Colleges Add Academic Programs to Meet Demand
Published Oct 07, 2008
Dr. Flavius Killebrew leads Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Innovation is the name of the game in higher education, and schools in the Coastal Bend are working harder than ever to meet the region’s educational needs.
Growth at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has continued at such a rate the campus found itself bursting at the seams. Enrollment rose 16 percent a year in the past several years.
A solution arose in March 2008 when the city donated 137 acres of land across Oso Bay from the university’s island campus. President Flavius Killebrew says the land is key to the university’s continued growth. “We’re essentially full here on the island,” he says.
The university is committed to helping students get a college education, including a new program in fall 2008 for those whose family income is less than $30,000.
“They will basically get tuition and fees for free,” Killebrew says, so long as the student is eligible for federal programs that make up part of the package along with state grants.
Additionally, he says, the university has ramped up efforts to raise money for scholarships. “When we try to recruit top students, we have to be competitive with other schools.”
Helping students complete their education has a tremendous economic impact, Killebrew says, and the university commissioned a study in 2007 to quantify it. “The study showed for every 1,000 students, there is a $23 million direct impact on the economy.”
When companies are considering a Coastal Bend presence, Killebrew says, they tend to ask what programs the local university offers and whether they are high quality. “A strong university is important to the well being of the community,” he adds.
Further south, Texas A&M University-Kingsville also offers a varied academic program, including the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy – the only pharmacy college of the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Community College Offerings
With campuses in four communities, Coastal Bend College is another important player in higher education here. The Texas Board of Nursing in April 2008 gave the college the green light to begin an associate degree of nursing program in Alice and Beeville, beginning in August 2008.
In Corpus Christi, Del Mar College offers a comprehensive array of courses. A recent $108 million capital improvement program included the Center for Economic Development, housed in a $4.8 million building that opened in 2005.
The center offers an array of services, including customized training for business and industry and a vibrant Small Business Development Center, says Bud Harris, dean.
“[It] is doing a great job, not just locally but regionally, in areas like Sinton and Rockport,” he says. “We are also working to develop a fast-track program. It would recruit small businesses for a 10-week training program and then get them money to use to facilitate their growth.”
Workforce development is a major emphasis at Del Mar College overall (see story, page 32). At the Small Business Development Center, “we are very involved with preparing contracts with the state to fund training for new and expanding industries,” Harris says. “About 10 months ago, we helped with a grant for three companies that was worth about $680,000. We were just awarded a second grant for $370,000 for entry-level training in oil-field services. That one involves about 400 jobs.”
Partnerships with area economic development offices are also a top priority for the center, Harris says. Staff there can offer advice on training programs as well as skills testing and job fairs.
“Del Mar College is absolutely committed to business growth,” Harris says. “We enjoy working with new companies coming into the community, and we are ready to help provide a skilled workforce.”
Story by Leanne Libby
Photo by Jesse Knish
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