Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
As a first-generation college graduate, McAllen Interim Superintendent Rosalba De Hoyos, DPC, takes creating a college-going culture personally, multiplying the gratitude she feels towards the South Texas College Dual Credit Program.
At the college’s recent annual Superintendents Leadership Meeting, where superintendents and educators from the college’s 21 partnering school districts gather to gain insight on the state of the dual credit program, student success metrics and other updates, De Hoyos expressed that appreciation.
“I come from a home where I am the only person to pursue and graduate with a postsecondary education and I know firsthand that if college isn’t a conversation at home, then it’s easy to believe that college and the opportunities it provides aren’t for you,” she said. “And as an educator of more than 25 years the focus has always been providing options for our students from academics to career and technical education, and STC’s Dual Credit Programs allows us to mold well-rounded students who wholeheartedly learn to believe that they belong in a college or university.”
STC’s Dual Credit Programs has more than 20 years of success and is one of the largest dual credit programs in the state of Texas, serving more than 130,000 dual credit students, tuition-free, since 2000.
Currently, STC serves 70 high schools, and in spring 2023, more than 2,000 dual credit students graduated with a college certificate or degree before receiving a high school diploma.
“We’re impacting an entire generation of first-time college students. In fact, we’re leading the way,” said STC Associate Vice President for Dual Credit Programs and School District Partnerships Rebecca De Leon, Ph.D. “STC is a college for everyone and that is our goal, making college accessible for all. With our tuition-free dual credit program, students and their families save money and time, impacting an entire generation and closing a gap in education in our region.”
STC Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs Anahid Petrosian, Ph.D. presented on student success metrics, proving that enrollment is at an increase and confirming that STC is seeing record numbers when it comes to dual credit students and graduates.
For the academic year of 2022-2023, STC’s total enrollment of credit and non-credit students was 50,330, more than 13,000 of those were dual credit students.
She added that the addition of new programs, apprenticeships and short-term certificates is giving these students a whole new world of possibilities.
“We’ve been in unprecedented times and the demand for new skills is ever evolving. Here at STC, we’re listening to industry leaders and their needs and that’s why all our students are finding success,” said Petrosian. “We offer 130 programs and counting, from academic to workforce to online degrees: we have something for everyone. The sky is the limit.”
In the coming year, STC plans on introducing seven new certificate and degree programs such as architecture, dental hygienist and artificial intelligence, including two new non-credit programs – cybersecurity and massage therapy.
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) Independent School District Superintendent Alejandro Elias, Ph.D., said partnering with STC for dual credit opportunities has been a great experience.
“Throughout the years, STC and PSJA have developed a great partnership,” he said. “The communication we have with each other is what has helped us grow so that our students can benefit. And after hearing everything, I’m excited about what STC is doing, the numbers are impressive, they continue to grow and as we continue moving forward our community is going to greatly benefit.”
Other initiatives set forth by the college to help students achieve a higher education include a newly established STC Foundation created to increase the number of scholarships and other financial assistance available to students, a simplified tuition rate and an STC Promise Program set for fall 2024.
The STC Promise Program is a last-dollar scholarship, defined as money that covers tuition gaps, not paid for by federal and state grants or scholarships, that will cover 100% of tuition and fees for more than 1,000 Hidalgo and Starr County dual credit students.
“Our partners need to be reassured that their students are getting the latest, most relevant education in the most in-demand programs out there,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. “We’re a young college, 30 years, compared to others around the state, but we have surpassed insurmountable records and achievements and we hold our programs and degrees to the same standards and rigor as other colleges and universities. We offer so many opportunities and it’s our partners working with us that make this possible.”
To date, STC’s dual credit programs have saved parents $340 million dollars in tuition and fees.
