

Creating partnerships in East Williamson County, an area with a highly diverse population, provides greater access to and more opportunities for success in higher education to underrepresented residents and honors TCAT's commitment to the statewide Closing the Gaps initiative.

The East Williamson County partnerships include: Hutto Independent School District, Taylor Independent School District, Hutto Economic Development Corporation, Taylor Economic Development Corporation, Region 13 Education Service Center, Temple College, Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium, City of Taylor, City of Hutto, Tarleton University-Central Texas, Rural Capital Area Workforce Development Board, Texas State Technical College and other area ISDs including Bartlett, Coupland, Granger, Jarrell, Lexington, McDade, Rockdale, Thorndale, Thrall and home schools.