TC reports uptick in dual-credit enrollment

A Texarkana College electrical technology student secures a light fixture after wiring it. (Photo courtesy Texarkana College)
A Texarkana College electrical technology student secures a light fixture after wiring it. (Photo courtesy Texarkana College)

TEXARKANA, Texas -- Texarkana College trustees on Monday learned that the college's dual-credit courses in workforce and technical training are reaping big dividends.

For fall 2022, enrollment in these courses is up by 66.5% in head count, and 74% in contact hours from 2021, according to a news release.

"Data shows that more than 540 students from fourteen regional independent school districts are enrolled in a dual credit workforce training course," the release states.

TC President Dr. Jason Smith said there is a growing interest statewide in have high school students college- and career-ready upon graduation.

"Addressing the need to better prepare students for success in their careers is at the center of attention on the state and local level with law and policy makers, educators, parents and students alike," Smith said, according to the release. "As a participant in dual-credit courses while in high school, students can simultaneously receive credit from both their high school and an institution of higher education, typically a community college. This gives a student a head start on completing a college credential and provides them with a greater competitive edge when it comes to employment."

TC offers dual-credit courses in core academic subjects and career training programs. However, attention increasingly is turning to skills that lead to jobs in high-demand occupations, including industrial trades, welding, automotive, construction, culinary arts and cosmetology, the release states.

"More and more high school counselors and advisers are encouraging students to enroll in technical programs that prepare them for entering the workforce and earning good wages," Smith said, according to the release. "We hear from our business and industry partners every day that they need skilled employees who are ready to go to work. When a high school student starts early to gain experience and skills in a technical field, they have just provided themselves with a pathway for career success."

Smith said Brandon Washington, TC's Dean of Workforce and Community Education, works with area school districts to support expansion of technical training programs on their campus.

"We have seen several area school districts apply for grants to expand their campus technical instructional sites," said Washington. "School districts are also employing more instructors who meet the credentials and who have the industry experience to teach dual credit courses on their high school campuses. For some training programs, high school students ride a bus over to the TC campus to participate in class alongside traditional college students. These opportunities provide students with real-world experiences and access to industry-specific training tools and environments."

In other business, TC Trustees heard a report from Dean of Students Robert Jones regarding the upswing in student activities on campus.

"An abundance of student life activities has returned to TC campus this fall and students are loving the interaction with classmates and getting plugged in," Jones said, according to the release. "We have a packed calendar of events over the next few months that include celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Fall Fest with over 30 community and campus organizations set up in the center of campus for students to explore."

Other planned activities include a Halloween bash and costume contest, book discussions in the library, workshops to help students manage test anxiety and several music programs.

Students, faculty and staff also are participating in a Thanksgiving in a Box food drive through the TC Food Bank to support families in need during the holidays," the release states

"TC has more than 30 clubs and organizations that students can join," the news release reports Jones as saying. "Anything from intramural sports, gaming club, Black Student Association, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, student government, and more, there is something for everyone!"

For more information about dual credit courses and admissions, visit www.texarkanacollege.edu/admissions-aid/apply/dual-credit. To find out more about TC student life, visit www.texarkanacollege.edu/student-life/clubs-organizations.

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