Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The End of Another Semester
Last night was our Summer Graduation Recognition Ceremony; a time that's all about acknowledging those students who finish their studies in the summer and who may or may not choose to come back in December to officially "walk" across the stage. Last night was really what it's all about - seeing our students "finish", or at least reach one educational goal they've set for themselves. Many of our graduates couldn't make it to the ceremony because they're already working! How awesome is that! One of our graduates even had his employer there to congratulate him. They had nothing but positive comments about his skills and his character. They've even scheduled time next week to stop production at the plant and give him a graduation party. This was very meaningful to me personally because I vividly remember when this young man came to College Preview Day to find out more about our school. Now to see him, two short years later, in a job he enjoys and is exceptional at doing (words from his employer), makes me proud to work in higher education and especially at TSTC! We are changing lives one student at a time!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Career & Placement Center Opens!
Today was a grand day for Vanessa Davis, Placement Director at TSTC Marshall! Her long awaited Career & Placement Center officially opened this afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by the TSTC Chancellor, Board of Regents, College Presidents, city/county dignitaries and our campus community. Ms. Davis, with a smile on her face, proclaimed, "This has been a long time coming!"
So what exactly is the Career & Placement Center?
The Center will be a resource for our students as they prepare to go out into the workplace and start their new careers. They'll learn skills like resume preparation, interviewing and career searching. Ms. Davis will also offer career counseling and will also serve as the bridge that connects our students to industry. Some of her future plans include starting a Placement discussion group for students looking for jobs. She's also working on an e-newsletter for industry to keep them up-to-date on what's happening at TSTC.
And why is this an important resource?
We know our students are NOT going to school JUST for the fun of it. The end goal is for them to get a job and be successful. Getting a good job, especially in today's economic uncertainy, requires more than just the technical skills they learn in the classroom. It requires knowing how to sell themselves - through their resume, e-portfolio, interview, etc. And it takes knowing where and how to search for a job. With these skills, along with their technical education, our students will be ready to make a good impression on potential employers when it comes time.
Job placement will also be paramount to the success of the new TSTC paradigm - shifting from being funding by the State based on contact hours to being funded based on success (student placement) and the value that TSTC adds to the Texas economy. So when we say, "your success is our success", we mean it literally! This new paradigm was recently approved for study by the Texas Legislature. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will research the feasibility of a funding model based on returned value to be used in calculating formula funding for TSTC.
Another Service of the Career & Placement Center:
If you go to http://www.marshall.tstc.edu/ and click on "Employers Click Here" you'll see our online CSO (Career Service Office) that allows employers from across the State who are scouting technicians to post job openings and allows students throughout the TSTC System to view them. Students can upload their resumes for the employers to view and apply for jobs.
Where is the Center located?
The Career & Placement Center is located right inside the Visitor's Entry of the South Building in Room 248. For more information regarding placement or the services offered at the Career & Placement Center, contact Vanessa Davis at 903.923.3375 or e-mail her at vanessa.davis@marshall.tstc.edu.
Photos:
And finally, here are some photos from today's ribbon cutting ceremony taken by Multimedia student Alyssa Langford.
So what exactly is the Career & Placement Center?
The Center will be a resource for our students as they prepare to go out into the workplace and start their new careers. They'll learn skills like resume preparation, interviewing and career searching. Ms. Davis will also offer career counseling and will also serve as the bridge that connects our students to industry. Some of her future plans include starting a Placement discussion group for students looking for jobs. She's also working on an e-newsletter for industry to keep them up-to-date on what's happening at TSTC.
And why is this an important resource?
We know our students are NOT going to school JUST for the fun of it. The end goal is for them to get a job and be successful. Getting a good job, especially in today's economic uncertainy, requires more than just the technical skills they learn in the classroom. It requires knowing how to sell themselves - through their resume, e-portfolio, interview, etc. And it takes knowing where and how to search for a job. With these skills, along with their technical education, our students will be ready to make a good impression on potential employers when it comes time.
Job placement will also be paramount to the success of the new TSTC paradigm - shifting from being funding by the State based on contact hours to being funded based on success (student placement) and the value that TSTC adds to the Texas economy. So when we say, "your success is our success", we mean it literally! This new paradigm was recently approved for study by the Texas Legislature. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will research the feasibility of a funding model based on returned value to be used in calculating formula funding for TSTC.
Another Service of the Career & Placement Center:
If you go to http://www.marshall.tstc.edu/ and click on "Employers Click Here" you'll see our online CSO (Career Service Office) that allows employers from across the State who are scouting technicians to post job openings and allows students throughout the TSTC System to view them. Students can upload their resumes for the employers to view and apply for jobs.
Where is the Center located?
The Career & Placement Center is located right inside the Visitor's Entry of the South Building in Room 248. For more information regarding placement or the services offered at the Career & Placement Center, contact Vanessa Davis at 903.923.3375 or e-mail her at vanessa.davis@marshall.tstc.edu.
Photos:
And finally, here are some photos from today's ribbon cutting ceremony taken by Multimedia student Alyssa Langford.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Summer Graduation Recognition
The Marshall campus of TSTC currently holds two graduation ceremonies per year - one in the Fall and one in the Spring. But that doesn't mean we don't take time to recognize the accomplishments of our Summer graduates. Not only do we invite them to take part in the Fall ceremony following their last semester, we also host a Graduate Recognition Ceremony for them. We invite all our Summer graduates, their family and friends plus our campus community to attend this celebratory event. This year's ceremony will be on Tuesday, August 18th at 6:00 p.m. in Room 515 of the South Building. After the ceremony, a reception will follow. The address is 2650 East End Blvd., South, Marshall, TX 75672 should you be interested in attending. (Photos will be posted afterward!)
We're so proud of our graduates! In the Admissions/Recruiting area, it's especially rewarding to meet the students when they walk through our doors for the first time and then a couple years later watch them walk across the stage towards their new careers. When a TSTC graduate becomes successful, the entire TSTC family shares in that success!
We're so proud of our graduates! In the Admissions/Recruiting area, it's especially rewarding to meet the students when they walk through our doors for the first time and then a couple years later watch them walk across the stage towards their new careers. When a TSTC graduate becomes successful, the entire TSTC family shares in that success!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Fall Enrollment!
Although we have at least 2 more New Student Orientation sessions to go, the outlook for Fall Enrollment is great! Here's an article from the Longview News Journal on August 10th talking about the possible record breaking enrollment we're about to have:
Texas State Technical College may top 1,000 students
CHARLES IYOHOMarshall News Messenger
An unpredictable economy, the lure of landing a highly-specialized position and the introduction of in-demand programs are a few reasons TSTC Enrollment Dean Suzanne Carter expects student enrollment to top 1,000 this fall. About 946 students were enrolled at the school last fall. "Assuming high numbers for the dual-credit students, we'll certainly exceed 1,000," said Ms. Carter. "I'd hate to predict, but I'd like to think we might be close to 1,200 if we include our dual-credits, but that's yet to be determined."
School officials are predicting a significant enrollment increase based on pre-registration and new student orientation numbers. Ms. Carter said she expects the number of new students to be double that of last year. The number of returning students currently enrolled at TSTC has also increased by a large percentage.
Ms. Carter believes the trend may be attributed to a number of factors, such as local residents that have been laid off from work looking for a fresh start in a well-paying industry.
School officials say the recruitment efforts of staff members and opportunities for students to receive both unemployment education benefits from the federal government and benefits from Texas Workforce Commission have also caused enrollment numbers to swell. "It's typical when you have a downturn in the economy and unemployment rates are high that college enrollment is going to be high also," said Ms. Carter. "It's a direct correlation between the two." The introduction of new programs at TSTC has also played a factor. Programs such as the electrical lineman, biomedical technology, software engineering, welding and diesel programs have been in such high demand that TSTC officials have not been able to accommodate all students who apply.
Ms. Carter says the school received about 40 applications for the electrical lineman program alone and won't take any more students until next summer. The program is limited to 15 students due to its structure, which includes internships and practical training opportunities on the school's utility training yard. "I'm afraid we can't serve all of our students \— it's a wonderful problem to have," said Ms. Carter. "We'll be looking at trying to help them in some other degree programs that they may not have considered but that would be highly skilled and have good benefits."
Ms. Carter says the boost in enrollment numbers is a sign that more residents are seeing the advantages of what a two-year technical institution has to offer as opposed to going the traditional route. "I think it's gratifying to see that the good work that we've been doing now, to carry the message of the value of technical education, is being realized out in the workforce," said Ms. Carter. "I think that we will see enrollment growth that comes not only as a part of a downturn in the economy but because of our ability to showcase the value of technical education. I think you're going to see more people be aware that's where the jobs are."
Texas State Technical College may top 1,000 students
CHARLES IYOHOMarshall News Messenger
An unpredictable economy, the lure of landing a highly-specialized position and the introduction of in-demand programs are a few reasons TSTC Enrollment Dean Suzanne Carter expects student enrollment to top 1,000 this fall. About 946 students were enrolled at the school last fall. "Assuming high numbers for the dual-credit students, we'll certainly exceed 1,000," said Ms. Carter. "I'd hate to predict, but I'd like to think we might be close to 1,200 if we include our dual-credits, but that's yet to be determined."
School officials are predicting a significant enrollment increase based on pre-registration and new student orientation numbers. Ms. Carter said she expects the number of new students to be double that of last year. The number of returning students currently enrolled at TSTC has also increased by a large percentage.
Ms. Carter believes the trend may be attributed to a number of factors, such as local residents that have been laid off from work looking for a fresh start in a well-paying industry.
School officials say the recruitment efforts of staff members and opportunities for students to receive both unemployment education benefits from the federal government and benefits from Texas Workforce Commission have also caused enrollment numbers to swell. "It's typical when you have a downturn in the economy and unemployment rates are high that college enrollment is going to be high also," said Ms. Carter. "It's a direct correlation between the two." The introduction of new programs at TSTC has also played a factor. Programs such as the electrical lineman, biomedical technology, software engineering, welding and diesel programs have been in such high demand that TSTC officials have not been able to accommodate all students who apply.
Ms. Carter says the school received about 40 applications for the electrical lineman program alone and won't take any more students until next summer. The program is limited to 15 students due to its structure, which includes internships and practical training opportunities on the school's utility training yard. "I'm afraid we can't serve all of our students \— it's a wonderful problem to have," said Ms. Carter. "We'll be looking at trying to help them in some other degree programs that they may not have considered but that would be highly skilled and have good benefits."
Ms. Carter says the boost in enrollment numbers is a sign that more residents are seeing the advantages of what a two-year technical institution has to offer as opposed to going the traditional route. "I think it's gratifying to see that the good work that we've been doing now, to carry the message of the value of technical education, is being realized out in the workforce," said Ms. Carter. "I think that we will see enrollment growth that comes not only as a part of a downturn in the economy but because of our ability to showcase the value of technical education. I think you're going to see more people be aware that's where the jobs are."
Monday, August 10, 2009
Welcome to our Blog!
If you're reading this, you're taking part in a history-making moment! You're reading the very first blog post for the Marshall, Texas location of Texas State Technical College! This blog is managed by the Enrollment Management department of the college but the topics will be wide and varied! If you'd like to suggest a topic, feel free to leave us a comment. If you want more information about our school, visit www.marshall.tstc.edu and explore away! You can even request information from us and we'll send it to you. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/tstcmarshall, www.myspace.com/tstcmarshall and www.twitter.com/tstcmarshall.
Thanks for reading and for telling your friends about us too!
Thanks for reading and for telling your friends about us too!
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