H.R. No. 1211

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Odessa College has been named the recipient of a 2017 Rising Star award by the Aspen Institute; and

WHEREAS, The Rising Star award recognizes public community colleges across the country for exceptional achievement, measured by outcomes in student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students; the honor brings a monetary prize of $100,000 to further advance the school's mission; and

WHEREAS, Many positive factors contributed to the selection of Odessa College; the school increased its annual graduation-transfer rates from 15 percent to 32 percent in just four years, and it maintained a course withdrawal rate of only 1.8 percent; five years after graduating, members of the Class of 2010 earned more than double the wages of all other workers in the region; moreover, OC prides itself on the cultural diversity of its campus population; and

WHEREAS, Open access and affordability make community colleges a vital component of higher education, and through its long-standing commitment to excellence, Odessa College has distinguished itself as a resource of immeasurable value to West Texas and beyond; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Odessa College on its receipt of a Rising Star award from the Aspen Institute and extend to the administration, faculty, students, and staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Odessa College as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Landgraf

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1211 was adopted by the House on April 13, 2017, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House