CBC September Board Meeting Highlights STEM Related Initiatives at the College

Headline: CBC September Board Meeting Highlights STEM Related Initiatives at the College

BEEVILLE, TX— At the Coastal Bend College (CBC) Board of Trustee regular meeting on September 23, Project OASIS provided the Board with an update on their grant progress. 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 Accelerated Learning Academy (ALA) is a part of the Project OASIS grant. ALA provides students with the opportunity to earn college credits at an accelerated pace of four, six or 10 weeks. These courses are offered to students during non-traditional class times such as weekends and evenings. ALA courses are also offered at an accelerated pace with a hybrid format that includes both face-to-face as well as an online (Internet) component. Financial aid is available for students who qualify and courses are offered year round with rolling admission.

Project OASIS was also able to establish the Science Learning Commons on the Beeville campus to complement the newly renovated science laboratories. The Science Learning Commons houses technology and tools that help supplement their classroom instruction. Science Case Manager Taylor Tomlin has been instrumental in creating an awareness and interest for the activities hosted at the Science Learning Commons such as tie-dye, stargazing and other science related workshops.

Students have also had the opportunity to attend various STEM related field trips and guest lectures. Tomlin was also instrumental in the College gaining a PepsiCo Dream Machine. The PepsiCo Dream Machine is a recycling kiosk located in the James R. Dougherty Student Center that provides CBC faculty, staff and students with convenient ways to recycle their bottles or cans. For every bottle or can students place in the Dream Machine, they receive reward points to redeem for prizes, including local entertainment, dining and more.

The Board adopted a proposed tax rate of 0.17738 at the regularly scheduled August 24 board meeting. The College held two required public hearings on September 2 and September 9. No requests regarding the College’s proposed tax rate were received. Through a record vote, the Board decided to adopt the tax rate of 0.17738.

Dr. Espinoza’s President’s Report highlighted upcoming events that are scheduled to take place throughout the remainder of 2015. On Saturday, November 7, CBC will host the Mr. & Miss CBC Scholarship Pageant. The pageant will be held at the CBC Beeville campus in the Gertrude R. Jones Auditorium at 6 p.m. Information about the Mr. & Miss CBC Scholarship Pageant is available online at www.coastalbend.edu/cbcpageant.

In celebration of the College’s 50^th Anniversary, the CBC Foundation is hosting the CBC 50^th Anniversary Gala. The Gala will benefit students and programs at all CBC locations. This fundraising event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 14 at CBC Beeville’s Peter S. Marecek Physical Fitness Center (gymnasium). Tickets ranging from $25-$100 are available for purchase online at www.coastalbend.edu/foundation or by calling the CBC Foundation at (361) 354-2348.

About the CBC Board of Trustees:

The CBC Board of Trustees is comprised of seven elected trustees that serve six-year terms. Their regularly scheduled meeting is on the third Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm on the Coastal Bend College Beeville Campus, Robert J. Beasley Administration Building inside the Sandy Dirks Board Room. Meeting notices, agendas and board packets can be found online at www.coastalbend.edu/board.