For Release Upon Receipt (May 19, 2004)

Grants enable community colleges to develop online degrees 

The Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) through the Virtual College of Texas (VCT) has distributed 11 grants totaling $560,000 to ten two-year institutions and their collaborating partners for the development of online degrees and certificates. 

“The degree/certificate initiative builds upon two-year colleges’ five years of success in sharing individual courses through VCT,” said Rey Garcia, Executive Director of TACC. “These five years of success are the reason the 78^th Session of the Texas Legislature allocated almost $600,000 in additional funding to VCT to further extend access to higher education.” 

Award amounts ranged from $19,680 to $80,000.  The average award was approximately $50,900.  Upon completion, these programs will be made available to students at other Texas community colleges by the terms of inter-institutional collaborative agreements.  

Institutions received grants for the following: 

• Austin Community College, Medical Lab Technician - Associate of Applied Science Degree (MLAB/MLT), $64,248.  Collaborating Partners:  St. Phillips College, Del Mar Community College, Tyler Junior College.

 • Brazosport College, Process Technology - Associate of Applied Science Degree, $78,056. Collaborating Partner: Texas State Technical College – Waco.

• Cy-Fair College (North Harris Montgomery Community College District), $80,000, Alternative Teacher Certification Program - Continuing Education Certificate. Collaborating Partner:  North Harris Montgomery Community College.

• Eastfield College (Dallas Community College District), $69,500, Mental Health-Substance Abuse Prevention - Associate of Applied Science Degree or Certificate of Completion. Collaborating Partners: San Antonio College, LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications.

• Eastfield College (Dallas Community College District), $75,500, Architectural Computer-Aided Design - Certificate of Completion. Collaborating Partners: Temple College, Mountain View College, Texas State Technical College – Marshall, LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications.

• McLennan Community College (Waco), $24,795, Long-Term Care Administration Advanced Skills - Certificate of Completion.

• Northeast Texas Community College (Mt. Pleasant), $19,680, Microsoft Office Specialist Certification - Continuing Education Certificate.

• North Lake College  (Dallas Community College District), $38,121, Hospitality Management - Associate of Applied Science Degree or Certificate of Completion. Collaborating Partners: St. Philip’s College, Del Mar College, Howard College, LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications.

• Panola College, $42,500, General Business Associate of Applied Science Degree. Collaborating Partners: Angelina College, Trinity Valley Community College.

•Texas State Technical College -Waco, $37,000, Oracle Associate of Applied Science Degree. Collaborating Partner: Austin Community College.

• Tyler Junior College, $30,600 Child Development Associate of Applied Science Degree. Collaborating Partner:  Western Texas College. 

The Virtual College of Texas, a consortium of all accredited, public community and technical colleges in the state, enables sharing of distance learning resources to maximize student access. By enrolling in a local college, students may take courses provided by other colleges throughout Texas, while receiving support services from the local institution. 

Ann Morris, Director of Distance Learning at Panola College, wrote the grant with input from Dwayne Ferguson, Chair of the Office Systems Technology Department. Morris states, “Panola College will use these grant funds to defray the costs of developing and delivering online certificates and degrees, including our new online General Business Degree. Panola and other community college across Texas are benefiting from the vision of the architects of the Virtual College of Texas. Panola’s participation in the VCT continues to increase.”  

In Fiscal Year 2004, there have been 8,052 enrollments in courses shared through the Virtual College of Texas, an increase of 36.4 percent over the previous year.  

According to Morris, “It is estimated that by 2010, 50% of all college students will be adults who want accessible, available education at their time and place and medium. Life-long learning is here to stay, and Internet-based education is quickly becoming the predominant technology in providing it. The Distance Learning Department at Panola College proactively seeks resources and partnerships that guarantee opportunities for all learners.”