Texas State Technical College Teaches Skills That Attract Big Industry
With its strategic location near the United States-Mexico border‚ Harlingen is in a perfect position to attract a variety of corporations and small businesses. But even location has its limitations. That’s why Texas State Technical College is such an important asset.
Started in 1967‚ TSTC is a public‚ two-year college‚ which has grown over the years from an enrollment of only a few hundred students to more than 4‚600 today. TSTC offers more than 30 degree programs and partners with local businesses to provide continuing education courses and retraining for workers.
“In order to create economic development‚ there has to be a qualified work force‚” says Dr. Gilbert Leal‚ who has served as president of the college since 1978. “Even in a tight economy‚ our graduates have been able to find jobs. I think this speaks to the quality of our programs.”
In fact‚ when it was time for the college’s reaccreditation‚ the committee sent to evaluate TSTC recommended no changes‚ a fact almost unheard of in higher education. That means‚ Leal says‚ they believe the college is doing everything right.
Last year‚ when Boeing was considering relocating its aircraft manufacturing headquarters from Seattle‚ Harlingen was one of the top five communities on the company’s list. After touring TSTC’s facilities‚ the company was confident that the college could provide the training for both current and future Boeing employees.
“A huge reason that we have been so successful is that each of our programs has its own industrial advisory committee. The committees are required to meet at least once a year and the businesses tell us what to offer. So‚ the employers are telling us what our curriculum should be because they are the ones hiring our students‚” Leal says. “The local industries also help us with scholarships and donating equipment. These partnerships‚ along with the City of Harlingen‚ State of Texas and Economic Development Corporation‚ drive our success.”
Lockheed Martin‚ for example‚ contributes to a scholarship fund and provides co-op training to TSTC students. The company is also part of the aircraft mechanics program advisory committee.
The culinary arts program is extremely popular with both young students and people who already have degrees but want to switch careers. Tourism is big in the Valley‚ and many Culinary Arts graduates find work in the area’s hotels and restaurants. Dental hygiene‚ physical imaging‚ allied health‚ surgical tech and aviation mechanics are also popular programs. In many of these areas‚ TSTC students have a 100 percent passing rate on certification exams.
“We … are really trying to [improve] the quality of life for our citizens‚” says Leal. “I think what has kept me here is that mission – to be able to provide training programs where there’s a need in the state of Texas.”
