Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
South Texas College and Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) have signed an interlocal agreement establishing a permanent office for PSJA ISD staff at the college’s Pecan campus as part of the college’s Valley Promise initiative to aid in student success.
PSJA is STC’s largest feeder district in terms of dual credit students and graduating seniors, currently 1,500. With the inception of STC’s Valley Promise program this year, hundreds of PSJA graduates have been selected as Valley Promise Scholars.
Valley Promise is a last-dollar initiative that will cover tuition after all financial aid has been applied, offering a free education to high school seniors attending one of STC’s eligible Valley Promise high schools. Valley Promise is expected to grow and with the help of national foundations and local philanthropists will ultimately result in free college for all Valley students.
“STC and PSJA have an innovative partnership and this agreement expands on that,” said STC Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Matt Hebbard, Ph.D. “This idea was pioneered by STC President Dr. Ricardo Solis and PSJA Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias, who want to offer PSJA Valley Promise Scholars support in their transition to college.”
Solis said the idea behind the agreement is to not only support student success, but to help them navigate the many resources that STC offers.
PSJA ISD staff at the newly founded office will also provide students with in-depth information about STC resources such as mental health assistance, the student food pantries and tutoring.
“PSJA and STC continuously work at fostering and growing its partnership, and this agreement takes it to a new level,” said Solis. “This unique concept gives students a resource unlike any other. It makes the transition from high school to college less intimidating and provides one-on-one coaching and mentoring. It’s really a win-win for everyone involved.”
Elias shares Solis’ sentiment, and said this innovative concept expands on the work PSJA and STC already do in promoting student success.
“We are grateful for our continued partnership with STC, which allows us to keep offering valuable opportunities for our students,” said Elias. “This initiative is all about student success. We want our graduates to know they are still part of the PSJA family and that we will continue to support them after they leave high school. At PSJA, we’re a family, and this office is just one more way we’re showing that commitment.”
In the coming month, STC and PSJA will host a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new office and officially welcome PSJA staff on campus.
Hebbard said he is confident that this new phase in STC’s and PSJA’s partnership will ensure student success in obtaining their educational goals.
“This is going to help us avoid students falling through the cracks,” he said. “We can monitor student progress closely, not just at their transition and early years in college, but beyond. We are so excited and grateful to be working with PSJA in our commitment to student success.”
STC’s Valley Promise initiative is entering its second year, with applications opening on October 1, 2024. Deadline to apply and take the Valley Promise Pledge is May 31, 2025.
For more information on the STC Valley Promise, visit https://www.valleypromise.org/
