South Texas College Puts High School Students Ahead of the Curve
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South Texas College is taking learning to a new degree. The college has long offered dual credit courses that allow high school students to take college courses in tandem with fulfilling their secondary education requirements. Recently the college, which operates five campuses throughout Starr and Hidalgo counties, has brought the concept up a notch with its dual enrollment academies.
The academies set high school sophomores on a degree pathway toward careers in engineering and science, allowing them to earn an associate degree weeks before graduating high school, according to Guadalupe Chavez, coordinator for the academies.
“The purpose of the program is to increase the number of rural area students in the science and technology fields of higher education,” says Chavez. “With the support from the local school districts, the community, local health-care professionals and engineers, academy programs are preparing students and providing the support structure required to retain students and facilitate transition into a university of their choice.”
Graduates – many of whom are first-generation college students – continue their educations at prestigious universities in Texas and throughout the U.S. In 2008 alone, 46 academy graduates received more than $1.8 million in scholarships. Best of all, the program is free to students and their families. The college waives tuition and fees, while textbooks and transportation are provided by local school districts. Grants and donations also enable students to participate in college tours, academic trips and internships.
Another program giving students an academic boost is the Achieve Early College High School program, offered through McAllen Independent School District in partnership with STC. The new school, which opened in fall 2008, allows 400 students to complete high school on the college’s Pecan Campus in McAllen. There, they can also earn up to 60 hours of college credit at no cost to students or their families.
“The program is part of a larger set of initiatives to increase college-going rates and build a ‘college-going culture’ in Hidalgo and Starr counties,” says Wallace Johnson, assistant director for college readiness and Early College High School programs.
Johnson says the program also provides scholarships and transfer opportunities not available in the traditional high school environment.
South Texas College also offers traditional college programs, a nursing and allied health campus, and a technology campus in McAllen, as well as workforce training centers, which are located at the Technology Campus and the Mid-Valley and Starr County campuses. In 2005, the school added the bachelor of applied technology and technology management to its offerings and added the bachelor of applied technology and computer technology in 2008. South Texas College is one of only two in the state accredited to offer bachelor of technology degrees.
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Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Jesse Knish
