Texarkana, TX- At Monday’s Texarkana College board meeting, trustees reviewed the statewide accountability report released this month by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) showing TC as continuing to rank in the top percentile for student graduation rates among all Texas community colleges. The 2021 data report shows TC students ranking fourth among 3-year completers, first among 4-year completers, and 21st among institutions whose students took 6-years to complete their degree or certificate. Dr. Jason Smith, TC President, said he is pleased to learn TC remains as one of the top five institutions in the state helping students save time and money as they press toward earning their higher education credentials. “For the sixth year in a row, TC ranks in the top five of all community colleges in the state in student completion rates, and I could not be prouder of our students, faculty and staff for maintaining this status,” said Smith. “The data report from the THECB compares all fifty publicly-funded community colleges on various metric points. Continue Reading →
Texarkana College
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Professional Driving Academy Training Continues at Texarkana College
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At Monday’s board meeting, Texarkana College Trustees approved the continuation of the Professional Driving Academy training program by signing an instructional contract with Ancora, a national leading provider for CDL Class-A training. Mendy Sharp, Executive Director of TC’s Community and Business Education Division, said the job outlook for professional truck drivers is strong and continuously growing due to the high demand from on-line retailers and delivery transportation companies. “TC’s Professional Driving Academy trains students in a 4-week program to enter a high-demand career with annual earnings of up to $75,000 or more in some cases,” said Sharp. “The need for reliable commercial drivers is at an all-time high right now due to the demand from suppliers of essentials– from vaccines and medical equipment to food and auto parts. More than 80% of US commodities depend on trucks for the delivery of everyday goods*. As a result, the income for drivers is likely to continue to increase as retailers and delivery companies are scrambling to find drivers. Continue Reading →
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS – DATE CHANGE FOR COMEDY NIGHT
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Due to the power outages, poor internet service and the problems being caused by the weather, the Comedy Night featuring Derrick Keener on Zoom has been postponed until next Friday, February 26. This event is being sponsored by Texarkana College and Texas A&M University Texarkana to celebrate Black History Month.
Robert Jones, Texarkana College’s Dean of Students, said “Texarkana College is looking forward to this event because during this kind of weather our students and staff need something to laugh about. We look forward to the rescheduled event on Friday, February 26 at 7pm.”
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TEXARKANA COLLEGE WINTER WEATHER SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY 15-19, 2021
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Texarkana College will be conducting all classes virtually for the week of February 15 to 19, 2021, with no on-campus activities. All TC offices will continue to offer services virtually for the entire week. Business hours are Monday -Thursday: 8 AM – 5 PM; Friday: 8 AM – 4 PM. Need assistance? For quick access to FAQs, a chat feature is available on our website at www.texarkanacollege.edu. Continue Reading →
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Texarkana College Music Professor Selected as Semi-Finalist for The American Prize in Performing Arts
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Texarkana, TX- Texarkana College’s professor of music, Marc-Andre Bougie, has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Choral Music Division of The American Prize National Nonprofit Competition in the Performing Arts for a requiem he composed during the pandemic. The competition is the nation’s most comprehensive series of contests in the classical arts and is designed to evaluate, recognize, and reward the best performers, ensembles, and composers in the United States. Bougie said he is very excited about the selection of his piece as a semi-finalist. “During the months of quarantine, I found myself in prayer, thought and reflection as to how I could use my background in music composition and performance to help bring about healing and peace during these difficult times,” said Bougie. “For years, I wanted to work on a requiem composition but never had the time to gather my thoughts. Continue Reading →
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The Educational Opportunity Center at Texarkana College and the Texarkana Housing Authority Partner to Provide Scholarships to Five Area Students
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Texarkana, TX- The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) at Texarkana College held an award ceremony on Thursday, February 11, 2021, to present $500 scholarships to five students pursuing higher education credentials. The awards were provided through a donation from the Texarkana Housing Authority which contributed $2,500 toward the EOC Overcoming Barriers Scholarship Fund for the academic year. During the presentation, Melva Flowers, Texarkana Housing Authority Board President, said the agency and its affiliates are honored to partner with TC and the EOC program to provide scholarships. “If we are to make our community a better place, then there is no better return on our investment than to provide scholarships for education,” said Flowers. “When we invest in scholarships, we make dreams come true that may otherwise be impossible.”
Flowers said that providing scholarships is a way to invest in tomorrow’s community leaders and help offset the rising cost of higher education. Continue Reading →
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Three Texarkana College Trustees Begin New Terms of Service
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January 25, 2021- The swearing-in of Texarkana College Trustees for Places 5, 6 and 7 took place at Monday’s Board meeting held in the Truman Arnold Student Center on the TC campus. In the November 2020 general election, trustees Kaye Ellison (Place 5), Kyle Davis (Place 6), and George Moore (Place 7), ran unopposed and were declared reelected to the Board through the end of 2026. In December 2020, Davis resigned his position (Place 6) leaving a vacancy to be filled by appointment. Brad Carlow was appointed by Trustees and sworn-in to fill the vacant position until the next election scheduled for November 2022. Ellison and Moore were sworn-in to fulfill terms ending in 2026. Continue Reading →
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Temple Foundation Grant Provides Texarkana College Students with COVID-19 Emergency Grant
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T.L.L. Temple Foundation Grant Provides Eligible Texarkana College Students with COVID-19 Emergency Grant to Help Pay for Tuition, Fees, and Costs Associated with Attending College
January 7, 2021, Texarkana, TX- The Board of Trustees of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation has awarded $125,000 to Texarkana College for COVID-19 Emergency Student Aid Grant Funds to assist eligible enrolled TC students with costs of tuition, fees, course materials and related charges not paid through federal, state, or other institutional financial aid resources. This one-time grant source for student emergency assistance is intended to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 disruptions on the credential attainment of East Texas students. Kim Jones, TC’s Chief Financial Officer, said TC is grateful to the T.L.L. Temple Foundation for their generous support of students who have been impacted by the pandemic. “This special funding source will enable TC to immediately award funds to students whose educational costs are not fully covered through other financial aid or scholarship sources,” said Jones. “The grant will help students remain on track with their higher education goals to attain a degree or certificate and help lift the financial burden that has come through the impact of COVID-19.”
Jones said the Temple Foundation grant fund provides support for students who are college ready and are close to or making progress toward credential completion. Continue Reading →
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A Mid-Life Career Change Builds Confidence and Purpose for TC LVN Nursing Student
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TC Licensed Vocational Nursing student, Nate McClain, is originally from Chicago. He moved to Texarkana in 2013, when he met his wife. Not long after, they decided to adopt, and found their daughter, Marley, when she was only three-months old.
Nate had a job working long hours at a local factory without a degree that financially supported him so much that his wife did not have to work. However, after spending more time with his wife and daughter, and really starting to think about being a good example for their daughter, Nate decided to go to school and complete his degree.
“I figured, I’m 39-years-old. It’s now or never,” Nate said.
When determining what he would pursue in school, he used his past experiences to guide him, leading him to the healthcare industry.
“I took a random course in Phlebotomy years ago, just for the sake of doing it. I really enjoyed it, so I decided to go into healthcare.”
Nate started working at a hospital to get acclimated with the healthcare environment and see if a career in the industry would fit his lifestyle. His experiences in the hospital did not disappoint him and they solidified his dream of devoting his education and career to helping others. He was ready to move forward with his career goals and find a healthcare training program that fit his needs and he began doing research on area nursing schools. Continue Reading →
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REFINANCING OF TC’S MAINTENANCE TAX NOTES RESULTS IN $3.3 MILLION SAVINGS
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Texarkana College Trustees approved a resolution yesterday authorizing the refinancing of the College’s maintenance tax notes to achieve significant savings on interest expense. Since the original issuance date, interest rates have dropped, and refinancing would be favorable to the College. Kim Jones, TC’s Chief Financial Officer and VP of Finance said the savings to the College is estimated at $3.3 million. “In December 2018, the Texarkana College Board of Trustees approved a resolution to initiate proceedings relating to the issuance of Texarkana College Maintenance Tax Notes in the amount of $15,000,000,” said Jones. “Ten million in notes were issued in 2019, and the remaining five million were to be issued in 2020. Continue Reading →