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Research Project

Texas Community
Colleges
Alma Young
The Community College
EDLD 8434
Dr. Barry Dotson
Georgia Southern University

HISTORY
Texas along with Illinois, have two of the oldest community college systems.
The Texas "Junior College Movement" began in 1890s.
Decatur Baptist College (church sponsored) First junior college in the country
First public sponsored community college was established in Wichita Falls,

Texas in 1922
Originally served as an extension of the high school

Were under administrations of local school districts

Eventually were placed in control of the Coordinating


Board, Texas College and University System

It solidified their status of institutions of higher


education

Photo credit: http://www.wisehistory.com/baptistcollege.html

HISTORY

Initial curriculum included courses transferrable to two and four-year


institutions
Eventually vocational and agricultural courses were added
Soon, technical-education, technical-preparation, and continuingeducation programs became increasingly available
Open-admissions policies, coupled with mandated guidance and
counseling programs, opened opportunities for all residents
Finally, in the 1970's the institutions changed from "junior college" to
"community college"

Texas Community Colleges


Texas Community Colleges offer a wide range
of educational opportunities, including Adult
Basic Education for GED attainment, English as
a Second Language courses, Continuing
Education workforce programs, Certificate and
Applied Associate degree workforce programs,
and academic transfer courses and associate
degrees for those students intending to
transfer to a university. All community colleges
are open enrollment, by state law.
Accountability Small Community College Report

TEXAS IHE OVERVIEW


TEXAS INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

50 public community college districts


38 public universities and upper-division
4 Texas State Technical College System
9 public health-related institutions
3 lower-division Lamar state colleges
38 independent (private) four-year universities
1 independent (private) medical school

IHE OVERVIEW Enrollment by


Institution
Institution

Fall 2014

% of
enrollment

Community Colleges

693,791

47.4%

Public University

603,598

41.2%

Independent College or University

122,348

8.4%

25,751

1.8%

18,678

1.3%

Public Health 0r related Institution

(Public

and Private)

Technical/State Colleges

Total 1,464,17
5

COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS


The state of Texas has eight main community college
districts:

Alamo Community College District (5 Institutions)


Dallas County Community College District (7 Institutions)
El Paso Community College District (1 Institutions )
Howard County Jr. Community College District (2 Institutions)
Lonestar College System District (7 Institutions)
San Jacinto Community College District (3 Institutions)
Tarrant County Community College District (6 Institutions)
Texas State Community College District (5 Institutions)

STUDENTS
In Fall 2015 there were 179,089 total first time undergraduate
applicants to institutions of higher education in the state.

139,925 were accepted to an IHE of their choice


62,058 male
77,867 female

Photo credit:
http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kut/files/201507/ACCCollege-Desitination-Center-6202.jpg

COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

10,338 students enrolled in a community or technical college


in Fall 2015

White 22.4%
African American 11.6%
Hispanic 55.8%
Asian 4.2%
International 1.9%
Other 4 .1%
Photo credit: http://www.austincc.edu/apply-andregister/type-of-student

FACULTY
Main focus is to teach.
Small community colleges do not generally
have the resources to hire fulltime advisors.
However, the smallness can be a plus, because
advising can be more informal and personal.
For example, a student may be your neighbor
or the child of a friend. Advising is done by a
mix of faculty and staff that may or may not
have some training in advising.

FACULTY Employment Status and


Salary
Community
Colleges

Technical Colleges

FTE Faculty

8,733

345

Average Salary

$55,860

$36,544

FTE Faculty

8,849

309

Average Salary

$55,612

$36,375

(1.3%)

11.7%

FY 2015

FY2014

% Change
FTE Faculty

FTE Full-Time
Equivalent

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
Community colleges are locally controlled governmental entities established via
an election process.
To a significant degree, local control enables districts to determine their own
financial destiny.

State law and Coordinating Board rules impose some limitations, but local autonomy and
demographics account for much of the variation in resource allocation and revenue
collection.

The majority of the revenue districts receive is from four sources: state formula
funding, local property tax revenue, tuition and fee revenue, and other income
that is largely from federal funds. Although some districts have endowments,
they are more commonly found in universities, and revenue from endowments is
often used for tuition assistance, as opposed to operations.

REVENUE SOURCES

Tuition and Fees

The Board of each Community College District sets the institutions tuition and fee structures.
Tuition and fees are considered institutional funds and are not appropriated by the state

Local Property Taxes

Each Community College Board is required by state law to levy annual ad valorem taxes for
the maintenance of district facilities.

State Appropriations

The Texas Legislature appropriates general revenue funds to public community colleges. Prior
to the 83rd Texas Legislature (2013), the Texas Association of Community Colleges proposed a
new Student Success model for funding community college instruction with three components:
1) Core Operations, 2) Student Success Points, and 3) Contact Hour funding.

Federal Funds

TUITION
Public Community College Costs 2016-2017
Institution

In District
Out of
District
Resident
Non
Resident

Institution

Resident
Nonreside
nt

Tuition and
Fees

Books and
Supplies

Room and
Board

Transportat
ion

Other
Costs

Total

$2,622

$1,437

$7,099

$2,284

$2,194

$15,58
6

$4,219

$1,437

$7,099

$2,284

$2,194

$17,18
3

$1,847

$1,437

$7,099

$2,284

$2,194

$16,13
9

University
Costs
2016-2017
$1,437
$7,099
$2,284

$2,194

$18,95
5

Public
$5,941
Tuition and
Fees

Books and
Supplies

Room and
Board

Transportat
ion

Other
Costs

$8,659

$1,210

$9,024

$2,090

$2,136

$23,11
9

$20,924

$1,210

$9,024

$2,090

$2,136

$35,38
3

Total

FINANCE - ISSUES
About 30% of the states residents live outside the boundaries of any community college
taxing district creating differential affordability issues, complicated by the fact that the Texas
Grant program is not structured (or funded) to serve the needs of community college students.
The tax capacity of the community college districts varies enormously. Even with much
higher tax rates, some districts do not have a sufficient property value base to provide
adequate resources to maintain necessary capacity. There is nothing about the
state/community college funding relationship that has the state assuming any responsibility
for building/maintaining the capacity it will be relying upon to deliver the results it needs.
State funding has declined substantially in recent years. The funding relationship between
the state and community colleges is not unlike revenue-sharing arrangements between
state and local governments. The basis for determining shares is not well aligned with state
goals. State finance of community colleges has no history of being tied to performance
expectations/a public agenda, except for the recent consideration but not implementation of
outcome-based funding.
The issue for Texas is how to get a greater contribution from a diverse network of community
colleges to state goals while maintaining the strengths of local governance/control linked to
the unique needs of each region of the state.

GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION


The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has the

responsibility for adopting policies, enacting regulations, and


establishing general rules necessary for carrying out the duties with
respect to public junior colleges placed upon it by the legislature. The
commissioner of higher education is responsible for carrying out
these policies and enforcing these rules and regulations.
Community colleges in Texas operate within the framework of state
law and regulation. The THECB has broad coordinating authority for
all institutions of higher education explicitly including community
colleges (Texas Code, section 61.051). State statutes give the THECB
broad authority related to community colleges.

GOVERNANCE - TRUSTEES
The Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) is a non-profit association
that includes all 50 public community college districts in the state. Linked with
TACC is the Texas Community College Education Initiative (TCCEI) a non-profit
corporation (501-c-3) created in 2003 to promote educational programs and
services that benefit Texas higher education.
There are currently five TCCEI initiatives: Nelson Award, Achieving the Dream,
Early College High School, STARLINK and the Virtual College of Texas. TACCs
primary role is advocacy for the interests of member colleges in the
appropriations process and on other policy issues affecting community colleges.
The Community College Association for Texas Trustees (CCATT) is a
complementary organization for community college district governing board
members.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Technical and vocational training


programs are a critical component
of the Texas economy
Technical and vocational
certification programs will play a
critical role in making Texas
competitive in the global economy

VOCATIONAL TRAINING - TOP 10


OCCUPATIONS

1. Registered Nurse
2. Nursing Aides
3. Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurses
4. Preschool Teachers
5. Automotive Service Technicians &

Mechanics
6. Computer Support Specialist
7. Hairdressers, Hairstylists, & Cosmetologists
8. Paralegals & Legal Assistants
9. Real Estate Sales Agents
10.Bus & Truck Mechanics & Diesel Specialists

DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION
TEXAS 2012-2017
STATEWIDE DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION PLAN VISION
STATEMENT
By fall 2017, Texas will significantly improve the success of
underprepared students by addressing their individualized needs
through reliable diagnostic assessment, comprehensive support
services, and non-traditional interventions, to include modular,
mainstreaming, non-course competency-based, technologically-based,
and integrated instructional models.

TEXAS 2012-2017 STATEWIDE


DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION PLAN

Assessment and Student Profiles Implementation of TSI Assessment


Advising and Placement Use of holistic advising, early alert
Accelerated Instructional Strategies Mainstreaming, Integrated
Reading/Writing
Professional Development 2 Year Professional Dev. Program, Advisor
Training
Use of Technology Online tutoring, Early Alert System, Modular Delivery of
Instruction

Postsecondary Alignment with Adult Education Accelerate Texas,


Intensive Training , Collaborations with Other Agencies.

COLLEGIATE EDUCATION
A 2011 Community College Transfer report by the THECB concluded that state
wide, 87 percent of university native students who achieved junior status prior to
fall 2007 semester completed their bachelors degree within the next four years.
Completion rate for community college transfer students was 68 percent during the
same four year period.
Overall, community college transfer students lagged 16 percent points behind their
native university peers.
Through this reports findings, it was clear that it was more time-efficient for a
native student to enroll and complete baccalaureate students in the same
institution.

TRANSFER 101
In 2009, the University of Texas System implemented an
initiative that aimed to get more community college students to
transfer to other universities
The effort will seek to enhance relationships with the states 50
community colleges to develop transfer success action plans
and public awareness campaign on options for baccalaureate
degree completion.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Community education courses in are selected depending on

the interest of the of the local population.


Community education courses are not regulated by any
agency
Community education instructors are selected depending on
their confidence in the subject. Anyone can apply to become
an instructor

COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES


Non-Credit
Learning opportunities include

self-improvement, enrichment,
recreation, and academic
courses.
Programs are self supported
through enrollment fees.

Photo credit:
http://www.tmcc.edu/media/tmcc/images/homepage/wdce.jp
g

IMPACT
Texas Community and Technical College improve higher
education delivery throughout the state and helps students
increase employability and potential.
Texas Community and Technical College Fact Sheet

Impact on the State Business Community

Operations and spending impact


Student spending impact
Human capital impact

Return on investment to students, society and taxpayers

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