To many, the legislative process is a baffling system of arcane rules and protocols—a maze of parliamentary procedures and legal maneuverings. Add to that images of smoke-filled chambers and back-room deals, and it’s no wonder folks so often choose to “opt out” of the political process.

But we who have devoted ourselves to public higher education retreat from civic engagement at our own peril. The work of our schools—and the future of our students—depends upon wise and informed decisions of legislators. They need our perspective on the important issues we face!

State funding is the single largest source of revenue for our colleges—greater than local tax revenues, student tuition and fees, or federal funds. Your salary and health insurance, contributions to the Teacher Retirement System and the Optional Retirement Program all depend on the priority given them by our legislators in Austin.

And no one can present the case as well as an educator that the work of educators should be a high priority for the State of Texas. So contact your legislators this semester. Introduce yourself, make your state senator and representative aware of the ways in which your school benefits your district and the state. Most importantly, share with them ways they can support the mission of two-year colleges.

Don’t wait for a legislative session to begin communicating with your elected officials. Meetings with legislators in their home districts—between sessions—are generally less harried and often more productive than conversations held in their Austin offices.

Information on this site can help get you started, whether you’re a veteran in Texas politics or simply a teacher wanting to support the interests of the profession. Whatever your background, the political process benefits from the responsible involvement of citizens. And our profession is enhanced as teachers add their voices to proclaim the value we bring to the people of Texas.

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Political Participation Tips

Plan of Action for Grassroots Leaders:

• Fall Semester, Even-numbered Years
• Spring Semester, Odd-numbered Years
• Fall Semester, Odd-numbered Years
• Spring Semester, Even-numbered Years

Plan of Action for Every Educator:

• Meeting with Your Legislator
• Writing to Your Legislator
• Voter Registration
• Sponsoring a Candidate’s Forum
• Facts/Reminders to Legislators

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The basic point of departure for realizing political goals is a commitment to becoming actively in­volved in the political process. The effectiveness of TCCTA’s political efforts at the state level depend finally upon the establishment and maintenance of relationships among faculty members, the local community and technical college, and their respective legislators. While it is true that members of the Texas Legislature do indeed listen to the views of TCCTA and its representatives, the larger truth is that those same legislators will listen even more attentively when constituents from back home call or visit.

Observers of Texas politics agree that the most important contacts between representatives and con­stituents take place, not while the Legislature is meeting in Austin, but during the interim period when members are residing and working in their local districts. It is then that legislators have the oppor­tunity to study difficult policy issues and the time to discuss those issues with interested groups and individuals. And it is then that faculty members and local faculty orga­ni­za­tions can establish credible working relationships with their local legislators.

The structure of our two-year college system in Texas offers a natural opportunity for grass­roots political activity in every legislative district in the state. Every two-year college has, in its fac­ul­ty, a group of well-educated, articulate, civic-minded individuals who, if provided with sufficient infor­mation and motivation, can contribute substantially to the resolution of issues concerning both local campuses and community and technical colleges across the state. In the final analysis, par­ti­ci­pa­tion is the most effective influence on the political process. Successful political influence can only fol­low from active political involvement.