Fall Newsletter from Zeph Capo, Trustee HCC District 1

Sep 19, 2014

Dear neighbors,

Great things continue to happen at Houston Community College. It is my honor as your elected member of the HCC Board of Trustees for District I to share with you some of the highlights as the fall semester begins.

Dr. Cesar Maldonado, the new Chancellor for the six college system, is already making an impact. Focused on student success and completion, whether in workforce or academic classes, Dr. Maldonado visits regularly with students on the campuses to get their input on programs and services offered here at Northeast College and throughout the district. To get a firsthand look, he registered for fall classes so that he could better understand the process from a student perspective.

Both Dr. Maldonado and the Board of Trustees are committed to complete transparency as we move through the coming year. The adopted budget provides a salary increase for our instructors and reflects our pledge to providing financial stewardship for the institution.

A great example of financial stewardship can be seen through the work of the HCC Information Technology Department. Named by University Business as a “Model of Efficiency,” this department improved copier and printer services across the district while generating $191,000 in revenues in the first year; paying for itself in ten months.

I was pleased with the turnout for our Town Hall meeting in late August. Community residents were given an opportunity to learn how the bond projects for the Northeast College are progressing. This new academic year promises to deliver new programs, services and buildings to enhance student success.

HCC Northeast College was busy this summer providing learning in a variety of methods from camps to hands on to educational experiences. You will see more about these programs on the back of this postcard. To keep up with the latest happenings at the college and across the district, please visitwww.hccs.edu. My commitment is to you, the people of the district.

Zeph Capo
Trustee, HCC District I

Filling the gaps in oil and gas industry

As Texas continues to be a top producer of crude oil, the demand for skilled workers in the industry increasingly grows. The Houston Community College Northeast Energy Institute and other workforce programs play a vital role in delivering trained technicians to oil and gas and energy industries. The Energy Institute (EI) is a part of the Division of Science and Engineering Technologies (DSET) and is a premier center for high-tech training designed to address the critical shortages of qualifying personnel in energy and related fields. Located on the Northeast Campus, the division is also known for having the most engineers on staff, with many having more than 25 years of industry experience. EI trained students are landing high-wage jobs in upstream, downstream and midstream sectors of the petroleum industry.

Former students like Lamine Ganame, a petroleum engineering technology graduate, was hired by Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation with a starting salary of over $70,000 in the upstream sector. This sector includes oil and gas exploration and operating wells that bring natural products to the surface. The petroleum program’s core curriculum focuses on geology, drilling, hydrocarbon safety and exploration. Ganame works in the office using computer and software skills gained in the program to set up databases and monitor more than 700 wells. He also keeps track of drilling costs and completion.

 “There is a high demand in the field and if you learn what you need to know in the program, you have a good chance of getting a job. Working in this field offers a good salary, travel and you meet people from around the world,” says Ganame.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statics Occupational Outlook, petroleum engineering technicians are projected to see a 15 percent increase through the year 2022 due to high prices for oil and increased demand for natural gas. Because of the high demand from industry and success of students, the HCC petroleum program has seen a significant increase in enrollments, growing by 66 percent in the last year. Top oil and gas companies are recruiting and hiring EI students each semester as they near the end of their program. Industry leaders like Shell Oil, Marathon Oil, BASF and Occidental Oil and Gas often attend information sessions to expose EI students to career opportunities.

“Houston’s top employers know that they can rely on the Energy Institute and Northeast College to produce skilled workers in the oil and gas industry. We are delighted to make such a significant contribution to the workforce,” says Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, president of HCC Northeast.

There is also increased demand for technicians in the downstream sector of the industry that involves converting crude oil into other products at refineries and petrochemical manufacturing plants. The EI offers training in process technology where students learn how to monitor, control and troubleshoot various industrial processes in a production environment. Through strong partnerships and corporate donations, HCC students have access to industry software, equipment and internships that expose them to the practices and standards required at a job site. Much like the petroleum program, enrollment increases are being driven by the workforce demand for process technicians.

Since spring 2013, the program’s enrollment has doubled, growing by 108 percent. The oil and gas boom and planned expansion of several petrochemical plants in Texas is also creating employment opportunities in the midstream sector that involves transportation by pipeline, rail, barge or truck. Career areas not ordinarily associated with the oil and gas industry, like drafting and design are also being touched by the upswing. A number of trained architects are returning to Northeast College for additional training in piping design; training that focuses on process plant based mechanical design. The DSET has also seen increased demand from the industry for electronics and fiber optic technicians who can work in equipment maintenance, testing, production and manufacturing. Leading scientists from Halliburton recently visited the College to discuss the challenges they face due to a shortage of trained technicians. In the near future, the College plans to expand its capability to train technicians in the area of photonics education.

Transportation of crude oil and processed byproducts is generating an increased demand for tanker truck drivers in the oil and gas midstream sector as well. HCC Transportation program director Martin Garsee states that most of the demand is for tanker drivers in the west Texas area.

“The pay for many of the drivers transporting crude oil products can be as high as $30 an hour and even more when paid by the load,” says Garsee. The HCC Truck Driving Academy, also located at the Northeast Campus is led by Garsee. “We are seeing this increase in demand for drivers create opportunities in two ways. HCC partnering tanker companies are looking for drivers to haul chemicals that are being locally processed in plants; and we also know, as experienced drivers take crude oil transportation jobs out in west Texas, it is leaving a void in the freight industry, so our trained drivers are finding employment in that sector as well.

The Northeast College is a comprehensive instructional center with multiple locations that includes the flagship Northeast Campus located near Houston’s transportation corridor and numerous chemical processing plants. The College offers academic programs as well as workforce training that lead to high-wage careers. As the Northeast College continues to create pathways for highly skilled labor in oil and gas, energy and related industries, it is also committed to serving as a leading resource for the industry and Center of Excellence for science, mathematics, engineering and technology (STEM) and academics. For more information on programs and services offered by Northeast College, visit northeast.hccs.edu or call 713.718.8300.

HCC Northeast and METRO offer new parking for light rail

HCC Northeast, in partnership with METRO celebrated the opening of METRO's new Red/North Line light rail with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Northline Campus. The new designated parking provides an opportunity for the community to park and ride the light rail as well as creates easier access to the Northline Campus. Fifty parking spaces were made available to METRORail thanks to the leadership of HCC.

The official grand opening showcased the METRO-designated parking area located on the HCC Northline Campus at 8001 Fulton and adjacent to the METRORail Northline Transit Center. The new “blue” lot is free to the public and is based on space availability.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony included HCC Board Trustee Zeph Capo, Chancellor Dr. Cesar Maldonado, Northeast College President Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, Congressman Gene Green, METRO Board Members Jim Robinson and Allen Watson, as well as METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert. HCC students and local community leaders were also present to mark the opening of the new lot and partnership.

“METRO plays a vital role in supporting the growth of our city through expanded transportation and routes and we are proud to be their partner. HCC supports Houston by educating and training the workforce of tomorrow. Just like the rail line, at HCC we believe that you can ‘Start Here and Go Anywhere’,” said Dr. Maldonado.

As a result of HCC’s longstanding partnership with METRO, students have benefited from discounted Q-Passes and extended bus routes that have created improved access to campuses across the city.

The HCC Northline Campus offers academic and workforce training, adult basic education and dual credit courses to area high school students. For more information on programs offered by HCC Northeast, call 713.718.8300 or visit northeast.hccs.edu.

HCC Northeast wraps up summer STEM camps, exposes students to workforce careers

This summer Houston Community College Northeast has been a hub for preparing the next generation of skilled workers. Northeast College recently coordinated and hosted three summer camps to encourage youth and college students to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math. This year, 59 students took part in these camps which included a four week math boot camp, the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy and an undergraduate research camp.

During the camps, students were exposed to a variety of STEM career pathways offered at HCC Northeast and also had the opportunity to engage in enriching interactive activities in a college setting. “Northeast College has been a mainstay in the community in exposing residents to the limitless possibilities offered in STEM career pathways. These summer camps are one of the many ways we work to accomplish this goal,” said Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, president of HCC Northeast.

Students received quality instruction in a variety of areas including math, fire science, forensic science and robotics. A career in forensic science was brought to life when students were given the opportunity to act as crime scene investigators. In the forensics class, students learned about the science behind finding clues to solve crime mysteries. Students participated in a mock crime scene investigation that utilized various methods including fingerprinting and the analysis of glass, food, soil, blood type and blood splatter.

The camps were funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America (ASTRA) STEM project. The project develops academic programs that strengthen minority participation in STEM-focused activities from middle and high school to baccalaureate-level students. The camps also brought together a variety of community partners including Houston Independent School District, Synergetic STEM Outreach Center and BotShop who also provided instructional support for the camps.

HCC Northeast also partnered with Rice University to offer an undergraduate research camp. Students from both institutions participated in four weeks of instruction and bioscience research regarding the pre-detection of ovarian cancer. The goal of the research focused on improving early detection methods resulting in greater opportunities for early intervention. The students presented their findings at a closing ceremony that recognized the participants for their accomplishments on August 7. The research camp is designed to increase minority participation in STEM careers and encourage transfers to four-year universities.

In addition, Northeast College hosted the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Educational Science Literacy Foundation for their annual D.R.E.M.E. Summer Science Camp. Camp participants also had the opportunity to take part in various STEM activities and explore career opportunities offered at Northeast College and industry. The D.R.E.M.E. camp culminated with a STEM Fair where campers displayed projects and engaged in interactive exhibits presented by Mad Science, Lockheed Martin, Schlumberger, Lyondell, NASA and CenterPoint Energy. Northeast College looks forward to a continued partnership with the McNair Foundation.

Three students earn Popeye’s scholarship to attend HCC Northeast fire academy

At a press conference held at Fire Station 37, Houston Community College Northeast, the Houston Fire Department, Houston Independent School District and Popeye’s Chicken came together to announce three scholarship recipients who will attend the Northeast College Fire Academy this fall.

Scholarship recipients Justice Jones, William Moreira and Antonio Rodriguez, all recent HISD high school graduates, are looking forward to attending the HCC Public Safety Institute at the Northeast College in the fall. The students selected were all participants in the C.A.S.E.Y. (Cultivate, Advise, Support, Empower, Youth) Club whose purpose is to create and foster a career path to become a firefighter and emergency medical technician. Their participation in the C.A.S.E.Y. program along with personal experiences with firefighters influenced the young men to pursue careers in the field. Northeast College will be an excellent place to gain training in public safety without going too far from home.

Popeye’s Chicken has been a supporter of Houston firefighters and saw this scholarship donation as an opportunity to invest in training for future firefighters. Popeye’s provided an initial donation of 15,000 dollars in scholarship funds and committed to supporting future HCC Northeast Fire Academy students with additional contributions. “These young people are going to take over for us one day. It is important that we give them good training early in their lives so that they can become productive citizens,” said John Mayes, faculty division chair for fire technology.

At the HCC Fire Academy, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and experienced instructors who have many years of experience with the Houston Fire Department and surrounding fire departments throughout greater Houston. When Justice Jones, a recent graduate of Furr High School, was asked about his thoughts about attending Northeast College in the fall, he shares, “I can’t wait. It’s only a month away and I am ready to start.”

The HCC Public Safety Institute contributes to Houston’s critical personnel in EMS, fire and law enforcement by providing state recognized training. As a part of the PSI, the fire academy provides training and education in fire and arson investigation, fire suppression, fire prevention and fire service management. Courses in fire technology are offered during the day and evenings. Call 713.718.8300 or visit northeast.hccs.edu for more information.

HCC Northeast and Capital IDEA partnership delivers

Houston Community College Northeast current and prospective students responded in great numbers for the first series of orientation workshops provided in partnership with Capital IDEA. The partnering organization fully funds participants’ tuition, fees, and books for an associate’s degree or college-level certificate with no loans or paybacks required. The orientations were a success with more than 100 participants, 67 of whom qualified to move forward in the Capital IDEA program.

The series of orientations focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) related career programs. “This is a tremendous opportunity for students in our community to obtain training at Northeast College with the financial support of our community partner Capital IDEA,” said Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, president of HCC Northeast.

At the orientation, participants learned about the services that Capital IDEA offers students as well as various career programs offered by the College. Representatives from the office of student services were also on hand to share information about the HCC admissions and registration process. The program greatly benefits the community as it provides a career pathway for persons who have challenges funding their college education.

Capital IDEA will continue to offer orientation sessions for the program throughout the year. For information on participation, call 713.718.8300.