If the oil and gas industry is the lifeblood of the Texas economy, the state's colleges are the heart that keeps the sector thumping. For years, its schools, and particularly its community colleges, have worked hand-in-hand with the sector to develop curricular priorities and train workers on their processes and equipment.
But what happens when part of the system takes a hit?
The industry is grappling with a two-pronged crisis. As the coronavirus reduced global demand for oil, Saudi Arabia flooded the market with the commodity to retaliate against Russia, which refused in March to curtail its crude production to keep prices stable.
A month later, U.S. oil prices nosedived into negative territory for the first time in history. Prices have since partially rebounded, but the events took a toll on the Texas workforce. The state's oil and gas industry cut a record 26,300 jobs in April.
Community colleges have long been tasked with developing their region's workforce. Yet employers often bemoan that they can't find workers with the knowledge and abilities they need, and several industries have yawning skills gaps.
That's why earlier this year, Education Dive planned to visit a handful of community colleges in Texas that were either making big strides in preparing their students for in-demand jobs or taking on projects to revitalize their communities. We made it to only one of the colleges before the pandemic cut our trip short, but we were able to speak with representatives of the other schools by phone and email.
In many ways, Texas offers a microcosm view of larger trends playing out across U.S. community colleges. Several of the state's institutions must adapt to the growing need for workers in fields such as healthcare and professional services, all while
The district’s plan was approved on Monday by its accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The new Dallas College will encompass the district’s Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland colleges, which will now be campuses instead of colleges.
In addition to consolidating its colleges to better serve students, the approved plan also grants the district a “level change,” which allows what is now Dallas College to offer a bachelor of applied science in early childhood education and teaching, the first four-year degree offered by the institution.
“The pivotal moment we’ve been waiting for these last three months has arrived with an affirmative decision
Richard Rhodes, president of Austin Community College (Texas), will serve as chair-elect of the board of directors, effective July 1.
As president of the El Paso Community College (EPCC), Serrata leads an institution that currently offers more than 130 academic programs and more than 350 personal enrichment/continuing education courses at five campuses throughout El Paso County. Serrata is an active member of the El Paso community and serves as a board member on several organizations, including Workforce Solutions Borderplex, Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, United Way of El Paso, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Federal
College students and their families are wondering about the comparative value of education at different colleges in these changing times of pandemic and its economic aftermath.
Consumers of higher education may question the cost of high tuition and the benefits received from online teaching due to the pandemic. Lawsuits against colleges have already started around the country, with students claiming that online-only teaching denies them the other college-related experiences they paid high tuition for.
Some of these lawsuits include claims of “diminished value” due to conversion to online classes and pass/fail grades. At least 100 suits have been filed against U.S. colleges and universities. Concerned families are apprehensive about sending their students back to their colleges and into crowded dorms in the fall, when some if not all college classes may go online again.
