Texas A&M Joins EWCHEC Partners
The East Williamson County Higher Education Center recently received a boost with the announcement Texas A&M University will likely become the center's newest partner.

“Members of Rep. Mike Krusee's office met with the chancellor of Texas A&M University (Tuesday) and were informed Texas A&M would like to be a university partner with the East Williamson County Higher Education Center,” EWCHEC project director Chuck McCarter said. “They would not be the lead partner, but they would join Temple College, Texas State Technical College and the Early College High School in having a presence.”

In addition, McCarter said legislation supporting the EWCHEC is expected to receive attention in the Texas House and Senate before the regular session ends in May. The bill has been held in committee but should now be sent to the House for debate following the meeting with the Texas A&M chancellor, John Nelson, executive director of the Taylor Economic Development Corporation, said.

In January, a consortium of East Williamson County economic development and education leaders met with Williamson County's legislative delegation to discuss the EWCHEC project, which led to the filing of House Bill 2074.

If passed, the bill will allow for the creation of a general academic institution with facilities in Williamson and Bell counties.

“The bill goes back to our original position,” McCarter said. “Our vision was to always have a multiple institution teaching center.”

McCarter said although the bill calls for the creation of the center, it doesn't specifically attach funding for it.

“The question is, will there be any appropriations for it?,” he said. “That's anyone's guess. We might not get any this year but we will get funding.”

If passed in the House, McCarter said members will begin working with Sen. Steve Ogden's office to create a companion bill in the Senate.

“At this point I don't see why the legislature wouldn't pass a bill in favor of the higher education center,” he said.

McCarter said the Temple College Board of Trustees is expected to make a recommendation on a proposed site for the college at a meeting on Monday.

“There's five proposed sites and I predict they will do a rank order based on what they would like to see,” McCarter said.

The proposed sites include a location near Frame Switch, the south end of Carlos Parker Boulevard within the Taylor city limits on the corner of FM 973 and US 79, two locations near east Carlos Parker Boulevard and one location on US 79 between Taylor and Hutto.