DIR to Partner With Junior Colleges to Supplement IT Workforce

Signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 1, House Bill 584 allows public junior college districts to partner with the Department of Information Resources to offer programs “leading to a state information technology credential to address shortages in the state information resources workforce.”

According to the bill, authored by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-98), programs approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must help students develop entry-level IT knowledge and skills and include a one-year apprenticeship with an appropriate department, another relevant state agency and “an organization working on a major information resources project” or an established regional network security center.

Speaking about the state's efforts to expand its workforce during the Industry Insider — Texas State of Technology forum last week, Capriglione said, "One of the things that we worked on, we spend a lot of time on, is making sure that our teachers know how to program, that they're able to get certifications in computer programming. So we funded, I think, enough money to help 87,000 students."

Completion of an approved program will award an associate degree that may be substituted for a four-year baccalaureate degree in applying for a state department position.