Texas Engineering Extension Service

Mission

The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) seeks to develop a skilled and trained workforce that enhances public safety, security and economic growth of the state and nation through training, technical assistance and technology transfer.

Priorities and Goals

The agency’s executive leadership has established the following priorities and goals for the strategic horizon of three years (FY 2005-2007):

  • Professional instruction
  • High-quality curriculum
  • Advanced technology
  • Aggressive marketing
  • Efficient staff support
  • Employee professional development

The agency’s goals are to:                                                                                               

  • be recognized as a state and national leader in preparing communities to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and natural disasters;
  • enhance TEEX’s role in the development of a skilled and trained work force;
  • be recognized as a leader in the protection of lives and infrastructure;
  • invest in the future of the citizens of the state and nation;
  • create a TEEX identity among employees, customers and the general public; and
  • create a culture among TEEX employees that supports the agency’s core values.

Commentary on Top Priorities

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Anti-Terrorism Training Grant

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Anti-Terrorism Training
Grant supports to of the agency’s goals:

  • to be recognized as a state and national leader in preparing communities to prevent, mitigate, respond to  and recover from acts of terrorism and natural disasters; and
  • to be recognized as a leader in the protection of lives and infrastructure.

TEEX is nationally known as the premier provider of homeland security training through its National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC). In 1998, TEEX led an initiative to form the congressionally recognized National Domestic Preparedness Consortium and now serves as its chair.

Under its current $20 million training grant from the DHS, NERRTC provides quality, realistic training to local communities’ emergency responders from all 50 states and the U.S. territories. This training focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, protect from, respond to and recover from an act of terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction. These courses are instructed by a carefully selected, talented pool of homeland security experts from around the country. Instructors assist communities with emergency operations planning and the assessing of risk, threats and vulnerabilities. Emergency medical workers receive challenging and demanding chemical, biological and radiological training using TEEX state-of-the-art human patient simulators. Public works personnel are taught how to protect the drinking water supplies in their communities. Workshops are facilitated for mayors and other senior officials to collaborate on homeland security issues and challenges facing their communities.

This homeland security training is conducted at locations nationwide and TEEX training facilities in College Station, including Disaster City and the Emergency Operations Training Center located adjacent to the Brayton Fire Training Field. During FY 2004, NERRTC trained 45,775 emergency responders from more than 900 communities and FY 2005 year-to-date training output is 35,700 emergency responders from over 500 communities. FY 2006 congressional appropriations will include $20 million to continue this strategic priority.

Capital Investment Projects

Capital investment projects support three of TEEX’s goals:

  • to enhance TEEX’s role in the development of a skilled and trained work force;
  • to be recognized as a leader in the protection of lives and infrastructure; and
  • to invest in the future of the citizens of the state and nation.

TEEX has committed much of its capital investment resources to rebuilding and repairing aging infrastructure and facilities, as well as constructing infrastructure and facilities necessary to posture the agency for successful operations over the next three to five years. In FY 2004, the agency committed nearly $25 million in the following capital improvement projects.

Brayton Fire Training Field

More than $22.5 million in infrastructure improvements are in progress at the Brayton Fire Training Field as TEEX prepares to maintain its status as the world’s premier fire and rescue training venue and provide unparalleled training for Texas firefighters and first responders.

  • $15.9 million in environmental improvements. Includes a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant, installation of a storm water collection system and a sitewide soil remediation project. Expected completion date is spring 2007.
  • $1.2 Million for a new two-story structural burn building. The existing structural burn project dates to 1968 and is undersized for current training demands. Expected completion date is December 2006.
  • $4.1 Million for a 14,000-square-foot operations center. The operations center will provide much-needed classroom space for large groups. Expected completion date is summer 2006.
  • $750,000 for a new fire extinguisher refill facility. TEEX fills more than 12,000 fire extinguishers annually as part of training activities and the existing facility had become too small and technologically outdated to meet training demands. Completed in May 2005.

Riverside Campus

$2.2 million in improvements will be made at the Texas A&M University Riverside Campus, which will vastly improve TEEX training activities and course deliveries. This project consists of:

  • $1.5 million for renovations to TEEX telecommunications and electric power training hangar, which dates to the 1940s. These improvements provide a modern educational environment for students who come to TEEX from throughout Texas and across the United States.
  • $700,000 in improvements to TEEX Public Safety & Security facilities, which include the Central Texas Police Academy. A new firing range has been constructed, which is used by law enforcement departments from the Brazos Valley. Additional projects include outdoor physical training facilities for future law enforcement officers.

John B. Connally Building

More than $150,000 was allocated to upgrade TEEX Trans-Texas Videoconferencing Network (TTVN) facilities in the John B. Connally Building in College Station and the agency’s facility in Mesquite. These upgrades have enabled TEEX to enhance communication with its divisions, as well as with clients and customers, and reduce travel time and related expenses.

In FY 2005, TEEX has committed $3 million to its seven divisions for required capital investment projects that include fire training prop replacement, firing range parking lot, Disaster City improvements, classroom upgrades, water/wastewater laboratory renovation and development of new curriculum and assistance programs. Additionally, the agency is in the conceptual stage for the design of a new $8 million Homeland Security Complex, which will be submitted for Board of Regents approval. This building will contain much-needed office space, classrooms and meeting facilities.

Curriculum Review and Revision

Curriculum Review and Revision (CR&R) supports four of the agency’s goals:

  • to be recognized as a state and national leader in preparing communities to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and natural disasters;
  • to enhance TEEX’s role in the development of a skilled and trained work force;
  • to be recognized as a leader in the protection of lives and infrastructure; and
  • to invest in the future of the citizens of the state and nation.

In FY 2005, the agency initiated a multiyear (FY 2005-2007) strategic priority to review and revise its training curriculum. The intended outcome of this resource-intensive project is high-quality curriculum, which is one of our six agency strategic areas of focus. High-quality curriculum also significantly contributes to the agency’s professional instruction strategic area of focus.

The agency is accomplishing this initiative from a very methodical perspective that ensures it commits its resources in a responsible manner and produces curriculum products characterized by excellence. At a minimum, the revised curriculum products of this CR&R consist of participant/student manuals, instructor guides and associated instruc­tional aids.

Additionally, the agency will purchase a curriculum content management system that secures our intellectual property, increases agility and improves responsiveness to business opportunities, and reduces duplication of information and work efforts. The agency will invest $8.2 million to successfully review and revise more than 550 courses. This is a strategic priority that will reap significant benefits and greatly assist the agency in ensuring that its training products are current, relevant and competitive.

Commentary on Other Topics

Diversity

TEEX Workforce

Recognizing the changing state and national demographics, the agency has continued to strive to recruit and maintain a workforce that is representative of the Bryan-College Station community as well as the clients and customers we serve. With strong executive-level emphasis on this initiative, TEEX has continued to educate its management team, recruit nationally and hire employees from diverse backgrounds. Increased agency awareness has resulted in an FY 2005 increase over FY 2004 in both minority and female hires, 2 percent and 6.6 percent respectively. Of all promotions awarded in FY 2004 and year-to-date FY 2005, more than 50 percent were awarded to women and minorities.

Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program

TEEX continues its emphasis on ensuring that all employees with purchasing responsibilities maximize the use of HUBs. The agency has increased its use of HUBs from 3.3 percent in FY 2001 to 20.6 percent in FY 2005 (semiannual), resulting in progression from the state’s worst 25 to the top 25.

External Funding

TEEX continues to obtain the vast majority of its funds through what is normally considered external funding. State general revenue accounts for less than 4 percent of TEEX’s FY 2005 operating budget. With a diversified base of other state, federal and private sector funding, TEEX’s leverage of its general revenue is one of the best in the state.

Fiscal Stability

As an agency that relies heavily on “soft money” funding, TEEX must maintain reserves in a sufficient amount to cover contingencies. TEEX adheres to the standard set by the National Association of College and University Business Officers and maintains a balance on hand of approximately 3.6 months of operations. The association recommends a balance on hand between 2.4 and six months.

While TEEX is mindful of its responsibility to maintain a fiscally sound operating balance, that balance must be weighed against the need to invest in the state’s future. With more than $31 million invested in upgrades and infrastructure, as described above, TEEX is exercising its fiduciary responsibility in managing the resources entrusted to the agency.

Operational Efficiencies

During FY 2004, TEEX conducted detailed business analyses and assessments of its programs, facilities and infrastructure throughout the state. These analyses and assessments indicated that the agency could enhance its fiduciary responsibility through selected cost savings initiatives totaling approximately $1.6 million in personnel and infrastructure costs.

The operational efficiencies that TEEX implemented in FY 2004 and FY 2005 include:

  • Closing of the Houston Regional Training Center, saving $659,000 per year
  • Closing of the San Antonio Hemisfair Center operations, saving $53,000 per year
  • Closing of the Abilene facility (and subsequently selling the property for $293,975), saving $50,000 per year
  • Reducing personnel staffing at the Center for Marine Training and Safety in Galveston, saving $84,000 per year
  • Reducing personnel staffing in TEEX administration, saving $237,665 per year