The benefits of educating future employees, of high school and college dual credit programs and scholarships, and the search for a new chancellor took center stage at the First Week Back program at Tarrant County College South Campus earlier this month. The “Power Generation: Fueling the Future, Celebrating Partnerships” event drew dozens of local business and education leaders to share their experiences with faculty and staff.
Hydradyne, a Fort Worth-based fluid power sales and service company, works with TCC to ensure a future employee base. The fluid power industry “has an aging workforce, so we’re relying on TCC to produce the talent to fill these positions,” said Hydradyne President David Parks.
Hydradyne employees assist TCC with curriculum development, helping it remain current. The company also provides equipment for hands-on training during instruction.
Parks participated on a panel moderated by South Campus President Peter Jordan.
“South Campus will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, and it is exciting to see the impact our faculty, staff and students have made,” Jordan said. “Events like these help us spread the word about the opportunities that exist and identify new ways to improve our community.”
United Way Vice President of Community Development Sue Matkin, Crowley ISD Supt. Dan Powell and Texas Wesleyan President Fred Slabach also served on the panel.
Matkin shared how a video contest helped United Way of Tarrant County explain predatory lending to low-income people. “We created a video contest and invited TCC South Campus groups to participate. It’s just another example of how I couldn’t do it if I didn’t have partners. Together we can make it happen.”
In 2012, the Crowley ISD and TCC opened the Crowley South Campus Center. The facility was designed to offer dual credit programs to approximately 1,000 students. Additionally, the location offers workforce development and continuing education.
“One of the things we share with TCC is trying to make this world a better place by building into people the competencies to be able to take care of themselves, their families and make contributions to their communities,” Powell said.
TCC and Texas Wesleyan have teamed in many ways to provide low-cost education. The most recent example is TWU’s Smaller. Smarter. Promise Scholarship. “The program awards a full ride to the university to eligible TCC students with 42 hours and a B average (or better),” Slabach said.
Concerning a new chancellor, TCC will launch a nationwide search after hiring an executive search firm Erma Johnson Hadley, a founding member of the Northeast Campus faculty, and TCC’s fourth chancellor, died in 2015. The panelists said the school should seek a visionary leader with a proven track record overseeing an organization of TCC’s size and importance.
Approximately 100,000 students attend TCC annually, making it the third-largest college or university in Texas and the 12th in the nation. TCC has six campuses, including one responsible for online learning, dual credit and Weekend College. TCC also develops customized curriculum for businesses of all sizes.
