The President of Texas College, Dr. Dwight Fennell, at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees announced his date of retirement to the Board. President Fennell with a prepared statement shared that his start with the College began 2008, with his employment to the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Fennell’s academic and professional preparations led his career experiences as former vice president for academic affairs, provost and subsequently president at other institutions, before his presidential assignment with Texas College. Dr. Fennell has been president of the College since August 2008.
President Fennell shared that “the opportunity to serve as president has been with multifaceted emotions that have included pleasure, humility, joy and comfort, but also challenges, concerns and sometimes feelings of trepidation.” He also acknowledged “that with the help and direction of God, Texas College has made significant gains during this 17-year period.”
Dr. Fennell went on to identify categorically a few of the areas which he believed as meaningful and cited them as:
- Having established an operational direction with the use of strategic planning (four cycles of Strategic Plans have been developed since 2008);
- Achieving three cycles of institutional accreditation (we are now addressing the fourth cycle);
- Having achieved program accreditation of the Educational Preparation Program (EPP) through the Texas Education Agency (TEA), for eight areas of teacher preparation certification;
- Having achieved program accreditation of the Social Work Program through the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE);
- Having strengthened many of the academic content areas with Program Reviews that provide students a seamless entry into graduate/professional programs;
- Having expanded academic honors recognition while also introducing the Alpha Chi National Honor Society on the campus;
- Having operated financially in the “black” consecutively for a 17-year period; with one year being a matter of concern because of an audit issue; not recording accurately, but this did not affect the fiscal condition of the institution;
- Having increased the net assets of the institution;
- Having sustained enrollment during volatile periods i.e. pre, during and post COVID;
- Having improved health care services for students prior to, during and post-COVID;
- Having improved College relations in the City of Tyler;
- Having established and improved educational partnerships with various members of the educational communities;
- Having established the “Texas College District” with the City of Tyler;
- Having established a 30-year Master Plan for the College;
- Having improved student support services and retention services/activities for students; and
- Having created virtual learning processes and on-line courses and programs for students that are acceptable by the accrediting body.
- Having increased the physical plant net assets of the institution;
- Having operated with significant “cash on hand” that now exceeds $11 million dollars;
- Having grown the endowment from less than a million to more than $10 million;
- Having completed capitol renovations to the campus that totaled $19 million, with no remaining debt service and loan amounts being unmet;
- Having improved Wi-Fi and internet connections and virtual capacities throughout the campus and community which continues to date;
- Having sustained enrollment during volatile periods i.e. pre, during and post COVID;]
- Having improved health care services for students prior to, during and post-COVID;
- Having improved College relations in the City of Tyler;
- Having established and improved educational partnerships with various members of the educational communities;
- Having established the “Texas College District” with the City of Tyler;
- Having established a 30-year Master Plan for the College;
- Having improved student support services and retention services/activities for students; and
- Having created virtual learning processes and on-line courses and programs for students that are acceptable by the accrediting body.
Dr. Fennell stated that, “the aforementioned items were shared only to reacquaint the Board with matters that have been successfully driven with no financial obligations or debt services needed at this time.” He further referenced; the aforementioned items were offered as a matter of reflection of his working direction during his tenure for the 17-year period. He closed by sharing that, although his contractual agreement is through June 2027, he requested a modification for the agreement to be effective June 30, 2026. With many around the table of the Trustee Board expressing both commendations and expressions of gratitude for the faithful way he has administered his leadership, the chair of the Board, Bishop Lawrence Reddick, said, “Your focus and persistence have helped build this institution honorably and has helped strengthen me in my faith. What I have seen in you, over and again, is that your singular focus on what you believe, calling, professionalism, ethics and God require of you.” The Board agreed to grant Dr. Fennell’s request.
