The statutory purpose is appropriate to an institution of higher education, as stated in the first sentence of the statutory purpose where it specifically states that the TSTC System, "is a co-educational two-year institution of higher education." The Texas Legislature has appointed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) as the custodians and regulators of all public higher education in the state. As such, TSTC Harlingen is expected to comply with all applicable state requirements, expected outcomes and benchmarks, and maintain the integrity of its legislated role. The Institutional Effectiveness Measures and Standards established by the THECB guarantees that TSTC Harlingen operates in accordance to the state standards for higher education. TSTC's ability to transfer general academic courses via the established Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's (THECB) General Academic Course Manual (ACGM) [Ref 7], and the standardization of technical/vocational courses to the THECB Workforce Education Course Manual's (WECM) common course numbering system, which streamlines course outcomes and objectives, demonstrates that the institution is operating in the capacity of and recognized as, an institution of higher education. The THECB reviews TSTC Harlingen's compliance with all IE Measures and Standards formally on a four to five year cycle.

Teaching and learning are at the core of both TSTC Harlingen's statutory Purpose Statement and its Expanded Statement of Purpose. In fact, the statutory purpose specifically defines the realm of the institution's focus by emphasizing "occupationally oriented programs with supporting academic coursework, emphasizing highly specialized advanced and emerging technical and vocational areas for certificates or associate's degrees...through excellence in instruction." Furthermore, collaboration with other entities provides the institution the opportunity to "facilitate and deliver an articulated and responsive technical education system."

The Expanded Statement of Purpose for TSTC Harlingen brings even more into focus the college's primary mission of teaching and learning. It specifically states that, "programs are designed to prepare students to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive and intellectually challenging future through educational and personal growth, practical skills development, general academic courses, and career preparation." Graduates are prepared for "independent and life-long learning (that) is achieved through intensive teaching formats that stress hands-on laboratory experiences, productive work ethics, information technologies integrated with instructional delivery, advanced methods of electronic teaching and learning, cooperative education, and other student success initiatives." Finally, teaching and learning is again supported in the Expanded Statement of Purpose as stated in its last paragraph which notes that faculty are "dedicated to quality teaching and dynamic classroom learning experiences that integrate theory and application...(and are) committed to providing the educational tools that enable students to improve their quality of life and achieve their potential."

Research for TSTC Harlingen, and the TSTC System generally, is distinct from the traditional research conducted by faculty for the purpose of enhancing their field of study. Rather, research at TSTC is defined as the identification of the current and emerging needs of the Texasworkforce as stated in the statutory purpose: "The system's economic development efforts to improve the competitiveness of Texasbusiness and industry include exemplary centers of excellence in technical program clusters on the system's campuses and support of educational research commercialization initiatives."

Likewise, public service as defined by TSTC, is the combined efforts of the college to encourage economic development and provide access to education and training needed to enable students to reach their potential. The statutory purpose notes that the TSTC System, "shall contribute to the educational and economic development of the State of Texas....(and) through close collaboration with business, industry, governmental agencies and communities, including public and private secondary and postsecondary educational institutions....(to) facilitate and deliver an articulated and responsive technical education system." As noted in the first paragraph of the Expanded Statement of Purpose, TSTC Harlingen further provides public service by "offering affordable educational opportunities,...access to higher education through open admissions,....as well as basic skills studies that equip students to succeed in college courses."

TSTC Harlingen conducted an intensive review of the Expanded Statement of Purpose beginning in FY 2000 in accordance with Policy 1.77, "Institutional Role and Mission/Purpose and Expanded Statement of Purpose." Reviews are scheduled every five years and are initiated by the Institutional Effectiveness Strategic Planning Committee. The last review began with each of the divisions and the President's Office gathering institutional constituents, including employees and students, who reviewed the existing Expanded Statement of Purpose, which had few revisions made to it in the past decade, and proposed changes and suggestions for revision of the statement. Once these suggestions were compiled, a review by all department chairs, department supervisors, the Faculty Senate, Staff Council and Student Congress followed. These groups all submitted suggestions for revisions and/or new inclusions to the statement to the Institutional Effectiveness Strategic Planning Committee.

The IE Strategic Planning Committee worked throughout Fall 2000 and 2001 to consider all suggestions made. In Fall 2001, the committee also sent over 1100 letters from the President asking community, business and industry leaders, advisory committee members, vendors, employers of our students, and other key constituents to participate in an on-line survey regarding their perception of TSTC Harlingen's purpose. Data indicates that the community overwhelmingly (87%) considers workforce education, and development and technical training, to be the college's foremost purpose [Ref 9].

Final revisions to the Expanded Statement of Purpose were approved by both the IE Strategic Planning Committee and the President's Council in November 2001. The revised Expanded Statement of Purpose was considered and approved by the TSTC Board of Regents at its February 8, 2002 meeting in Harlingen [Ref 10].

Since approved, the revised Expanded Statement of Purpose has been printed in the most current edition of the TSTC Harlingen Catalog, Student Handbook, and has been posted to the TSTC Harlingen web site.

The IE Strategic Planning Committee also identified the first sentence of the Expanded Statement of Purpose, made minor changes in wording, and adopted it as a short, memorable phrase that embodies the essence of TSTC Harlingen's purpose. Because constituents reported that the current Expanded Statement was too long to communicate briefly, the Strategic Planning Committee and the President's Council selected the abbreviated purpose that follows, as the fundamental mission of the institution which is now being printed and promoted on college materials and other mediums:

"TSTC Harlingen is a two-year higher education institution emphasizing courses of study in technical education for which there is a demand within the State of Texas."

This current version of the Expanded Statement of Purpose is slated for review again beginning in 2005.