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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Since its inception 14 years ago, South Texas |
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College has been offering residents of the lower Rio Grande Valley |
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an opportunity to expand their horizons through education; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognizing the need for a college in the area, |
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Mario Garcia, a political science professor at The University of |
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Texas-Pan American, and Roberto Gutierrez, a state representative |
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from McAllen, initiated efforts to explore the issue; and |
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WHEREAS, Created to serve residents of Hidalgo and Starr |
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Counties, South Texas Community College was established by an Act |
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of the Texas Legislature in 1993; through the years, the school has |
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grown from an enrollment of 1,000 to more than 17,000 students, and |
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from a faculty and staff of 267 to 1,664; originally one campus, the |
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college now has campuses in McAllen, Weslaco, and Rio Grande City, |
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as well as the Dr. Ramiro R. Casso Nursing and Allied Health Center |
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in McAllen and the Technology Center in south McAllen; and |
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WHEREAS, Renamed South Texas College in the fall of 2004, the |
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college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and |
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Schools to award bachelor of applied technology, associate of arts, |
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associate of sciences, and associate of applied sciences degrees |
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and certificates; STC now offers 90 degree and certificate programs |
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in such fields as technology management, criminal justice, computer |
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information systems, and business administration; and |
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WHEREAS, In recent years STC has begun offering dual |
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enrollment programs in school districts throughout Hidalgo and |
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Starr Counties, allowing eligible high school students to take |
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college-level courses in medical sciences and engineering; it also |
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offers the Partnership for Workforce Training and Continuing |
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Education program, with weekend and evening courses, that allows |
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lifelong learners to upgrade skills, change careers, or seek |
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personal enrichment; and |
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WHEREAS, South Texas College has increased educational and |
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professional opportunities for many people in the Rio Grande |
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Valley, and its contributions indeed merit special commendation; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor all those associated with South Texas |
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College for their commitment to academic achievement and extend to |
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them best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for South Texas College as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |