Texarkana College receives $647,050 grant for occupational scholarships

(Courtesy Texarkana College)
(Courtesy Texarkana College)

TEXARKANA, Texas -- Texarkana College Board of Trustees received notice during a Monday meeting that it has been recommended for a grant in the amount of $647,050 to provide scholarships for students to earn industry certification in cyber-security and logistics occupational skills

As part of the Northeast Texas College's Consortium, TC will be receiving the award from the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education Institutional Capacity Grant Program funded by the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund.

Dr. Donna McDaniel, VP of Instruction, said this is an excellent opportunity for regional students to quickly earn training in industry recognized, high-demand micro credentials.

"TC was selected as one of 12 TRUE initiative pilot colleges in Texas and faculty and staff have participated in advanced planning, professional development and collaboration with peer institutions to prepare for the full deployment of these micro-credentials," McDaniel said. "Courses will begin this spring and run through the summer."

Cyber Security courses will include Business Computer Applications, A+ Intermediate PC Operating System and Information Technology Security.

In March, TC will also begin offering micro credentials courses in logistics including Business Logistics, Material Handling and Warehousing and Distribution Center Management.

In other news from the meeting, trustees approved the administration's recommendation to sunset the Associate of Arts degree with a concentration in Drama effective Spring 2022.

McDaniel said the recommendation has come after careful deliberation by college administration, faculty, and staff regarding the impact on students and the institution.

"Earlier this month, the TC Academic Council and Curriculum Committee evaluated the program and looked at enrollment trends over the last ten years and employment opportunities available in our service area to graduates with the Associate of Arts degree with a concentration in Drama," she said. "The drama program has exhibited low enrollment over the past ten years, and in our service area, there is a limited demand for graduates with the Associate of Arts degree with a concentration in Drama."

The board also approved an item that would allow the college to use Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund funds to provide stipends to employees who have previously had to work remotely due to COVID.

"In an effort to retain our amazing employees in light of the hazardous conditions associated with COVID-19, the administration is recommending using available funds from the HEERF grant to provide a one-time, return to campus safely COVID-19 training and response strategies stipend of $3,000 to our eligible full-time employees and $1,500 to our part-time employees," VP of Finance Kim Jones said.

Vice presidents and the president at TC, as well as student workers, would not be eligible for the stipend.

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