State Sen. Brandon Creighton has been named the sole finalist for the chancellorship of the Texas Tech University System.
“With his nearly 20-year tenure as an elected official in Texas, along with deep knowledge of higher education, strong relationships and dedication, Senator Creighton is uniquely positioned to support the mission of the Texas Tech University System and continue its path of growth and success,” the system announced on social media.
The Texas Tech Board of Regents held a special called meeting on September 4 to make the appointment.
Creighton (R–Conroe) is the primary author of Senate Bill 37, a new law passed during the regular legislative session. It overhauls several aspects of university governance, including abolishing “shared governance” and granting new oversight powers to boards of regents.
At state universities, “shared governance” refers to a system in which universities’ boards of regents delegate authority to presidents, who then share power with faculty, represented by a faculty senate.
Under the new law, regents can reconstitute faculty senates in an advisory capacity. The Texas Tech University System’s regents recently chose to exercise that option.
As chancellor, Creighton will oversee implementation of the law he wrote across the Texas Tech University System’s five campuses.
Creighton is the third current or former Republican lawmaker to become a university system chancellor in recent months. Former Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who also served as a state senator, was recently named chancellor at Texas A&M, and former State Rep. John Zerwas was likewise hired for the same position at the University of Texas.
Creighton was first elected to the Texas House in 2006 and then elected to the Senate in 2014.
His appointment as sole finalist triggers a 21-day waiting period before the hire is official. Regents are expected to hold another special meeting at that time.
Creighton will have to resign his Texas Senate seat before he can accept the Texas Tech position. Gov. Greg Abbott would then call a special election to fill the vacancy.
The Texas Tech University System is the parent organization of five institutions. Its Board of Regents is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
