Fall 2016 Newsletter from Trustee Carolyn Evans-Shabazz
Nov 10, 2016
Dear Neighbors,
It is my belief that education is the tool to change the world and I know Houston Community College can be one of the great providers of education to help make that change. Through the hard work of my fellow members of the HCC Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff, we can reach that goal by giving each of our students the avenue to a good education. Together we give them the tools to change the world. As your trustee for District IV, it is my pleasure to share with you the most recent accomplishments at HCC.
- Houston Community College continues to be number one among the 1,905 community colleges 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.
- For the second year in a row, 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 has 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 the student services office at the Coleman College for Health Sciences.
- HCC is offering full-time working adults the opportunity to start and complete a degree by going to class only on Saturdays. The HCC Weekend College offers pathways toward an associate degree or certificate in Business Administration-Management.
- In order to better serve the greater Houston community and support student success, we have extended library hours across the district seven days a week. Visit hccs.edu/libraryhours for more information.
- The HCC Foundation offers hundreds of scholarships for students. During the 2015 – 2016 Academic year, the HCC Foundation gave away more than $1,251,000 million in scholarships to 1088 HCC students. For more information, please contact Carme Williams, CFRE Executive Director 713-718-8595.
I recently represented HCC at the NAACP Advocacy Boot Camp in the Sunnyside Community which focused on increasing access to education and offered an informational session about workforce opportunities. Materials were provided to give a brief overview of the programs of study and a nutshell of the registration process. There will be additional engagements with the students of my community to further encourage attendance at HCC.
I also made a donation to the Shape Community Center to assist with the continuance of the After School Enrichment program. HCC continues to strive to enhance the enrollment of students as well as to enhance the reputation of the college in the community.
It was also an honor to be recognized as one of the “Top 30 Influential Women of Houston” from d-mars Advertising, Marketing, and Communications for my work representing HCC in the community.
All of these achievements could not be possible without your support.
We are Houston’s Community College.
In service,
Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Ed.D.
Secretary, HCC Board of Trustees
District IV
Download: Fall 2016 Trustee Newsletter - Carolyn Evans-Shabazz