SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE

ACHIEVEMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS

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South Texas College has continued its tradition of being recognized and honored for its dedication to excellence and its innovative endeavors.  The College has received numerous awards from national, state and local sources that demonstrate its leadership among the community colleges in the State of Texas and the nation. Some of the recent accomplishments and initiatives include:

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

  1. Since the creation of South Texas College in 1993, the unemployment rate in its two-county district has dropped significantly from 24.1% to 7.9% for Hidalgo County, and from 40.3% to 13.0% for Starr County, as of August 2015. Additionally, the population below the poverty level has dropped from 41.5% to 34.8% for Hidalgo County, and from 59.6% to 39.2% in Starr County.
  1. Recognized as a catalyst for regional economic prosperity and social mobility for Hidalgo and Starr counties.
  1. Ranked as number one in 2014 for awarding Associate Degrees in the majors of Business, Education and Psychology.
  1. Awarded a $2.5 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education to increase the higher education success of Hispanic students.
  1. Selected to participate in the Integrated Planning and Advising for Success (IPAS) in Higher Education Initiative to engage in bold and holistic institutional change to improve student success.
  1. Awarded the CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING by the Government Finance Officers Association, in 2014 for the 12th consecutive year.
  1. Invited by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden to participate in the White House College Opportunity Summit in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2014.
  1. Selected by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics “Bright Spots in Hispanic Education National Online Catalog.” Over 230 Bright Spots featured in the catalog are helping ensure the educational attainment for the country’s Hispanic community, from cradle-to-career
  1. Selected among nine colleges to serve as a Co-Development Partner with the New Mathways Project, led by the Texas Association of Community Colleges and the Charles A. Dana Center, to redesign developmental mathematics course offerings. The project is a statewide approach to reforming mathematics developmental education.
  1. Developed the JagExpress in partnership with LRGVDC to provide free shuttle service with WiFi, connecting five campuses across Hidalgo and Starr counties.
  1. Invited to Join Excelencia in Education’s launch of the Presidents for Latino Student Success’ program which included leaders throughout the country to make America stronger by increasing degree attainment for Latino students and all students.
  1. Awarded nine Medallion Awards by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations for outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges.
  1. Awarded 17 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards for the commitment to the professional development of faculty, administrators, and staff, and to the continued improvement of teaching and learning, with the ultimate goal of student success.
  1. Invited to pilot the nation’s first dual enrollment nursing program with Doctors Hospital at Renaissance and the PSJA Independent School District.
  1. Authorized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as one of three community colleges in Texas to offer the Bachelor of Applied Technology and Bachelor of Applied Science degrees.
  1. Received bequeaths and endowments valued at over $6 million.
  1. Pioneered tuition-free dual enrollment to over 100,000 high school students, saving families over $120 million in tuition since 2003.
  1. Partnered with local school districts to establish thirty Early College High Schools with 62% of participating students graduating with an Associate Degree in addition to their high school diploma.
  1. Developed dual enrollment Middle College Academies for high school students in the areas of medical sciences, engineering, computer science and criminal justice.
  1. Partnered with local school districts, helping over 4,000 high school dropouts earn a diploma and college credit.
  1. Established the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative designed to develop the regional workforce to be the national leader in advanced manufacturing and serve as the Corporate Headquarters/Executive Office.
  1. Established the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) and train over 3,200 workers in Advanced Manufacturing annually.
  1. Certified as a globally recognized FESTO Certified Training Center for Robotics and Industrial Automation.
  1. Accredited by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) to establish manufacturing skill standards and competency assessments.
  1. Received community approval to establish a taxing district for operation of the College and successfully passed three bond elections resulting in the issuance of $277 million in construction bonds.
  1. Developed the Valley Scholars Program to provide two year scholarships to top 10% of local high school graduates.
  1. Host an annual College and Career Readiness Summit focused on improving College and Career Readiness of all students.
  1. Established the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence to provide college level training for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Certified Peace Officers.

 

RECOGNITIONS

South Texas College has a two decade history of national recognition and rankings. It is embedded in the institutional culture to exceed all expectations in our commitment to serve the needs of all residents of Deep South Texas.

  1. Early College High Schools Program selected by Excelencia in Education for the ¡Examples of Excelencia! 2015
  2. High Schools Program Recognized in the 2014 edition of What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education by Excelencia in Education
  3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Star Award for the Exemplary Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy; and the Star Award for development of the PSJA College, Career and Technology Academy for recovering high school drop-outs
  4. Recognition of the Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy as Top Finalist for the Association of Community College Trustees 2014 Legacy Award
  5. Recognition as Finalist for the 2013 Student Success Excellence Award

by the American Association of Community Colleges

  1. 2013 Leah Meyer Austin Institutional Student Success Leadership Award by the Kresge Foundation
  2. MetLife Foundation: 2008 Community College Excellence Award for promoting educational and economic advancement;
  3. National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD): Excellence Award;
  4. Association of Community College Trustees: 2005 Western Region Equity Award;
  5. Association of Community College Trustees: 2012 M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award;
  6. Achieving the Dream Leader College since 2009, and selected as an ATD Texas Peer Coach (2012);
  7. North American Council for Staff Professional and Organizational Development (NCSPOD): Institutional Merit Award;
  8. National Council for Public Relations and Marketing: National Pacesetter Award for the College’s Leadership for Creative and Innovative Marketing and Public Relations;
  9. 2011 Alfredo G. de los Santos, Jr. Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE);
  10. 2013 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education for significant contributions to increase the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds who enter and succeed in postsecondary education;
  11. Awarded the 2013 at the Good Samaritan Community Services-Rio Grande Valley’s third annual event, for dedicating her career to changing the lives of youth and adults in South Texas;

 

NATIONAL RANKINGS

  1. 1st in the nation awarding Associate degrees to Hispanic students in STEM fields
  2. 1st in State of Texas for Hispanic student enrollment
  3. 2nd in nation for Hispanic student enrollment
  4. 3rd in awarding Associate Degrees in Education
  5. Community College Week’s Top 100 Associate Degree & Certificate Producers, 2015 ranks South Texas College 27th out of more than 1,100 community colleges in awarding Associate Degrees in all disciplines
  6. Diverse Education in 2014 ranked South Texas College as number one in the nation for awarding Associate Degrees in Business, Education and Psychology
  7. 4th in awarding Associate Degrees to Hispanic students
  8. 9th in awarding Associate Degrees to all minority students
  9. Highest graduation rate for very large community colleges in Texas
  10. 1st in the nation as the most affordable college by the Department of Education, the College Affordability and Transparency Center, July 2011 Rankings
  11. Top 150 for Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

Exclusive Texas Border Business October 2015 Issue.