Texas Tech University

The board accepted a showcase presentation of the TTUHSC Dallas campus. Agenda items included the approval of consent and information agendas, which encompassed changes in academic rank and tenure for faculty across multiple institutions, including Angelo State University, Midwestern State University, and Texas Tech University. Additionally, the board approved several new degree programs, including a Master of Science in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Science in Education Specialist, a Bachelor of Science in Computational Mathematics and Data Analysis, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Emergency Management. Faculty development leaves of absence were reviewed and approved for various professors, along with emeritus appointments and a leave of absence without pay.

The Board of Regents meeting involved various administrative, financial, and academic actions. Key agenda items included honoring the late Robert L. Pfluger, approving faculty appointments with tenure, authorizing leaves of absence, and approving exceptions to nepotism policies. The board also addressed project expenditures for the Clinical Sciences Building and the Comprehensive Cancer Center, naming of a facility, and various purchasing contracts for research equipment, staffing, and health-related services. Additionally, the board acknowledged campus condition reports and delegated certain fee approval authorities to the university presidents.

The board discussed and acted on multiple facility-related projects including renovations, expansions, and construction for Angelo State University, Midwestern State University, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Financial agenda items included the authorization of contracts for apparel, electricity, retirement consulting, and investment consulting services. Academic and student affairs included tenure appointments, the creation of a new department, the conferral of an honorary degree, and honorary naming rights. Additionally, the board approved emeritus appointments, updates to student affairs policies, and established new operating policies for endowed academic positions.

The meeting provided an overview of business planning, covering topics such as marketing strategies, including the four Ps (product, price, promotion, and placement), and customer discovery. The discussion emphasized the importance of operations, specifically the process view of operations, for creating a viable business model. Key concepts included calculating costs, identifying resources, mapping out operational steps using process flow diagrams to optimize efficiency, and ensuring a proper product-market fit. The session also touched upon the necessity of understanding customer segments and stakeholder roles when pitching a business idea.

The event was the 2025 School of Law Commencement ceremony, featuring remarks from the Dean of the Texas Tech University School of Law, Jack Wadeen Allen, who welcomed graduates and their families. Special guests recognized included Texas Tech System Board of Regents member Pat Gordon, Student Bar Association President Nia Williams, and keynote speaker Scott Sumi. The Dean expressed pride in the graduates, urged them to stay connected to the Texas Tech Law family, and encouraged them to pass the bar exam. Regent Pat Gordon emphasized the accomplishment of completing law school and joining the lifelong community of Texas Tech Law alumni, encouraging support within the alumni family. Keynote speaker Scott Sumi, a 1990 graduate, delivered a speech titled 'Ordinary Law Graduates Can Accomplish Extraordinary Things,' reflecting on his journey from an 'ordinary' graduate to a successful environmental law attorney handling major cases like the BP oil spill litigation. He discussed four lessons learned, including practicing law without regrets and being curious, while also thanking his classmates, mentors, and family.