"For Dustin Meador, it seemed as though the nagging, complex and contentious issue of college transfers was the Texas legislature’s Moby Dick: The problems were big and obvious, but solutions were elusive.
“It was just the white whale of public higher education policy. Legislators said it was the number one issue they heard about, and they very much wanted to get something done, but it just never could get traction,” says Meador, director of government relations for the Texas Association of Community Colleges.
It’s a situation frequently faced by those working in this arena, where the interests of four-year universities, community colleges, lawmakers, taxpayers and families of college students often diverge, stymieing efforts to resolve a problem they all agree needs to be addressed."
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) presented Dr. William Serrata, EPCC President, the 2019 Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Officer Award.
Serrata was originally announced as a Western region finalist and ACCT presented him the national award during the 50th Annual ACCT Leadership Congress. The award honors chief executive officers who demonstrate commitment to excellence in advancing the community college movement.
“Dr. Serrata is a true champion of EPCC’s efforts to provide innovative opportunities in higher education,” Board Chair Brian Haggerty said. “Under his leadership, EPCC has increased completion rates for degrees and certificates, improved transfer rates, accelerated college-readiness and achieved national and regional recognition for the college.”
"Inspired by Amazon's need for tech talent, community colleges in Dallas County and across Texas will offer a new degree that prepares students for careers in cloud computing.
Texas education leaders and Amazon Web Services announced the creation of associate's and bachelor's degree programs Thursday at a Dallas event attended by Secretary of State Ruth Hughs, the state's higher education commissioner and several Texas lawmakers.
Local and state education leaders have looked for ways to strengthen Texas' workforce and prepare students for jobs of the future. They've set an ambitious statewide goal — dubbed the 60x30 plan —that aims for 60% of Texas' 25- to 34-year-old workforce to have a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030. About 44% of Texans in that age group currently have one. To do that, education leaders have backed early college programs and seamless transfers of credits
" McKown, 69, marks her 10th anniversary as MCC president this month, with Sept. 22 the anniversary of her formal inauguration. McKown is the third president in the community college’s almost 55-year history, following Wilbur Ball and Dennis Michaelis.
She sees herself largely as one expanding the work of her predecessors."
