The Texas Workforce Commission awarded Houston Community College $310,233 for a Skills Development Fund Grant. HCC partnered with Goodman Manufacturing to receive the grant, which will provide customized job training to workforce students.

Dear HCC Family,

Each year, the new academic year symbolizes new beginnings, and this year is no different. I am delighted to “Welcome” each of you--students, faculty, staff and administrators--back from what I hope was a wonderful summer and a successful year. Now let’s embark together upon a busy and exciting 2010-2011 academic year.

We can expect more great things to be accomplished this year, and I want to share some of them with you. More importantly, please join me in moving HCC into the brightest year in our history. As we continue to embrace our mission of being the most relevant community college in the country, essential to our community’s success, we must not forget our core mission of “serving students.” Our mission, “students first,” will continue to be our primary focus as we soar to the next level.

First, “thank you” to new and returning students for choosing HCC as the gateway to your future. During the 2009-2010 year, we reached a record-break enrollment of more than 72,000 students. This Fall 2010 we will exceed that number. Knowing about activities and initiatives at HCC designed to open doors, offer opportunities and smooth the pathways while you are at HCC will ensure that your time with us is used most effectively. Take some time to learn about these resources.

Second, I want to empower each of you in your respective role to provide input to ensure HCC continues to produce graduates who become contributing citizens, advance to the next level in local colleges and universities, or venture into a more global arena as we expand our partnerships with other countries. Faculty, staff and administrators, your contributions to HCC are important as you dedicate your time, creativity, and talents to our students and communities.

Third, there are many outstanding initiatives that will be forthcoming in 2010-2011 to share. I invite you to visit our website at: www.hccs.edu and learn more about where we are going and how these initiatives will affect your success at HCC. Now let’s review a few highlights for the coming year.

In the area of Student Services and under the leadership of Dr. Diana Pino the following highlights are significant:
• Textbook Rentals: Starting this fall, students will be able to rent many of their required textbooks from the HCC Bookstore. Barnes and Noble, the operators of the Bookstore, predict that a new textbook costing $100 will rent for approximately $47. Later this fall, a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for bookstore services will require an HCC bookstore operator to provide multiple options for students to constrain textbook prices, including downloading or leasing of digital textbooks.

• Statway: We are one of 19 community colleges across the nation that is participating in a major grant project entitled Statway. Funded by major donors and coordinated by the Carnegie Foundation, Statway will involve the creation, testing, and implementation of a new math pathway for students leading to college level Statistics rather than College Algebra. The pathway is aimed at students who intend to major in the liberal arts, social sciences, business, and various career programs. The goal is to double the proportion of developmental math students prepared in one year to succeed in further academic study or occupational pursuits.

• Campus Living: In partnership with the University of Houston, all HCC students can enjoy campus living at the UH Moody Towers residential facility starting fall 2010. This is a great opportunity for our students to have the best of both worlds: the experience of dormitory living while studying at a community college. Applications are now being accepted for up to 80 HCC students.

• Student Records Automation: Degree Audit - By September, all academic plans (AA, AS, AAT), all AAS plans, and all Certificate plans for programs that have no AAS plans will be automated. This will allow counselors and students to view an electronic degree audit rather than relying on a paper copy. This year, there will be a focus on catching up on our transcript evaluation of transfer work to ensure accuracy of the degree audits.

In the area of Instruction and under the leadership of Dr. Charles Cook:
• CurricUNET: After a year of development, we will introduce CurricUNET to all faculty this fall. CurricUNET is a web-based repository of all HCC curricula, containing syllabi and student learning outcomes for all HCC courses and programs. Once fully operational, users will also have access to other member colleges’ curriculum (including Miami-Dade, the City Colleges of Chicago, San Diego City College, and others). The development of CurricUNET has coincided with instructional preparation for reaffirmation of HCC accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and new state legislation requiring all college instructors to post their syllabi and resumes on-line.

• Real Time Faculty Withdrawal of Students: This process gives faculty the ability to withdraw their students online from their faculty centers, offices and homes. In the current process, faculty must complete an online application that is emailed to their respective campuses where campus personnel then drop the students by hand. The new process will eliminate the “middleman” by processing the withdrawal in real time and provide efficient customer support services to our faculty, staff and students.

Diversity Initiatives:
• We serve a uniquely diverse student body representing cultures, ethnicities and belief systems from across the globe. To continue to address the variety of differences brought to our campuses by students, faculty and staff, HCC must continue to take an active role in preparing students for a global workplace by encouraging the development of global competency skills in its students and employees. On April, 9 2010, I charged the members of the new HCC Council for Diversity and Inclusion with the responsibility of making recommendations that will foster a systematic “positive culture” of understanding, respect and acceptance of others unique differences. The standing council will advise my office regarding issues of diversity, equal opportunity and inclusion and facilitate programs and services that meet the changing needs of individuals in a diverse community. I encourage each of you to participate in this important initiative in whatever way possible and beneficial to the institution.

International Initiatives:
• HCC continues to value the importance of our international students and partnerships with other countries. As we enter the 2010 academic year, I am pleased to share with you the addition of another significant partnership where our expertise in international education has been recognized and sought. We will begin classes in Qatar this fall and will have over 40 employees from HCC participate in the opening of this institution. As we progress through this partnership, HCC students and faculty will have opportunities to broaden their international relationships through various media including teaching or studying abroad. Join me in congratulating those employees who are among the first to work on this initiative.

Professional Development Opportunities:
• In August we launched the HCC Chair Excellence Institute made possible by a Chancellor’s Innovation Grant to offer a vehicle for professional development to instructional chairs. An Executive-Level Speaker Series will be introduced this year for administrators as the Leadership Excellence Institute goes on a one-year hiatus. And a 6-module supervisor refresher training series kicks off this fall.

Going Green:
• As a signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), HCC will expand our existing recycling efforts this fall by formally implementing Phase 1 of a system- wide recycling program. This effort presents an opportunity for HCC to meet its commitment of promoting a sustainable future and positions us to be good stewards of the environment as members of the PCC and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Please join me in being more environmentally conscious at HCC by recycling.

In the area of Information Technology and under the leadership of Mr. William Carter, we continue to make strides in improving processes and applications. Two significant initiatives for the coming include:
• mobileHCC: mobileHCC is an application that is available on the Apple AppStore for mobile devices. The App provides all faculty, staff and students access to HCC course schedules, employee directories, maps, new, events, images and videos. Phase II of mobileHCC will provide real time data to facilitate registration, attendance taking, and grading via the iPhone, Blackberry, iPad, iTouch or other mobile device.

• SmarterMeasure: This is a third party software that will serve as a pre requisite to Distance Ed Developmental Ed Students. DE students enrolling in DE developmental classes will be redirected to SmarterMeasure where they will take the assessment instrument. Scores will be loaded into PeopleSoft and used for advisement purposes. ADSA will develop the redirect, use single sign on technology to create students’ profiles in SmarterMeasure and create an import process to load the scores. Once scores are in PS, students will be able to complete enrollment in the appropriate development classes.

Human Resources new mandate:
• Implementation of Texas Senate Bill 9 requirements to fingerprint HCC employees.
The new law requires that HCC perform an expanded criminal history check that will now include fingerprinting of all new and current employees. The legislation was enacted to ensure the safety of all children, teachers and staff in Texas public schools. Since employees are present on public school campuses and public school students attend class on HCC campuses, this legislation applies to us. During the coming months, we will be implementing a fingerprinting examination process in accordance with Senate Bill 9.

HCC Foundation:
• The HCC Foundation continues to make strides, via the HCC Alumni Association, in its outreach to the College’s 77,000-plus alumni and to build the Association into an organization that can support the College and the Foundation’s fundraising efforts.

• The HCC Foundation is moving forward in its campaign to fund the Opportunity 14 Scholarship Endowment—raising in excess of $2.7 million to date—so that the scholarship will be available to young Houstonians for generations to come. The Opportunity 14 scholarship has enjoyed a promising first two years, allowing hundreds of low-income students from across the city to enroll at HCC and begin their college education.

HCC Police Department:
• Parking Passes will now be required of everyone parking on HCC facilities. Parking passes can be down loaded on- line for faculty, students and staff this year. Visit our website or call for more information.

• Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to program HCC-Police dispatch into your cell phone for escorts, emergencies or suspicious activity. The number is: 713-718-8888.

• Encourage faculty, students and staff to update their information in people-soft and authorize emergency notifications from the college so you can keep up to date in the event of emergencies, dangerous weather, or school closings.

These are only a few of the many highlights, significant projects and initiatives that will play an important role setting the tone for the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year. Please visit our website at: www.hccs.edu for additional highlights and information that may be of interest to you as a student, faculty, staff or administrator. Beginning in September and throughout the year, I will be visiting each of the colleges as I do each quarter and look forward to an opportunity to visit with you.

Finally, I am full of optimism about HCC’s future and the direction we are going. There is a place for each of you to make significant contributions and achieve success. As I enter my 4th year as chancellor of this great institution, I join the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and administrators in making a commitment to “students first” in all we do. Your success is key in determining the success of our city, state and nation. Thank you for your commitment to the college. Welcome back and have a very successful 2010-2011 year.

Sincerely,
Mary S. Spangler, Ed. D.
Chancellor
Houston Community College

Additional Significant Highlights 2010-2011:
• Learning Communities Tracking: ADSA is providing a means of identifying both classes and students to facilitate the tracking by OIR of students enrolled in Learning Community classes.

• Self Service Student Planner: The self service planner provides students with a tool to plan their courses for an individual term, multiple terms, or for the entire stay at HCC. After students add courses to their planner, they can proceed directly from planning to enrollment. The process allows students to plan, save and modify their course schedules ahead of registering and provides another online tool to make HCC’s services more effective.

• On-line Withdrawal System - As of July 26th, students will be able to withdraw from one or more classes online. While it is still encouraged for students receive advisement from instructional and counseling faculty prior to withdrawing, students will no longer be required to “see” someone before they will be allowed to drop.

Students will be invited to click on several links to learn more of the implications of dropping on the 6 drop rule (http://imc02.hccs.edu/gcac/drop.htm), on veterans, on financial aid, and on international students.

Students will be required to acknowledge the implications of withdrawing from a class. This will provide better self-service for students! Phase two of this development involves a process by which faculty, who wish to enforce an absenteeism policy through withdrawing a student for excessive absences, will experience a much easier withdrawal process.

• Financial Aid: Financial Aid has made great strides already in serving our 2010-2011 FA applicants. The financial aid processing turn-around time has improved from approximately 6 weeks to 3 weeks. These improvements have resulted from increased automation and improved document assignment and tracking. As of July 30th, 13,797 students have been awarded as compared to 6,852 this time last year. Staff is ensuring greater consistency in the customer service experience at the campus level by working in a proactive team-based structure. Financial aid is recognized as both a recruitment and retention tool. As such, financial resources have been set aside to continue to enhance processes and services. It is projected that with these resources, the turnaround processing time for the aid year 2011 will reduce to 7-10 days.

• As a follow up to the on-line withdrawal system students will be provided information related to the implications and possible consequences of dropping their courses. The following will occur when a student selects the “drop” option during an enrollment request:

Students will be required to select a drop reason in order to complete the withdrawal request (the drop reason will cue whether the dropped course will count toward the 6 drop rule or not).

• Chair Excellence Institute: On August 6, 2010, Dr. Walter Gmelch, Dean and Professor from the School of Education, University of San Francisco, delivered the keynote address to launch the opening event for the HCC Chair Excellence Institute (CEI), a program designed to offer HCC instructional chairs a vehicle for professional development. The CEI, led by Dr. David Diehl, Director of the HCC Center for Teaching and Learning
Excellence, and an Executive Council of outstanding HCC faculty and chairs, was made possible by a Chancellor’s Innovation Grant.

• Develop and Implement Executive-level Speaker Series. The purpose of this program is to provide leadership development opportunities for HCC administrators.

• Mandatory Supervisor Refresher Training Series. Six Learning modules (fall, spring and Summer 2010-11 and 2011-12 fiscal years) are being developed and will be conducted for all supervisors. The goal of the training is to equip managers with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to consistently and confidently act in accordance with HCC policies, procedures and practices, such that the rights of individuals and HCC are protected. Three modules will be conducted in 2010-2011 and three modules will be conducted in 2011-2012.

• HCC Foundation continuation: In particular, the HCC Alumni Association is planning to launch a magazine this fall, in coordination with the HCC Communications Department, to celebrate HCC achievements and highlight donor recognition. The semiannual magazine will feature a print and online component with distribution to HCC alumni as well as community leaders, corporate decision makers and supporters and friends of the College.

• Finally, beginning the month of September and throughout the first semester, I will be visiting each of the colleges and would love to have an opportunity to visit with you. Notices around your college will be place notifying you of the date, time and location of my visit will be coming soon.

Northwest college sponsors "Beyond Accessibility: Universal Design for Learning" presented by Pan American University. "Enhancing Quality Instructions for Students with Disabilities" at North West college will be Friday, October 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Eagle Room at the Spring Branch Campus.

This interactive and informative conference is open to faculty and staff interested in developing and utilizing a model for inclusive instructions and services. TLE credit is being offered as a special workshop. LPC credit   will be offered by the ADA Counsel. Pan American university offers certificate of direct contact hours for faculty.

Program to provide resource for Houston's medically underserved women

The Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has awarded a $123,230.13 grant to the Houston Community College Foundation to establish a Breast Health Patient Navigator Program at HCC’s Coleman College for Health Sciences, located in the Texas Medical Center. This program, the first of its kind in Texas, will prepare students and put them to work in their communities as healthcare leaders and advocates on behalf of medically underserved women in need of breast health education, screening, and follow-up care.

Front Row (L to R) HCC Trustees Yolanda Navarro Flores and Mary Ann Perez, you, HCC Trustees Eva Loredo and Neeta Sane (Vice Chair), HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences Dean, Dr. Michael Edwards
Back Row (L to R) HCC Trustees Richard M. Schechter and Dr. Michael P. Williams (Chair), HCC Chancellor Dr. Mary S. Spangler, HCC Trustee Bruce A. Austin, and HCC Foundation Executive Director Dr. Kelly J. Zúñiga

"We are grateful for the support of the Komen Houston Affiliate to help build this innovative program, which serves as a model for other philanthropic and educational partnerships. This program will directly improve access to breast health services for medically underserved women in the region,” said Dr. Mary S. Spangler, HCC Chancellor. “We are convinced of the need for this program as it provides an educational and professional pipeline for key, on-the-ground healthcare leaders and advocates.”

The HCC Foundation enjoyed another record-breaking year of fundraising success. Learn about the generous people who donated to the Foundation and the students who benefited from their gifts by reading the 2008 – 2009 HCC Foundation Annual Report. Click here to read.

The Texas Education Agency recently confirmed that the HCC Adult Education Program will receive more than $850,000 in performance-based-funding for its achievements during the 2008-2009 reporting year. HCC is fiscal agent for the largest Adult Education Program in Texas.

The HCC Foundation extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mr. William (Bill) M. Coats, Jr. He passed away on Sunday, May 23.

Bill was a tireless advocate on behalf of Houston Community College and the mission of the HCC Foundation and lived out that belief through years of leadership. He was instrumental in the formation of the HCC Foundation, helping to draft the articles of incorporation as founding attorney. He served two terms as president of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. His tireless work, generosity, and kindness gave hundreds of people help when they needed it most and contributed to personal achievement in the face of seemingly impossible obstacles.

Under Bill’s leadership, the Opportunity 14 Scholarship was devised and came to fruition as a reality for Houston students — placing HCC and the Foundation in the community spotlight for its work to make Houston, and Houstonians, thrive.

“Bill was one of the nicest men I ever met, handling everything so smoothly in his quiet way. He was a great leader for HCC, and we will miss him very much,” says HCC Foundation Board President Ginger Renfroe Blanton.

In Houston, Bill became a founding partner in the Coats Rose Law Firm. His determination to help make the city the vibrant, beautiful, and forward-thinking place he envisioned led him to be one of the founders of Citizens for Good Schools. He was a long-time board member of Inprint Inc. He also was a tireless fighter against urban blight and a driving force behind Trees for Houston. In addition, he helped found and worked for Friends of Hermann Park (now Hermann Park Conservancy) as a lawyer, an advocate, and a board member.

To learn more about Bill’s remarkable legacy, read http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?n=william-mitten-coats&pid=143102715

The 6^th Annual Wine & Food Week, one of the top 10 wine and epicurean events in the U.S., brings together renowned chefs to showcase their culinary expertise partnered with more than 500 wines at 40 sensational events. HCC’s Culinary Arts Program has been named one of the beneficiaries of this year’s festivities.

Show your support by purchasing tickets for Sips, Suds & Sliders, an exploration of specialty beers, Texas wines and a gourmet slider competition, on June 18, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the CITYCENTRE Life Time Athletic, 815 Town & Country Lane ($20) or The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Texas Monthly Chef Showcase on Saturday, June 19, 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive ($98). Chefs representing more than 50 restaurants from throughout Texas and beyond will fly into showcase their culinary talents and compete for Wine & Food Week’s Waterford Crystal Chef of Chefs Award and a $5,000+ prize package at the Saturday event. The evening will culminate with the “Just Desserts” competition at which HCC’s award-winning Pastry Chef Eddy VanDamme will be a guest judge. HCC Culinary Arts students, directed by HCC’s Chef Christy Sykes, will be showcasing their talents as well. All proceeds from the live auction held during Saturday’s Grand Tasting will benefit HCC’s Culinary Arts Program.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.wineandfoodweek.com . Be sure to enter coupon code “2010HCC” – HCC will receive 25% of proceeds from all tickets sold with this code.

Witness our students’ finest hour as they celebrate graduation. Faculty and staff are welcomed to attend the 2010 HCC Commencement Ceremony this Saturday, May 15 at Reliant Stadium.

The ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. Parking at Reliant Stadium is $8 per vehicle and you can enter through Gate 9 at Kirby and Westridge.

During the next two weeks, the Chancellor and the Office of International Initiatives will be hosting six distinguished visitors from China. The members of this delegation are presidents or vice-presidents of vocational and technical colleges throughout China and their translator. The VELT (Vocational Education Leadership Training) delegation will be visiting the administration building, college presidents at all colleges from April 26 until May 7. We would like to encourage all faculty, staff and students to welcome them to the campuses and show them our Texas hospitality.

The VELT visitor program  is funded by the government of People's Republic of China and under the direction of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2010 HCC Faculty and Staff Campaign.  Your outstanding generosity helped to raise a record-breaking $58,000! Your contributions will provide the gift of education to HCC students and fellow faculty and staff members.

The HCC Foundation would like to extend a special thank you to Patti Wooldridge of Southwest College and George Kollie, Donna Westmoreland, and Cameron Cox of Coleman College for all of their hard work, which was vital to the success of this campaign. Their volunteerism and dedication was essential in bringing the opportunity of education to every student we serve.

The Participation Champion Trophy Goes To. . .

The HCC Foundation is pleased to announce that the campus with the highest participation in the 2010 HCC Faculty and Staff campaign, for the third year in a row, is Coleman College for Health Sciences. Southwest College is our second place winner and had the highest contribution total increase among all HCC campuses, raising 53% more than last year for the campaign. HCC District claimed third place with its strong participation rate that rose 4% this year!

We are also proud to report that HCC’s Senior Executive Team had 100% participation for the second consecutive year.

Thank you for believing in what we do. We could not have achieved these campaign milestones without the support of so many in the HCC community.

HCC Opportunity Ball 2010 Creates Perfect New Year for Houston Students

Over 600 guests braved the city's sub-freezing weather to bundle up and attend Houston Community College's Opportunity Ball held on Friday, January 8 at the InterContinental Houston. Proceeds from the biennial event will launch local students on the path to a successful future by providing them scholarships to HCC. The gala raised in excess of $520,000, an amount that will go a remarkably long way at HCC.

Houston Chronicle president and publisher Jack Sweeney, a past honoree, presented HCC's Crystal Eagle award to former Houston mayor Bill and his wife, Andrea. White spoke about his special passion for the work of community colleges and the real opportunities they offer local students to improve their career potential and the lives of their families.

Texas Children's Hospital CEO Mark Wallace and Precision Task Group CEO Massey Villarreal, an HCC Foundation board member, chaired the black-tie affair. "Together the efforts of these two outstanding leaders will allow the HCC Foundation to offer hundreds of additional scholarships that will help local youth go to college," said HCC Chancellor Dr. Spangler.

ARAMARK and Sun Microsystems and Psitechnology were the evening's lead underwriters and ARAMARK President of Education Dennis Maple spoke at the event.

Community leaders, HCC Administration and members of the HCC Foundation Board and the HCC Board were present at the event. The three newly elected trustees of the HCC Board, Eva Loredo (District VIII), Sandie Meyers (District VI) and Mary Ann Perez (District III), were also present.

Five Southwest College scholarship recipients, serving as HCC Foundation student ambassadors, helped greet guests and assist with the evening's events: Brittany Cardenas, Digital Communication; Chidinma Ike, Mathematics; Yonghui Wang, Teacher Education; Brittaney Wilmore, Communication; and Lei Yang, Engineering.

Richard W. Yee, M.D., clinical professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and medical director of the Refractive and Cornea Division at the Cizik Eye Clinic located in the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza building at 6400 Fannin, 18th floor, offers laser vision correction at a 40 percent discount for all HCC students and employees. The discounted price per eye is $1,500.  The screening process is free and financing is available.

A donation of $50 per eye for every discounted LASEK procedure will be made to the HCC Foundation's Opportunity 14 Scholarship.

For more information, please see the discount flyer or call 832-289-2020 or e-mail emily.paisley@memorialhermann.org.

This year the Assistance League of Houston (AL,H) made a generous gift of $10,000 to establish the first-ever V.A.S.T. Scholarship Fund at the HCC Foundation. Since 1990, HCC’s Vocational Advancement & Social Skills Training (VAST) program has been providing personalized training so that students with special needs can fulfill their personal, educational and professional potential. AL,H honored this year’s scholarship recipients and their families at a luncheon on April 27, 2009 and made formal presentation of their contribution at the regular meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees on May 28, 2009. “We are proud to extend our scholarship program to include the students in HCC’s VAST program,” says AL,H Scholarship Committee Chair Marina Kraft Pita. This award is just one of AL,H’s many philanthropic programs that have benefitted Houston for the past 41 years. Special thanks to Ms. Pita, past AL,H presidents Deborah Kearns and Cindy Heminger, current president Mary Roediger, and VAST scholarship liaison Lynn Schoenberger for their support of this program.

Since it began work in 2008, the British American Foundation of Texas (BAFTX) has awarded scholarships to many deserving students. This year, five HCC students received support of BAFTX at the beginning of a three year pledge of support for highly qualified students studying science, technology or international business. The students and their parents joined the BAFTX Board and fellow recipients from the University of St. Thomas, University of Houston, and from various Houston middle and high schools at a lovely dinner at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch on May 20, 2009. HM Consul General Paul Lynch gave the keynote address and is shown here with Mr. John Carrig, President and COO of Conoco Phillips who presented the HCC students their awards. Mr. Carrig applauded HCC’s work in the community and shared that he began his educational journey as a community college graduate in Trenton, New Jersey. BAFTX President, Susan Howard and Executive Director Carole Serjeant approached HCC with interest in supporting our students, and we are very grateful for their generosity and for the impact they are making in the lives of so many young Houstonians.

The HCC Foundation took home top honors with two first place finishes announced earlier this week at the annual Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)’s District IV Conference held in Oklahoma City. The first Grand Award was in the category of Specialty Advertising Projects for HCC’s Opportunity 14 Scholarship Campaign; the second Grand Award was in the category of Outstanding Advancement Services Initiatives for the HCC Foundation Scholarship Program. HCC was selected from a competitive pool of entries representing the District’s six regional members: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The competition included submissions both private and public four-year institutions; HCC was the only community college to receive a Grand Award in the district competition. Staff members present to accept the awards were Dr. Kelly J. Zúñiga, executive director, HCC Foundation; Katy Butterwick; Sophia Corey; Cydney Peters; Sylvia Romero and Lauren Stroman.

The HCC Foundation's online scholarship application for the 2009/2010 academic year will be available at www.hccsfoundation.org from 8:00 a.m. January 22, 2009 until 2:00 p.m. May 4, 2009. By completing one scholarship application, an HCC student can apply for all of the many different scholarships offered through the HCC Foundation to help pay for their tuition, fees, and books.

The Foundation awarded more than 414 scholarships totaling $265,000 in financial aid for the 2008/2009 academic year. We look forward to another successful scholarship cycle this year!

Download the 2009-2010 HCC Foundation Scholarship Information Flyer or the 2009-2010 HCC Foundation Scholarship Information Poster.

For more information, contact Sophia Corey at 713.718.8488 or sophia.corey@hccs.edu

On November 11, 2008, the HCC Foundation hosted the 2008 Scholarship Luncheon honoring the 2008-2009 scholarship recipients as well as the donors whose generosity made their scholarships possible. Recipients took the opportunity to personally thank the benefactors who helped to make their HCC education possible. Ginger Renfroe Blanton, HCC Foundation Board President, welcomed guests before introducing Chancellor Dr. Mary S. Spangler. Harriet Foster, HCC Foundation Board of Director member and donor, addressed the audience as the keynote speaker for the 2008 Scholarship Luncheon before introducing Brittany Cardenas, a Dr. Bruce Leslie Scholarship Recipient. Brittany is the first in her family to attend college and is completing her second year of studies at HCC, where she is pursing her associate’s in applied science degree in graphic design.

The HCC Foundation hosted a reception on Saturday, October 11, 2008 to thank its Board of Directors and HCC Board of Trustee members for their efforts to advance the mission of Houston Community College. The event also was an opportunity to celebrate the recent fund-raising success of the HCC Foundation and the support received from its board members. The Foundation raised $3,242,055 million in 2007-2008, triple the amount raised during the previous fiscal year. The event was held at the home of Foundation Board President Ginger Renfroe Blanton and her husband, Jack.

HCC Scholarship Program Provides Access to College for Houston-Area Students

Houston Community College announced a bold new scholarship program entitled Opportunity 14 at a press conference held Tuesday, August 12 at Houston Independent School District’s Lee High School. HISD Superintendent Abe Saavedra and Texas State Representative Dr. Alma Allen joined community and educational leaders at the event, which marked a milestone in educational access for all Houstonians.

The Houston Community College Foundation has established Opportunity 14 to send the message to Houstonians that we must change our expectations about the minimum amount of education required for our children. Every child in this city must obtain at least 14 years of education: 12 plus two years of college. The Opportunity 14 Scholarship will help young people meet these higher expectations by providing financial assistance for tuition, fees and books to HCC for every student who qualifies. 

“Opportunity 14 is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when a community comes together and commits to solving a problem. Opportunity 14 Scholarships are not paid for with tax revenues—they are completely funded by the generosity of private donors and foundations that have recognized a need and decided to do something about it. Out of their commitment to this city and its people, they have made Opportunity 14 a reality. I would like to thank them personally, and on behalf of the HCC Foundation and Houston Community College,” says Dr. Mary S. Spangler, HCC chancellor.

Flagship supporters for Opportunity 14 include the following donors for the 2008-2009 school year: The Cullen Foundation, Kinder Foundation, Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation, Harriet & Joe Foster Foundation, Scurlock Foundation, Greater Texas Foundation, The Hoglund Foundation, Strake Foundation and Ray C. Fish Foundation. Together, these gifts amount to more than $1 million in scholarship funding for Houston’s low-income students.

The program aims to boost Houston’s economic development potential by helping to provide a skilled work force with the higher earning potential conferred by a two-year college degree. People who earn a two-year degree from a community college make, on average, $577,000 more during their careers than people with only a high school diploma, as cited in a May 2008 study on “The Economic Contribution of Houston Community College.” The report notes that graduates contribute millions of dollars more to our tax base, and as a result of their two years of higher education, save Texans millions of dollars in health care costs and costs associated with welfare, unemployment and crime. Their contribution to the area’s overall level of higher education helps to keep Houston an attractive prospect for companies seeking to relocate.

On a more sobering note, Texas’ “Closing the Gaps” initiative estimates that if Texas’ college participation rates remain low, the state’s poverty rate will increase, and the average Texas income will decline by $3,000 by the year 2030.

As tuition and fees continue to soar at four-year universities, Houston Community College remains one of the best higher educational values in the city. Tuition is about 75 percent less than that at public universities. 

Students can complete an associate degree in two years and transfer to any Texas public university. Or they can enroll in one of HCC’s many exemplary workforce programs to receive hands-on career training in fields such as automotive mechanics, computer science, cosmetology, culinary arts and nursing.

"Opportunity 14 not only offers students financial assistance, it demonstrates to parents that finances should not become obstacles to their dreams and goals of creating a better future for their children. I strongly encourage parents to join their children as they apply for college, and apply for Opportunity 14 and make HCC the first two years of their four-year degree. Opportunity 14 scholarships offer assistance not only for tuition, and fees, but also books. This tremendous opportunity should not be overlooked," says HCC Board Chair Yolanda Navarro Flores.

Students attending HCC full-time may be eligible to receive up to $3,000 per year from Opportunity 14—a maximum of $1,500 per long semester and $1,000 for summer classes. This is enough to pay for most students’ full-time HCC tuition, fees, and books. The amount of scholarship awarded will vary according to the amount of federal and state grants received. Opportunity 14 has a maximum payout of $6,000 over three years per qualified student.

To be eligible for Opportunity 14 support, students must live in HCC’s service area. This includes all HISD students and students from the Alief, Fort Bend, Katy, North Forest, and Spring Branch Independent School Districts and the Stafford Municipal School District. Students also must have graduated from high school within one year of enrollment at HCC or have earned their GED within the past year and be under the age of 20. 

Included among HCC’s first Opportunity 14 scholarship recipients is Marina Reid, 18, a Stratford High School graduate who will be attending classes close to home at the HCC Northwest campus in Katy this fall. Reid, who is planning to pursue a career in criminal justice, says the support she received from Opportunity 14 has made a big difference in her ability to attend college. “I was thrilled to learn that I received this scholarship. Opportunity 14 will help me to achieve my career goals and ambitions.”

As many as 1,500 students may qualify in the 2008-2009 school year; ultimately, the program aims to assist as many as 6,000 students on an annual basis. To help achieve this goal, the HCC Foundation has launched an aggressive $30 million endowment campaign.

“The promise of two years of higher education for Houston’s young people must continue for generations to come. The HCC Foundation is committed to securing annual support of this scholarship program and to establishing and funding an endowment that will provide Opportunity 14 scholarships in perpetuity,” says Dr. Kelly J. Zúñiga, Executive Director of the HCC Foundation.

To learn more, including information regarding eligibility requirements, visit www.opportunity14.org.

View our Opportunity 14 student video from the HCC Foundatin's YouTube Channel.

Read about the HCC Foundation's Opportunity 14 Scholarship in the July 14 edition of the Houston Chronicle. The story, "HCC Program Makes College Free," highlights the Foundation's efforts to ensure that all Houston-area students have the chance to go to college and prepare themselves for a successful future.

Learn more about Opportunity 14 at www.opportunity14.org.

Welcome Luncheon Offers Tips on Success in College

A group of motivated Houston-area high school seniors were special guests at a Houston Community College orientation luncheon, hosted on June 18 by the HCC Foundation. Eight students each received a $1,000 scholarship to attend HCC in 2008-2009, presented on behalf of the Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, Inc. and the HCC Foundation. The welcome event was held at HCC’s newly renovated Alief campus, where many of the recipients will enroll this fall.

The scholarship, established by a gift from the Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, Inc. and matching funds from the HCC Foundation, is helping to promote educational success for Houston’s high school students. The students were selected for their academic abilities and commitment to learning.

“We’re very excited to have this opportunity to partner with Houston Community College,” said Jennifer Anderson, Senior Vice President of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, Inc., an organization dedicated to educating and inspiring young people to be successful in the global economy. Anderson told students, “We want to see you finish school and help you reach your goals.”

The event featured information on important HCC student support services, including representatives from academic counseling and financial aid. Sandra Nemeth, a counselor at HCC, advised the group: “We want to help you understand your choices in education. Houston Community College has a lot of great opportunities.”

Dr. Cheryl Peters, Academic Dean for HCC’s Honors College, encouraged students to learn more about her program that fosters closer student-faculty relationships and promotes greater intellectual risk-taking in the classroom. “We’re trying to take a small group of students and give them an extra boost up,” she said.

Trevor Kenny, 19, a native Houstonian, is one of eight recipients of the first-time scholarship. “This scholarship means everything to me. My parents made it clear at a young age that I needed an education to get places in life,” said Kenny, who graduated a semester early from Bush High School in the Fort Bend School District to get a jump on his studies at HCC’s Alief campus. Kenny says, however, he didn’t realize how much college cost until he got there As a result, he has had to work several jobs to pay for his coursework. Now, thanks to his scholarship, Kenny can focus on his academics. “Receiving this scholarship has taken some of the weight of the world off my shoulders. It has put me a step closer to my future,” said Kenny, who plans to eventually transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a degree in business administration.

Following the luncheon, students toured the impressive new Alief campus at 2811 Hayes Rd. and its state-of-the-art teaching and classroom spaces.

Dr. Kelly Zúñiga, executive director of the HCC Foundation that administers this and many other scholarships for HCC students, says the support provided by Junior Achievement is helping to fuel the ambitions of high school students seeking an affordable education. “We are delighted by the strong base of support our students enjoy from community leaders, such as Junior Achievement, who are strengthening Houston’s future workforce through educational opportunity.”

A two-year grant from Bank of America will provide professional mentors for six teachers and childcare workers in the Houston area and fund educational workshops for registered childcare home operators through Houston Community College Central's Child Development Department. The $50,000 grant, $25,000 a year for two years, establishes "The Bank of America Initiative for the Education and Care of Young Children."

By focusing on the care of our youngest Houstonians, HCC Central and Bank of America demonstrate their commitment to strengthening the community. HCC is thrilled by this new partnership. "We thank Bank of America for showing itself to be a true community partner with a deep commitment to education," said Dr. William W. Harmon, President of HCC Central. "This gift amplifies HCC's work and enables us to be of greater service to those who set the stage for our children's future success."

Bank of America's grant will allow HCC Central's Child Development Department professionals to reach out into the community and give pre-school teachers and caregivers the knowledge, practical experience and encouragement they need to build strong, healthy learning environments. The program will concentrate its efforts in neighborhoods where the majority of residents are of low-income and particularly in need of educational intervention.

Bank of America's Mr. Rick Jaramillo, Senior Vice President and Market Development Executive, and Ms. Cecilia Hernandez, Senior Vice President and Houston Central CRE Sales Manager and member of the HCC Foundation Board of Directors, presented the check at the May 22 meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees. The grant will extend over the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 academic years. "At Bank of America," said Jaramillo, "we believe that success in education begins at a very early age. Helping the adults who care for and teach young Houstonians in some of our most underserved communities will have a powerful effect on those communities for generations to come.” Cecelia Hernandez added, “This is exactly the kind of impact we want to make in the community, and we look forward to seeing our grant come to life in the coming years.”

The Asian Chamber of Commerce honored five HCC Foundation Asian Chamber of Commerce scholarship recipients at their monthly luncheon on June 11. The five students were recognized for their hard work, determination, and ambition to pursue degrees at the university level after completing their studies at HCC. “These students exemplify strength of mind,” said Dr. Mary Spangler, Chancellor of Houston Community College. “Their commitment to their studies will enable them to become better citizens and serve our community in the future.” Many of the students are first generation citizens, as well as first generation college students; some still have families back in their home countries. Many do not perceive college as an option but as a privilege and an honor. They are grateful for the opportunities provided to them by the Houston Community College Foundation and the Asian Chamber of Commerce.

On May 15, the Houston Community College Foundation Board of Directors held their annual board meeting at HCC’s new Alief Campus. New members were welcomed and outgoing officers were recognized for their dedication and service to the HCC Foundation. The meeting concluded with a tour of the Alief Campus’s sophisticated teaching stations, high-tech science labs, and state-of-the-art classrooms.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2008 Faculty & Staff Campaign. Your generosity will provide the gift of education to HCC students and fellow faculty and staff members. This year’s campaign raised more than $32,000 for scholarships and faculty & staff development. 

The top three Colleges for participation of full-time staff were:

1. Coleman 54%
2. Southwest 28%
3. Northeast 20%

The campus with the highest participation was Coleman with the Alief Campus and Northeast Campus in second and third place.

A special thank you to all of the team leaders who made this year a success.

The HCC Foundation is proud to welcome four new members to our board of directors:

• Michael Dee, chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Education Committee
  
• Mark Eckhart, regional manager for Barnes & Noble Collegiate Bookstore
  
• Suewan Johnson, senior counsel for The Bank of New York
  
• Massey Villarreal, president and CEO of Precision Task Group

Special thanks to these and all HCC Foundation board members for helping to ensure that Houston students get a chance at a higher education.

The HCC Foundation has launched it second annual HCC Faculty & Staff Campaign, which will raise money for student scholarships and faculty professional development. This year’s theme is “Making a Difference.”

HCC employees showed their remarkable dedication to our students by giving more than $40,000 in last year’s first-ever HCC Faculty & Staff Campaign.

Contributors can choose which fund they wish to give to, and they can also choose a preferred giving method:

• Make regular payroll deductions or a one-time donation using the printed 2008 Faculty & Staff Campaign form. Forms will be sent to all faculty and staff members through interoffice mail and will be available through campus Team Leaders. Forms can also be downloaded on the Foundation website at www.hccsfoundation.org.
• Give online now on the Faculty & Staff Campaign Donation Form

The campaign will run through March 31. Special events will be held at campus locations throughout the month. Grab a doughnut and find out how you can make an even bigger difference in HCC students’ lives. For more information, please E-mail facultyandstaff@hccsfoundation.org

The recent Passport to the Future Gala raised more than $400,000 for scholarships to HCC. Seven hundred fifty people attended the event, which was held on January 17 at downtown’s Hilton – Americas Hotel. The 2006 recipient of HCC’s Crystal Eagle Award, former mayor Bob Lanier, presented the award to another citizen who’s passionate about education, Houston Chronicle publisher and president Jack Sweeney. Many HCC trustees, elected officials, and community leaders joined these honorees and HCC chancellor Dr. Mary Spangler to enjoy a good meal and good music—and to help local students go to school.

To view photos of the event, please visit our Gala Slideshow.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) has donated $500,000 to HCC's Public Safety Institute training facility. The facility consists of dedicated classrooms, a 10,000 square foot burn building, a 10,000 square foot training tower, a 25,000 square foot firing range, and an Emergency Vehicle Operation Track.

This partnership has allowed HCC's Public Safety Institute to become the training venue  for METRO. The $500,000 donation will cover the tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment for employees trained at this facility.

On November 7, 2007, the HCC Foundation hosted the 2007 Scholarship Luncheon honoring the 2007-2008 scholarship recipients as well as the donors whose generosity made their scholarships possible.  Recipients were able to personally thank the individuals who provided the funds they received to assist them in pursuing and completing their education at HCC. Donors enjoyed the chance to see the impact of their generosity first-hand.  Chancellor Dr. Mary S. Spangler addressed the luncheon guests as the keynote speaker before introducing Nancy Berkey, a George Foundation and Aramark HCC Colleges Scholarship Recipient. Nancy is completing her associate degree in nursing at Coleman College for Health Sciences.

On November 5, 2007, the HCC Foundation hosted a luncheon for the 2007 College Connection scholarship recipients as well as the donors whose generosity made their scholarships possible.  Bill Coats, President of the HCC Foundation, welcomed the scholarship recipents and donors before introducing the keynote speaker, HCC Vice-Chancellor Dr. Charles Cook.  Guests also heard from College Connection scholarship recipient Tafashilia McCoy, who gave a lively talk about her personal experiences and the importance of a scholarship to her and her fellow students. 

Passport to the Future: HCC 2008 Gala will raise scholarship funds for local students seeking a chance at a higher education. We will also honor a leading Houstonian who has made important contributions to HCC and our community: Mr. Jack Sweeney, publisher and president of the Houston Chronicle. The evening will be a black-tie affair featuring a reception, award presentation, dinner, and dancing.

For additional information, please visit the Passport to the Future page.