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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Odessa College has been named the recipient of a |
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2017 Rising Star award by the Aspen Institute; and |
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WHEREAS, The Rising Star award recognizes public community |
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colleges across the country for exceptional achievement, measured |
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by outcomes in student learning, certificate and degree completion, |
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employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for |
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minority and low-income students; the honor brings a monetary prize |
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of $100,000 to further advance the school's mission; and |
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WHEREAS, Many positive factors contributed to the selection |
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of Odessa College; the school increased its annual |
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graduation-transfer rates from 15 percent to 32 percent in just |
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four years, and it maintained a course withdrawal rate of only 1.8 |
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percent; five years after graduating, members of the Class of 2010 |
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earned more than double the wages of all other workers in the |
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region; moreover, OC prides itself on the cultural diversity of its |
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campus population; and |
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WHEREAS, Open access and affordability make community |
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colleges a vital component of higher education, and through its |
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long-standing commitment to excellence, Odessa College has |
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distinguished itself as a resource of immeasurable value to West |
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Texas and beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Odessa College on its receipt of a |
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Rising Star award from the Aspen Institute and extend to the |
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administration, faculty, students, and staff sincere best wishes |
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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 Odessa College as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |