CBC Board of Trustees set 2013 effective tax rate

At the regular meeting of the CBC Board of Trustees on Thursday, September 19, the Board moved to approve the new effective tax rate of $0.17388. The new tax rate is estimated to bring in an additional $377,000 of revenue to the college.

Project OASIS received Board approval to purchase Vernier Software and Labquest Hand Held Interface Technology that will help enhance instructional delivery and student learning outcomes in science courses. The software will be primarily used in the general biology course (BIOL 1408), but the software will also be incorporated in other CBC science courses. Students at all four CBC locations are going to utilize the new software and technology, and the purchase is covered 100 percent by Project OASIS. Project OASIS is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grant focusing on increasing the number of Hispanics and low income students obtaining degrees in STEM fields.

The Board reviewed and approved the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Coastal Bend College Foundation and the College. The MOU must be reviewed annually per policy. The CBC Foundation’s new Executive Director, Patricia Patel, reported that over $250,000 had been raised during the last fiscal year. Patel and the CBC Foundation Board of Directors are developing a strategic plan that will assess the areas the CBC Foundation should focus on for maximum impact on student success. An internal giving campaign for CBC employees launched on September 6 at the college’s annual convocation, and employees pledged over $3,000 to help support student success initiatives. For more information on how you can help contribute to student success at CBC, please call (361) 354-2447 or email foundation@coastalbend.edu.

During the president’s report, Dr. Beatriz T. Espinoza reported on the following:

· The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) focused report will be mailed on October 7. The SACSCOC site visit is scheduled for November 19-21.

· CBC has been named a 2014 Military Friendly School. The 2014 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus. For more information about veteran benefits, programs, and scholarships at Coastal Bend College, please visit www.coastalbend.edu/veteransaffairs or call Rosie Streicher, Veterans Affairs Specialist, at (361) 354-2421.

· The CBC Oil & Gas Technology Program received a grant for $163,694 from the Texas Workforce Commission’s Skill Development Fund. The funds are being utilized to purchase an oil and gas simulator that will give CBC students hands-on training and knowledge that they can put to use in the Eagle Ford Shale related industries. The simulator is expected to be purchased in time for students to use during the current academic year.

The CBC Radiologic Technology Program received notification from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) that the program was re-accredited for the next eight years. A re-accreditation of eight years is the longest timeframe that JRCERT awards to radiologic technology programs, which showcases the high quality of CBC’s Radiologic Technology Program and the achievements of its students. Timothy Skaife, CBC Radiologic Technology Program Director, stated that the program will have to provide an interim report in 2017. Since the program’s inception in 2007, the program has graduated 58 students. The program accepts applications for new students every spring. For more information, visit www.coastalbend.edu/radiology.

CBC’s Oil & Gas Technology Program presented information about graduation rates, industry wages, and employers. Since the program resumed operation in 2009, the program has awarded over 61 certificates and degrees to students. Currently there are 56 students enrolled in the program, with 10 of them being women. On average, graduates from the program who work in oil and gas extraction related occupations in the Beeville/Coastal Bend region are earning upwards of $1,900 per week. Companies that have hired CBC graduates are Marathon Oil, Pioneer Natural Resources, and ConocoPhillips, to name a few.

Options to offer oil and gas dual credit courses to high school students (grades 9-12) are currently in the works. Several local high schools have expressed interest in such a program, and the courses would lead to an Oil and Gas Skills Specialist Certificate. After high school graduation, the student could enroll at CBC for two additional classes and obtain their Oil & Gas Marketable Skills Level 1 Certificate. More details and information will be released at a later time.

Current oil and gas student Bob Forbeck-Owens moved from Tennessee to Texas because of CBC’s Oil & Gas Technology Program. Owens conducted research of programs all over the nation and decided on CBC. After graduation, Owens has his sights set on working for an oil and gas company.

“I researched the heck out of all the oil and gas programs in the nation, and this one looked the best to me. We get hands-on experience, and Mr. Coley (CBC Oil and Gas Professor) does an excellent job of teaching us what we need to know. I know I’ve made the right decision coming here, and my family is supportive of my decision,” Forbeck-Owens said.

CBC plans to open spring 2014 registration in November with a new rotating schedule format for most courses. The new rotating course schedule format will help students plan out their entire degree, and over 80 percent of CBC courses will adopt this new format. Students will know ahead of time exactly which semester a certain class will be offered, and CBC will guarantee that the courses they need to graduate on time will be available. Also, the CBC Course Catalog will be revamped into a fresh, student friendly format for the 2014-2015 year.

Emilia Dominguez, a CBC Trustee for over 15 years, submitted her resignation from the Board. The Board regretfully accepted her resignation at the September 19 regular meeting. Dominguez will continue serving as a trustee until a new trustee is appointed. Her term is set to expire May 2016.  Dominguez grew up in San Patricio County and graduated from Mathis High School. She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and went on to earn certification to teach mathematics and Spanish at the secondary level. She received her master’s degree in science and guidance and mid-management certification from Corpus Christi State University. She is currently the principal at Skidmore-Tynan Elementary School. CBC thanks Dominguez for her service to the College and her commitment to higher education in the Coastal Bend.

At Coastal Bend College your future begins here—and now. Let us help you advance your career and education. With so many programs, there’s bound to be something perfect for you. Let us tell you how. Contact us for more information about the programs and courses offered at Coastal Bend College by calling 1-866-722-2838 ext. 2266. Or you can visit us on the web at www.coastalbend.edu. You can also find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coastalbendcollege and Twitter at www.twitter.com/cbcfuture.