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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Amarillo College has been presented with the 2021 |
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Rising Star award from the Aspen Institute; and |
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WHEREAS, The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program |
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advances higher education practices and policies that |
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significantly improve student learning, completion, and employment |
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after college; the program biennially honors an institution with |
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the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, and 2021 marks |
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the first year that Amarillo College has been named a semifinalist |
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for the prize; the school ultimately placed in the top five |
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finalists and received the Rising Star award in recognition of its |
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rapidly improving student outcomes; and |
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WHEREAS, Serving some 13,000 students, Amarillo College has |
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received praise for its robust social services division, which |
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helps break down barriers to academic success by offering aid to |
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individuals in need; upon enrollment at the college, students |
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answer questions to assess various risk factors, and those that |
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face the greatest challenges receive regular contact from social |
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workers to ensure that they stay on track to graduate; this program |
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was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, with every staff member |
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contributing to the outreach efforts; and |
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WHEREAS, Among its many other initiatives, the social |
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services division employs three full-time social workers, offers 10 |
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free sessions of mental health counseling, and provides emergency |
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funds that can be accessed within 24 hours; in addition, the college |
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established an affordable day care center; under the able |
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leadership of AC president Russell Lowery-Hart, these efforts have |
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produced outstanding results, and the college's graduation rate |
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increased 18 percentage points over the course of five years; and |
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WHEREAS, Amarillo College plays a vital role in providing |
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students with the knowledge and skills necessary to build |
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productive and fulfilling careers, and its well-deserved |
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designation as one of the nation's premier community colleges is a |
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testament to the dedication and perseverance of its administrators, |
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faculty, and students; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Amarillo College on its receipt of |
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a Rising Star award from the Aspen Institute and extend to all those |
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associated with the college sincere best wishes for continued |
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success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the college as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |