Tarrant County College trustees cut 10 career and technical education programs for reasons including low enrollment or credits that did not transfer to four-year universities.
The eliminations include all architecture programs and one certificate from each of the following academic areas:
sign language interpretation
aviation
geographic information systems
horticulture
marketing
information technology
The board eliminated the programs with a unanimous vote during the March board meeting. Other reasons for cutting credentials included low completion rates and lack of industry demand.
At a January meeting, Chancellor Elva LeBlanc said some “obsolete” programs would be cut as the college deals with “a new reality” for its budget and looks to ensure resources are put to best use.
A statewide tuition freeze and decreasing property tax revenue from an appraisal freeze are putting pressure on the college’s budget.
“We are looking at every program, all areas of the college, and making sure that we have the resources where they are needed,” LeBlanc said in January. “It does require some transformational change for all of us in many areas.”
No full-time faculty members will be negatively impacted as a result of the program cuts, LeBlanc said at a March work session.
Reginald Gates, vice chancellor of communications and external affairs, said in a statement that no adjuncts will lose jobs because of the changes as they typically teach more than one class and are not tied to a single program.
Students currently enrolled in the affected programs will have five years to finish and will be offered advising.
In recent months, college presidents and other officials detailed their reasons for recommending the programs for deactivation.
One recurring consideration was the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s standards. An undergraduate program is defined as “low producing” by the THECB if fewer than 25 students graduate in five years. When the college conducts reviews regularly, officials compare programs to this standard in advance of when the THECB requires action, said Isaac Rivera, district director of curriculum and educational planning, at the February work session.
The four cut architecture programs include an associate of applied science in architectural technology and three certificates.
One reason the architecture programs were recommended for deactivation is because of low graduation rates, Stephen Jones, vice president for academic affairs at the South Campus, told trustees during a March 12 work session.
The educational sign language interpreting enhanced skills certificate was cut because it is “no longer a viable credentialing path,” said Sean Madison, president of the Trinity River campus, at the February work session. The program was created for those already working in school settings.
However, none of the 75 students enrolled over the last five school years graduated, Madison added. Students in the program also cannot receive federal financial aid.
“It is important to note that the broader sign language interpreting program remains healthy,” Madison said.
TCC will continue offering other sign language-related degrees and certificates, including an associate degree.
The geographic information systems programmer level 1 certificate program had only one of 66 students earn the certificate over five years. The other GIS programs the college offers — including the associate of applied science and other certificates — have higher completion rates, officials said.
The marketing occupational skills award, the flight instructor enhanced skills certificate and a horticulture business management certificate were cut because of low enrollment, officials said.
Horticulture is a branch of agriculture focused on growing crops. The college will still offer an associate of applied science degree in horticulture, horticulture and plant health specialist certificates and a sustainable food crops occupational skills award. Those programs remain viable, officials said.
The computer support specialist certificate level 1 was cut because of low completion rates and little demand, officials said. Other IT-related programs will continue.
McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
The Fort Worth Report partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
The Report’s higher education coverage is supported in part by major higher education institutions in Tarrant County, including Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College, Texas A&M-Fort Worth, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington and UNT Health Science Center. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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