Cody Campbell has been making national news recently as a leader in charge of reforming college athletics, having been named as a chair of a presidential council.
Campbell also has a long list of accomplishments and other titles, including Co-CEO of Double Eagle Energy Holdings IV, LLC; however, there is one that he prides himself on above all — being a Texas Tech Red Raider.
“Pretty much everything that I’ve accomplished and all the most important relationships in my life, and the person that I am is all a result of Texas Tech and it emanates from Texas Tech directly,” Campbell said.
Stemming from a long legacy of Red Raiders dating back to the founding of the school in 1923, Campbell is seemingly at the edge of changing not only college sports but Texas higher education.
As the newly named chairman of the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System, Campbell said he has big ideas that are in the works to best serve the community Texas Tech calls home.
Growing the impact, research at the Texas Tech System
The TTU System oversees five universities — Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, TTU Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in Lubbock, TTUHSC in El Paso, Angelo State University (ASU) in San Angelo and Midwestern State University (MSU) in Wichita Falls.
While serving their respective home city, Campbell says each university’s impact extends beyond that city or county. Especially the TTU Systems’ two healthcare institutions — TTUHSC and TTUHSC El Paso.
“People underestimate the role that we play in health care in West Texas,” Campbell said. “West of I-35, we are by far the largest health care provider in a single entity … we have to continue to work to fill that gap.”
For context, both universities combined serve over 120 counties in Texas and not only provide medical training but also offer health care services.
However, the HSCs aren’t the only ones in the system that are looking at the flagship university, which has been expanding its research initiatives. Campbell also aims to grow these initiatives during his tenure as chairman.
“We just got the big funding from the Texas Legislature for Reese Air Force Base for the research project, research facility out there,” Campbell said.
Just recently, TTU and ASU also signed a research agreement to partner with the FBI to help strengthen America’s national security. But Campbell said Tech can’t forget about the other areas it’s primed to excel in and has been.
“To continue to do research for agriculture and energy is a natural fit for Texas Tech, because we sit on the north end of the largest oil field in the world, and also have tremendous resources from a wind and solar standpoint.”
But that isn’t the only thing Campbell wants to grow across the system. He wants to see growth in student population at each university, particularly at Texas Tech.
Building growth across the Texas Tech System
“We have set the objective of being at 50,000 students in the next 10 years, which is very achievable,” Campbell said. “We have our largest freshman class ever this year, and record total enrollment of 42,000 students.”
But to grow means attracting students to the Tech System schools and navigating the enrollment drop trend being seen at colleges and universities across the nation.
And Campbell is eyeing several ways to do that – largely focusing on the cost for students, noting that the system hasn’t raised tuition prices in a number of years.
“Students are going to make the judgment about ‘What am I getting?’, ‘What kind of value am I getting for what I’m paying?’,” Campbell said. “I think we have to continue to find that value proposition for them and make sure that, again, they’re equipped for the workforce.”
Moreover, Campbell said he wants make sure the student experience is worth it, which means finding a balance in academics to ensure the students are workforce-ready — something Campbell said TTU is already doing.
But there also needs to be something outside of the classroom that elevates the student experience — athletics. Campbell said it can also be used to attract students to build growth.
“For most people, the only exposure that they have to Texas Tech is when they see us playing a sport on TV,” Campbell said. “So the image that we convey, and the way we are represented in those arenas and the stadiums is who we are perceived to be and so that’s very important.”
Charting the future of the Texas Tech System
While Campbell has goals and objectives for the system, he and the other regents are also destined to shape the future of the Texas Tech System in a way that only five other boards before them have.
They are looking for the next leader of the system — the chancellor.
In July, Texas Tech Chancellor Dr. Tedd Mitchell announced he would be stepping back as soon as the regents found his replacement, as he is set to retire to spend more time with family.
Mitchell comes with a long list of accolades and achievements for the system over the past few decades, serving both as the former TTUHSC president before being named the 5th chancellor of the Texas Tech System.
“Dr. Mitchell (leaves) some very large shoes to fill,” Campbell said. “He’s been a very unifying, very stabilizing leader.”
As higher education, not only in Texas but across the nation, is facing a variety of challenges, Campbell said the regents are looking for someone who has governmental and fundraising connections, as the chancellor serves as the CEO for the system.
But Campbell also said the system is looking for someone who has clear values and the skill to lead 21,000 employees and care for over 60,000 students across Texas.
“Someone also who can continue to push us forward in the other areas and continue the good trajectory that we’re on in all of our institutions,” Campbell said. “It’s a tough task to find somebody to fill his shoes, but we have a great board right now, and I’m confident that we can we can find somebody who will be able to measure up to some extent.”
While tackling the big issues both in college athletics and in higher education, Campbell said he’s up to the task, blending his knowledge from his business expertise and his previous experience overseeing higher education in Texas.
Campbell said he is grateful to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for naming him to the board four years ago and to his fellow regents for choosing him to help steer the system as he embarks on his two-year term as chairman.
But he also wants the public to know something when it comes to his role at Texas Tech.
“The main thing I like to convey — and I think a lot of people know this about me — is that I just care very deeply about the place and everything that I do there is aimed toward making it better, and sustaining it for the long run,” he said.
Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech System chair Cody Campbell talks goals, athletics, future growth of TTU system
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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