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New rankings reflect STC's laser focus on student success through access, completion

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012


STC's focus on expanding access and creating a college-going culture in the region shows lasting results as the college continues high rankings on the national stage.

Texas Border Business ---

Rio Grande Valley --- Just a few days in and the summer is heating up, but it’s nothing compared to the temperatures at South Texas College where things are heating up with excitement over the college’s new national rankings.

“STC’s comprehensive mission includes a guiding principle of serving our students and communities as a world class and premier, learning-centered higher education institution where student and community success are paramount, and these rankings are much cause for celebration,” said STC Chief Academic Officer Juan E. Mejia. “The college community, through the vision of the board of trustees, the leadership of President Reed, and the commitment of the faculty and staff, is focused on excellence, and this validates our path and motivates us to strive to do better.”

Community College Week’s community college rankings released in June 2012 in its annual report “Top 100 Associate Degree Producers,” continue to rank STC in the top 100, out of more than 1,100 community colleges, in awarding associate degrees to all students. The college also ranks third in the nation in awarding associate degrees in education, fourth overall in awarding associate degrees to Hispanic students and ninth in the nation in awarding associate degrees to students of all minorities.

According to the publication, STC also ranks in the top 50 in the nation for awarding degrees in the fields of criminal justice and corrections; family and consumer sciences/human sciences; homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services; multi/interdisciplinary studies; parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies; and registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing.

“These rankings are a testament to our laser focus on expanding access to higher education and completion in our region,” Mejia explained. “We have been working diligently to expand our core programs to meet the community demand, as well as increase access by collaborating with our ISD partners to create additional early college high schools. We see ECHS as a very innovative path to become connected with higher education. Students learn they are more than capable of fulfilling college-level work and realize the dream of college can come true. That leads to degree completion.”

Diverse Issues in Higher Education, a national publication focused on issues impacting minority students, released its annual rankings of “Top 100 Producers of Minority Degrees” in June 2012. The rankings put STC at number one in the nation in awarding associate degrees to Hispanic students in the fields of business/commerce general, education and psychology. The college ranks number one among all minorities in graduating students with degrees in psychology. Diverse places STC as number two in the nation in awarding associate degrees in education and business/commerce general to all minority students.

“Our STC administration is thrilled with these rankings and we especially thank our faculty, staff, Board of Trustees and all our external partners, who have passionately supported our institutional commitment to the early college model,” Mejia continued. “Without that support, we would not be in the national spotlight as a leader in creating opportunities for the youth of our region. We are thankful and proud.”

Both publications rank community colleges based on the number of degrees granted annually. The data is collected from the U.S. Department of Education.

For additional information about Community College Week visit www.ccweek.com. For additional information about Diverse Issues in Higher Education visit www.diverseeducation.com. For additional information South Texas College visit www.southtexascollege.edu or call 956-872-8311. TBB

 

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