Fall 2016 Newsletter from Trustee Robert Glaser
Nov 10, 2016
Dear Neighbors,
As anyone who has ever worked in business knows, changing a culture is not an easy task. One of my duties as Vice Chair of the Houston Community College Board of Trustees, and as your Trustee for District V, is to advocate for our institution to better serve both our students and our community. Doing so will result in a positive influence on the future of Houston and the surrounding area.
With the assistance of my fellow trustees and the leadership team at HCC, we are moving forward to putting into practice values and philosophies we have set to achieve greatness. We are indeed, changing the culture here at HCC to better serve our community as we move well into the 21st century.
- Houston Community College continues to be number one among the 1,905 community colleges nationally in awarding associate degrees to all minorities and number one in awarding associate degrees in liberal arts, according to Community College Week “Top 100 Colleges” report. HCC has also jumped from fourth to second in the total number of associate degrees awarded.
- Houston Community College was selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2016 INSIGHT into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. The HEED Award is the only national recognition honoring colleges and universities that exhibit outstanding efforts and success in the area of diversity and inclusion throughout their campuses. Additionally, Insight into Diversity, named HCC as having the most diverse campus in Texas and number 10 in the world, with 151 nationalities represented.
- Full and part-time HCC students who use METRO to get to class can now ride the bus and rail line at a 50 percent discount. HCC and METRO are offering a Student METRO Q Fare Card which can be picked up at student services offices on our campuses.
- HCC is making it easier for individuals who don’t have time during the week to attend classes by offering the “Fast Track Saturday” Business Certificate program at the West Loop Campus. This program funnels directly into the HCC Weekend College. Students can attend classes on Saturdays to get their certificate in one year and transfer into the HCC Business Administration- Management Specialization to earn an associate degree if they so choose. I will push to expand this program, and add other innovative programs at our West Loop Campus in order to serve even more area residents in attaining their educational goals while still working “full time” during the week.
- In order to better serve the greater Houston community and support student success, we have extended library hours across the district to seven days a week. Visit hccs.edu/libraryhours for more information about specific operating times and schedules for library facilities in District V.
The HCC VAST Academy recently received a generous $10,000 donation from the Arena Energy Foundation to support students in the program. VAST, which stands for Vocational Advancement and Skills Training, is a nationally recognized program and has been helping students with intellectual or developmental disabilities transition into college life and independent living for more than 25 years.
These types of investments and accomplishments continue to make HCC the college of choice and I thank you for your commitment to HCC. With your support, HCC is creating opportunities and will expand these opportunities to those in our community who wish to advance themselves through education and vocational training. Start here- go anywhere.
We are Houston’s Community College.
In service,
Robert Glaser
Vice Chair, HCC Board of Trustees
District V
Download: Fall 2016 Trustee Newsletter - Robert Glaser