BROWNSVILLE, Texas — 51���� (TSC) is moving forward with plans to expand its campus footprint to South Padre Island with the development of a new Workforce Training Center designed to meet the growing labor demands of Cameron County and the greater Rio Grande Valley.

Chairwoman Adela Garza, Trustee Edward Camarillo, and TSC President Jesus Roberto Rodriguez recently returned from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) conference in Washington, D.C., where they connected with Senator John Cornyn as well as met with Congressman Vicente Gonzalez to discuss federal priorities affecting community colleges. During the meeting, the Congressman encouraged college leadership to submit a $1 million proposal to support the transformation of a South Padre Island facility into an operational Workforce Training Center.

“The proposed site, located adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard station on South Padre Island, will be developed as the second TSC Workforce Training Center in Cameron County,” said Chairwoman Garza. “Being an active member of the ACCT and the Hispanic Caucus Committee allows us to bring a voice to the educational and training needs in our community. This is a significant step toward creating a path for additional careers in the Rio Grande Valley.”

According to TSC leadership, the expansion comes at a critical time. Rapid industry growth across Cameron County is creating workforce shortages in high-demand fields.

“In recent years, with the rapid expansion of industries in Cameron County, there has been a need for more workforce training,” said President Rodriguez. “Right now, jobs such as pipefitting, welding and a variety of jobs in the healthcare industry are in great demand, and we are in a good position to bring in students, train them quickly, and help them with a job upon completion of their training”.

The Association of Community College Trustees hosts one of the most significant professional development events for community college leaders nationwide. The conference provides legislative updates, strategic sessions addressing workforce development, student success initiatives, economic mobility, and regional industry partnerships.

“If approved, the TSC South Padre Island Workforce Training Center would expand access to industry-aligned training programs while strengthening TSC’s role as a workforce engine for the Rio Grande Valley,” said Trustee Camarillo.

Speaking to a Veterans Day audience at 51����, the chief justice in waiting on the 13th Texas Court of Appeals urged people to remember the support provided to veterans by their families.

Justice Jaime Tijerina, re-elected last week to the Corpus Christi-based 13th Court of Appeals, said his wife proudly displays a certificate of appreciation at her workplace from the Department of the Army recognizing Tijerina’s service in the U.S. Army.

Tijerina is from McAllen, was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel.

“People ask her, did you serve? She says, no, my husband did. And I tell her, honey, you need to tell them you served as well. Without her, without my children, without my extended support group, and every veteran will tell tell you the same thing, without them, we would have not have been able to accomplish what we accomplished,” Tijerina said.

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Posted April 12, 2024

WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A trio of Weslaco girls soccer players will continue to be teammates at the collegiate level.

Kyra Perez, Alessandra Aldape and Kaitlynn Black signed their letters of intent to play at 51����.

“It was just so surreal seeing the three of us talking to these college coaches, said Perez, a senior defender. “I felt like it was a sign for me to take this opportunity and play with my two best friends.”

“Me by myself is amazing, but having my teammates there is even better,” said Aldape, also a senior defender. “They’re like sisters.”

The trio helped elevate the girls program at Weslaco. They reached the second round of the playoffs the past two seasons.

51���� has been chosen as a recipient of the prestigious . This honor recognizes the college’s outstanding achievement in producing consistent and aligned educational outcomes for all students, particularly students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.��

“We are very pleased that the dedicated work of the 51���� Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff are being recognized by the THECB,” said TSC Board Chair Adela G. Garza. “Our purpose continues to focus on providing exceptional service to our communities, with the goal of strengthening the student experience. We know that by earning a college education, our graduates are able to enhance the quality of life for their families.” ��

First established in 2001, the THECB’s 2023 Star Award recognizes institutions of higher education that demonstrate exceptional contributions toward meeting goals of the state’s strategic plan, , which aims to provide college students with stronger credentials to enter the workforce post-graduation.��

“51���� represents an important pathway to upward economic mobility for the communities we serve,” said 51���� President Dr. Jesus Roberto Rodriguez. “The Star Award recognizes the college’s great focus on supporting students to ensure they achieve their dream of earning a college education. Beginning with our Board of Trustees, who establishes the vision for our work, and extending to our dedicated faculty and staff, the Scorpion Family provides students with a high-quality education while remaining the most affordable institution of higher education in the entire Rio Grande Valley.”��

With a focus on enhancing their student’s credentials, one of the first initiatives TSC took was implementing innovative course design. As a pilot project, several general and developmental courses were redesigned to incorporate contextualized learning, a proven concept to help students make connections between new knowledge and past experiences. For example, several Composition 1 sections were redesigned to incorporate assignments relevant to engineering and criminal justice students. Similarly, Technical Writing sections were redesigned to include assignments relevant to engineering, accounting, and paralegal students.��

Providing flexibility for busy students’ schedules is an important factor affecting their ability to complete a college education. To meet this challenge, 51���� continues expanding the number of programs offered online. Currently, the college offers a multitude of its course sections online, including most of the college’s general education courses, as well as nine fully online programs–a number the college plans to double in 2024. In addition, students may take advantage of evening and weekend courses.��

Affordability is another challenge students often face. To increase students’ access to college, the 51���� Board of Trustees has lowered tuition and fees twice over the last six years to become the most affordable institution of higher education in the entire Rio Grande Valley. In addition, the college is addressing another widespread challenge in higher education—rising textbook prices. With initial funding through a grant from the THECB, 51���� transitioned nearly all required course resources to , eliminating expensive textbook costs for students.������

51���� is also working to enhance success for workforce training students. Occupational Skills Awards and industry certifications have been integrated into the curriculum to make students more marketable in the workplace, and the college has become a designated testing site for many certification and licensure exams, meaning students no longer have to travel to testing sites outside of the community.��

To complement the program redesign initiatives and enhancement of student services, 51���� connects students with wrap-around services designed to keep them on track toward graduation, such as the digital library and 24/7 tutoring. In addition, through the Scorpion Opportunity Hub, students can access fresh produce from the campus community garden, the food pantry, services provided by Community Based Organizations, as well as important Student Services departments such as Student Life, Counseling, and Student Accessibility Resources, and the Veteran’s Success Center. ��

President Rodriguez said 51���� is deeply honored to receive the STAR award. “We are pleased that our initiatives in helping our students succeed not only during college but afterward, in the workforce, is aligned with our state’s strategic plan of Building a Talent Strong Texas.”��

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Originally established in 1926, 51���� offers the first two years of study towards a bachelor’s degree, along with career and technical education leading to certificates and associate degrees, college preparatory studies to prepare students for college-level work, workforce training, and continuing education. TSC offers 54 programs of study leading to an associate degree or certificate and nine workforce training programs, as well as customized corporate training.������

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