Executive Summary

Blinn College District Districtwide Facilities Master Plan (May 2021)

The Districtwide Facilities Master Plan provides a 20-year strategic roadmap (2021–2040) for guiding Blinn College District’s physical development across its five campuses: Brenham, Bryan, RELLIS, Schulenburg, and Sealy. Initiated in September 2020 and completed over eight months, the plan was designed to align facilities investments with enrollment growth, workforce needs, and Blinn’s long-term educational mission.

Purpose and Approach

Blinn undertook its first comprehensive, districtwide master plan to establish a data-driven framework for future capital investment. The planning process integrated:

• Facility Condition Assessments

• Space Utilization Analyses

• Demographic and Enrollment Projections

• Space Needs Projections

• Labor Market Analysis

• Campus Site Assessments

Together, these studies informed decisions about renovations, demolitions, new construction, infrastructure upgrades, and future expansion, ensuring facilities planning supports both academic programs and student experience.

The plan reflects extensive collaboration among trustees, district leadership, faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders and was formally adopted by the Board of Trustees in May 2021.

Current State of the District

Blinn serves a 13-county area and enrolls more than 15,000 students annually. The district operates:

• Brenham (flagship campus)

• Bryan (largest by enrollment)

• RELLIS (newest campus, opened 2018)

• Schulenburg

• Sealy

Blinn maintains the highest academic transfer rate in Texas, far exceeding the state average of 27%, with strong pipelines to Texas A&M University and other four-year institutions.

While enrollment growth has been steady overall, facilities on several campuses—particularly Brenham and Bryan—are aging or operating beyond optimal capacity, creating an urgent need for modernization and consolidation.

Three-Phase Development Strategy

Capital projects are organized into three implementation phases:

Phase 1 (2021–2025): Implementation Phase

Focuses on immediate needs:

• Renovation or replacement of aging facilities

• Infrastructure upgrades

• Consolidation of programs housed in temporary or leased spaces

• Addressing current deficiencies

This phase is intended to stabilize core campuses and maintain competitiveness.

Phase 2 (2026–2030): Positioning Phase

Emphasizes:

• Student life enhancements (housing, recreation, safety, services)

• Improved campus environments

• Recruitment and retention through stronger “destination campus” experiences

Phase 3 (2031–2040): Horizon Phase

Supports:

• Long-term growth planning

• Evaluation of campus carrying capacity

• Potential land acquisition

• Strategic groundwork for future district expansion

The plan is designed to remain flexible, allowing Blinn to adjust priorities in response to changing enrollment trends, funding, and market conditions.

Campus-Specific Priorities

• Brenham Campus:
  The district’s oldest campus (average building age exceeds 50 years). Major drivers include extensive renovations, demolitions, improved student life amenities, and expanded on-campus housing to enhance competitiveness and enrollment growth.

• Bryan Campus:
  Blinn’s most heavily utilized campus. Priorities include consolidating programs from temporary facilities into permanent academic buildings, expanding and renovating core spaces, and improving the commuter student experience.

• RELLIS Campus:
  Positioned for accelerated growth due to its partnership with the Texas A&M University System and the RELLIS Academic Alliance. New facilities will be developed in response to workforce demand and alliance opportunities. Enrollment is projected to surpass Brenham within the next decade.

• Sealy and Schulenburg Campuses:
  Both have experienced enrollment declines and are located in areas with limited projected growth. No major new construction is planned; instead, the district will evaluate their strategic value and future role.

Future Expansion

The plan explores the possibility of a sixth campus in a high-growth area of the district, but recommends postponing any major expansion until critical needs at Brenham and Bryan are addressed. The master plan outlines demographic trends and service-area growth patterns to inform future decisions.

Key Conclusions

• Significant reinvestment is required to maintain Blinn’s competitive position.

• Brenham, Bryan, and RELLIS represent the district’s strongest opportunities for return on investment.

• Brenham’s future growth depends heavily on expanded student housing and broader university transfer partnerships.

• Bryan requires consolidation and modernization to relieve capacity constraints.

• RELLIS is expected to become a major growth engine for the district.

• The district should continually reassess the role of Sealy and Schulenburg in relation to Blinn’s broader vision and brand.

Ultimately, the master plan provides Blinn with a logical, phased framework to modernize facilities, enhance student experience, support workforce alignment, and guide long-term expansion—positioning the district for sustained success over the next two decades.