Del Mar College received a substantial donation of $1.5 million dollars from Gulf Coast Growth Venture on Thursday, March 21. Del Mar College is currently growing both in enrollments and in size. The “history-making” donation will allow them to expand both their facilities and resources for students on their campus.
"This is going to benefit our entire region of South Texas for generations to come," said Del Mar College President Mark Escamilla.
As of now, the money will be used for new equipment and to further enhance workforce training programs like process technology, millwright, welding, transportation training, and environmental/petrochemical lab technology. As Coastal Bend's economy grows, all of these positions are in high demand.
Read more on the impact of this incredible donation here.
"2019 is a big year for Haley Taylor Schlitz. In May, she will earn her associate degree as well as her bachelor degree. This fall, she goes on to law school. It is also the year Taylor Schlitz gets her driver’s license. She is only 16 years old.
Taylor Schlitz’s education experience began in public school. Recognizing her gifts, her parents decided to homeschool her beginning in the fifth grade. Taylor Schlitz accelerated through primary and secondary curriculum and graduated from high school at 13-years old. She and her parents decided TCC was the next step.
“Community colleges are a safe environment and cost-effective. My parents stressed not getting into a large amount of debt for my undergraduate degree,” Taylor Schlitz said. “They told me and my brother what a great resource TCC is for students. It has great faculty, great programs, and flexibility to combine on campus and online
"TJC President for Branch Locations & District Provost Dr. Juan E. Mejia was recently recognized by the Texas Legislature for his work in higher education.
He has now been honored during three consecutive Texas Legislative Sessions.
During the 86th Texas Legislative Session, the Honorable Bryan Hughes, member of the Texas Senate and chair for the Senate Administration Committee, introduced Senate Resolution 23 to honor Mejia following Mejia’s recognition by the Texas Association of Community Colleges. Mejia was also recognized through House Resolution 689 during the 84th Texas Legislature Session and Senate Resolution 160 during the 85th Session."
TACC partnered with Del Mar College to sponsor another successful Texas Tribune event at Studio 919 on March 7, 2019. Evan Smith, Co-founder, and CEO of Texas Tribune moderated the conversation between Senator Creighton and State Representative Turner.
Creighton R-Conroe, has represented Senate District 4 since 2014. He serves as chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and vice chair of the Water and Rural Affairs Committee, and he sits on the Business & Commerce, Property Tax and State Affairs committees. Previously, Creighton served in the Texas House from 2007-14.
Turner, D-Grand Prairie, has represented House District 101 since 2013, after previously representing the district from 2008-10. He serves as chair of the House Higher Education Committee and vice chair of the Redistricting Committee, and he sits on the Insurance Committee. Turner also serves as chair of the House
The community colleges that educate about half the state’s higher education students are warning of possible tuition hikes if the Texas legislature enacts its sweeping property tax proposal.
The high-priority legislation would slow the growth of property tax revenue, which makes up an average 40 percent of community colleges’ funding, according to an association that represents them. The share for state appropriations for the schools, meanwhile, has plummeted from 66 percent in the 1980s to near 23 percent today.
