Highlights from the August 2026 board meeting

Dear Texas Woman’s Colleagues,

As the fall semester begins with tremendous momentum, I am pleased to share key updates from the August quarterly meeting of the Texas Woman’s University System’s Board of Regents. This Board meeting was a wonderful summation of the recent collaborative success across the university community.

Below are a few highlights from the Board meeting, and you can watch the entire meeting on the Board website.

Data-Driven Enrollment Growth

A recent enrollment surge has been fueled by targeted marketing and data-driven decision making.

Compared to the Fall 2025 semester, the Fall 2026 semester is forecasted to experience a 5.1% increase in total enrollment and a 6.7% increase in semester credit hours (SCHs). This increase in SCHs, driven by greater retention rates and a 22.7% spike in new first-time-in-college (FTIC) students, will increase TWU’s competitiveness in formula funding appropriations. [0:32:45]
Summer 2026 FTIC orientation attendance increased by 20.4% and transfer orientation attendance increased by 55% compared to Summer 2025. [0:38:22]
The 2026 enrollment marketing campaign generated 29.3 million impressions, 274,000 clicks, 8,600 leads, and 385 applications. [0:53:09]
MarCom created the cross-functional “SWAT Team,” which helped decrease missing TSIA2 tests for incoming students by 30%. By proactively encouraging incoming students to complete the TSIA2, those students have an easier time selecting courses and charting their academic path, thereby increasing retention rates. [0:56:23]
MarCom has strategically deployed paid media to specific locations in the Houston-area media market. Since 2022, that targeted marketing has contributed to an 18% increase in enrollment at the Houston campus in students from the Houston area. Additionally, this targeted marketing campaign has contributed to a 22% increase in enrollment at the Denton campus in students from the Houston area. [1:02:14]

Financial and Philanthropic Strength

Texas Woman’s remains on strong financial footing, buoyed by responsible financial stewardship and smashing expectations for the Dream Big campaign.

The Dream Big capital campaign has blown past its original goal and currently stands at $183.5 million. With several major gifts in the pipeline and a few more months of fundraising still ahead, I have set an ambitious new goal to reach $200 million by the end of the calendar year. [1:25:07]
The Board approved a $335 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027. The budget reflects ongoing investment in attracting and retaining talented faculty, with $106.8 million allocated to Academic Affairs. [1:54:55]
We forecast increased revenue due to enrollment growth and increased operational efficiencies in Academic Affairs from Project Thrive. If these revenue projections hold true, we plan to give merit-based raises effective January 1, 2027. [1:50:43]
TWU accepted 21 grants totaling $1.3 million in the final quarter of fiscal year 2026. [2:14:37]

New and Reimagined Academic Offerings

Academic ingenuity remains a hallmark of Texas Woman’s mission. New academic offerings will expand the university’s reach while remaining true to our mission.

The Board approved a new bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering. As a woman-focused institution in close proximity to the booming Dallas-Fort Worth engineering sector, Texas Woman’s is uniquely positioned to educate the next generation of high-performing engineers. [3:28:35]
The Board approved a new college at the Dallas campus based on the “Come to Believe” model. Students will start as bachelor’s of business administration students, but will earn an associate’s degree along the way, reducing a prospective student’s perceived risk of even starting a college degree pathway. The new college will cater to academically successful students who would otherwise be unable to attend higher education due to costs, family obligations, and transit access. [4:00:16]
TWU Ventures graduated its inaugural certified clinical medical assistant cohort. All 15 students completed the 20-week credentialing program, and in so doing have doubled, on average, their hourly wages to $15/hour — a transformational economic change for these determined students. [0:49:22]
The Woodcock NeuroTech Collaborative is launching as a cross-functional research laboratory combining TWU’s Woodcock Institute, computer science faculty, and occupational therapy faculty to explore virtual and extended reality applications in rehabilitation, patient education, and professional training. [0:54:12]
Academic Affairs completed a comprehensive review of TWU’s nearly 3,000 courses, ensuring neutral viewpoint framing while further aligning curriculum with accreditation standards. [3:40:09]
The core curriculum was thoughtfully updated following months of stakeholder engagement. Expanding the UNIV first-year seminar into a three-credit hour course should lead to higher retention rates. The Board also approved the General Education Review Committee’s recommendation to revise the “Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies” core component to “Women in Society.” [3:45:16]

Athletic Achievement

Our student athletes continue to excel both in the classroom and in their athleticism.

Dr. Dawn S. Chaney, a TWU triple alumna and former student athlete, has generously donated $10 million to TWU athletics. To recognize this transformative gift, the new athletics complex will be named the “Dr. Dawn S. Chaney Athletics Complex.” [1:27:57]
For the 2025-26 academic year, all TWU athletics programs combined earned an average GPA of 3.432, bringing the streak to 88 consecutive semesters of an athletics-wide 3.0+ GPA. Gymnastics led the way with a team average 3.825 GPA. [0:27:58]
Gymnasts Caroline Bowns and Kami Zarlengo were named Academic All-Americans over the summer. Ms. Zarlengo will return to TWU as a student teacher, and Ms. Bowns is returning as a senior after completing a summer internship in Washington D.C. for Congressman Ronny Jackson. [0:31:36]
The Pioneer Pride Dance Team claimed a gold bid to the Spring National Championships for the third consecutive year. [0:31:57]
Caroline Cave and Laurel Jones — both alumna and former TWU student athletes — were finalists in this year’s Miss Texas competition. [0:34:27]

Leadership Updates

Texas Woman’s recognized new leaders bringing fresh energy to the university and seasoned trailblazers who left an indelible mark.

Regent Dianne Costa and Student Regent Jenna Crocker joined the TWU Board of Regents. [0:13:21]
Academic Affairs welcomed three new leaders: Dr. Amy Koerber, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Brandi Falley, Dean of Undergraduate Studies; and Dr. David Keeley, Chief AI Strategist. [3:06:28]
TWU Athletics welcomed Ingrid Sobrino, Assistant Athletic Director of External Relations, and Phil Evans, Head Volleyball Coach. [0:32:44]
University Advancement welcomed Bettye Durham as the Director of Alumni Chapters and Leadership Programs. [1:14:54]
11 deserving faculty and staff received emeritus status in recognition of their service. These emeritus honorees averaged 22 years working for TWU. [0:18:03]

At the end of the Board meeting, I compared the work of TWU’s administrative divisions and academic components to an orchestra: numerous instruments tuning with each other and playing in harmony. It takes a lot of grit to get to this point, but I feel we are finally arriving. The metaphor also captures our ethos as an institution that gains momentum through collaboration. Thank you for your contributions to Texas Woman’s, and I look forward to everything we will accomplish together this new academic year.

With a pioneering spirit,

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.
Chancellor and President

Page last updated 8:51 AM, August 24, 2026