TJC administrator selected to help shape Texas three-year degree plan

The committee was convened by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board at the request of Governor Greg Abbott. Prihoda is one of only four community college representatives chosen from across the state, with the rest of the group made up of other educators.

The goal is simple, make a bachelor's degree faster and cheaper by trimming the credit hours typically required to graduate. For students weighing the cost of a four-year degree, a shorter path could mean less time paying tuition and fewer semesters away from the workforce.

Having a community college administrator in the room matters for schools like TJC, where many students start their higher education before transferring elsewhere. Prihoda's spot on the committee gives two-year institutions a direct hand in shaping a degree structure that could reshape how students move from community college into a bachelor's program.