Bill Text: TX HR849 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating Dr. Raymund A. Paredes on his retirement as Texas commissioner of higher education.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-22 - Reported enrolled [HR849 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR849-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 849 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Dr. Raymund A. Paredes is retiring from his post as | ||
| the Texas commissioner of higher education in August 2019, drawing | ||
| to a close a tenure distinguished by significant progress and | ||
| achievement; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dr. Paredes has served as CEO of the Texas Higher | ||
| Education Coordinating Board since 2004, overseeing statewide | ||
| strategic planning for education and the administration of | ||
| financial aid; over the course of his exemplary 15-year tenure, he | ||
| has led the effort to reinvent developmental education in Texas, | ||
| introduced outcome-based funding for community and technical | ||
| colleges, and launched an affordable bachelor's degree program at | ||
| more than 10 institutions; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A native of El Paso, Raymund Paredes earned his | ||
| bachelor's degree in English from The University of Texas at | ||
| Austin; he served for two years in the U.S. Army, including a | ||
| 14-month tour of duty in Vietnam with the First Infantry Division, | ||
| and after returning to civilian life, he received a master's degree | ||
| in American studies from the University of Southern California and | ||
| a Ph.D. in American civilization from UT Austin in 1973; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dr. Paredes spent much of his academic career at the | ||
| University of California, Los Angeles, where he was an English | ||
| professor and vice chancellor for academic development; he also | ||
| served as special assistant to the president of the UC System, | ||
| working on outreach efforts to improve access to education for | ||
| students from educationally disadvantaged communities; he went on | ||
| to serve as director of creativity and culture at the Rockefeller | ||
| Foundation and as president for programs for the Hispanic | ||
| Scholarship Fund; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dr. Paredes has been a member of the Education | ||
| Commission of the States, the national board of Big Brothers Big | ||
| Sisters, and the board of the Texas Cultural Trust, as well as a | ||
| trustee of the College Board and Mercy College of New York; in 2007, | ||
| he was named one of Hispanic Business magazine's 100 Most | ||
| Influential Hispanics; and | ||
| WHEREAS, This esteemed professional's vision, leadership, | ||
| and commitment to the mission of higher education have greatly | ||
| benefited the students of Texas, and he may indeed reflect with | ||
| pride on all that he has accomplished; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commend Dr. Raymund A. Paredes on his 15 years | ||
| of service as Texas commissioner of higher education and extend to | ||
| him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Dr. Paredes as an expression of high regard by the | ||
| Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Morrison | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 849 was adopted by the House on March | ||
| 21, 2019, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
