(a) THECB shall competitively select applicants for funding based on requirements and award criteria provided in the RFA.
(b) Award criteria will include whether the applicant at a minimum has met or will meet the following factors:
  (1) Student completion of developmental education at the partnering public junior college(s), public state college(s), or public technical institute(s) at a rate that meets or exceeds that set forth in the RFA;
  (2) Student persistence rates at the partnering public junior college(s), public state college(s), or public technical institute(s) at a rate that meets or exceeds that set forth in the RFA;
  (3) Certificate or degree completion rates at the partnering public junior college(s), public state college(s), or public technical institute(s) at a rate greater than demographically comparable institutions within a three-year period; and
  (4) Student entry into careers requiring credentials that result in higher earnings prior to enrollment in the program.
(c) If the applicant is providing services to veterans, the award criteria will include whether the applicant at a minimum has met or will meet the following factors:
  (1) The factors set forth in subsection (b)(1) - (4); and
  (2) Certificate or degree completion rates at the partnering public junior college(s), public state college(s), or public technical institute(s) result in the student's rapid attainment of civilian workforce credentials as defined by the RFA.
(d) THECB will evaluate applicants, in part, on the development, support or expansion of evidenced based services to low-income students or veterans to successfully gain employment in high demand and higher-earning occupations. Such services may include:
  (1) Outreach activities that inform students of the programming available;
  (2) Assessment activities that create a pathway based on the student's interest and assessing the readiness and performance based on test scores, grade point averages, or any other instruments adopted/approved by the Board;
  (3) Case management activities;
  (4) Support services provided to students to aid in student completion of job attainment;
  (5) Developmental education;
  (6) Job training instruction; and
  (7) Career placement services.
(e) THECB will evaluate applicants on whether they are able to meet the matching funds criteria set forth in the RFA, if any. For purposes of this section, matching funds may be obtained from any source available to the organization including in-kind contributions, administrative costs, community or foundation grants, individual contributions or donations, and local governmental agency operating funds.

Source Note: The provisions of this §10.875 adopted to be effective May 16, 2024, 49 TexReg 3258