Expanding Our Impact: SHSU to Lead Statewide Digital Learning Initiative

I’m excited to share that Sam Houston State University has been awarded a competitive grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to establish the Distance Education Professional Development Center (DEPDC). This statewide initiative will strengthen digital learning and remote instruction across Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) programs in Texas.

This work was previously administered by Texas A&M University, and SHSU has now been selected to lead the next phase of this effort. The grant provides $1 million in annual funding over five years, representing a significant investment in expanding access to high-quality instruction for adult learners across the state.

I developed and submitted this proposal and will serve as Principal Investigator. This opportunity allows us to extend the work we have built at SHSU Online—our approaches to faculty development, instructional design, accessibility, and student support—to a broader statewide audience.

Through the DEPDC, our team will provide professional development, technical assistance, and accessibility support to AEL educators across Texas, with services delivered in both English and Spanish. The training we will offer is grounded in the realities of adult education and workforce readiness. This includes preparing educators to support learners working toward a high school diploma or GED, building foundational skills in reading, writing, math, and English language acquisition, and integrating digital literacy into instruction so learners can effectively navigate technology in their daily lives and careers.

In addition, the Center will support educators in delivering workforce-aligned instruction, including integrated education and training models, workplace literacy partnerships with employers, and transition pathways into college and career training. We will also provide guidance on supporting specialized populations, such as internationally trained professionals and adult learners balancing family and educational goals. Across all of this work, the focus remains the same: equipping educators with practical, scalable strategies that directly impact learner success.

While the primary audience for this work is external to SHSU, the initiative is grounded in the same principles that guide our work on campus: clear course design, accessible learning environments, meaningful engagement, and the effective use of technology to support student success.

For our faculty, this award affirms that the models and practices developed at SHSU are not only effective locally, but scalable at a statewide level. As we launch this work, we will continue to bring back insights, resources, and innovations that further strengthen teaching and learning at SHSU.

This is an exciting step forward for SHSU Online and for the university, and I look forward to the impact we will make—both here at home and across the state.