Across Tarrant County College, leaders are deciding which academic programs to grow, change or cut as the college navigates tighter finances and changing workforce needs.
At Northwest Campus, TCC is developing what it says would be Texas’ first community college air traffic control degree, which could begin as early as spring 2027 with simulation-based training aligned with Federal Aviation Administration standards.
Zarina Blankenbaker, the Northwest Campus president, will help oversee what comes next.
Starting Sept. 1, Blankenbaker also serves as TCC’s vice chancellor for student success, serving as the college’s chief academic officer and provost while continuing to lead her campus. Trustees unanimously approved the appointment Aug. 20 after discussing it in closed session.
In her second role, Blankenbaker oversees TCC’s academic and student success work as the college weighs where to invest limited resources, which programs remain relevant and what new ones are needed.
Her appointment is part of Chancellor Elva LeBlanc’s broader leadership realignment, which puts several campus presidents in charge of two parts of the college. TCC leaders say the approach can improve coordination across its six campuses while controlling costs under what LeBlanc has called a new budget reality.
“This restructure will allow greater collaboration and greater communication with the two entities as we experience significant transformational change throughout the college,” LeBlanc said.
TCC is preparing to launch its first bachelor’s degree, in early childhood education, this fall at South Campus. Board President Jeannie Deakyne said trustees expect Blankenbaker to track enrollment and student progress in the program’s first cohort.
Trustees also expect Blankenbaker to ensure the new air traffic control program has the resources and community support it needs and help guide the rollout of childcare centers at the South and Northwest campuses, Deakyne said.
“We saw her experience leading the Northwest Campus as being one that gave her an important perspective on how we maintain the strengths and the identity of our individual campuses, while at the same time we create greater consistency for students across the entire district,” Deakyne said.
Blankenbaker said that TCC already has pockets of excellence that could be expanded collegewide. She also wants the college to reconsider work that doesn’t produce results, though she is not ready to identify what should be cut.
“I would like to get into the house to listen and learn to identify what are some things that might be improved,” she said.
In March, TCC cut 10 career and technical education programs due to either low enrollment or credits that did not transfer to four-year universities.
LeBlanc said the college may ask trustees to discontinue programs that are obsolete, no longer sought by employers or fail to attract students. Cutting programs could free resources for areas with growing demand.
“We’re having to balance what is relevant today, what is not relevant, that can be sunset, so we have space for the new that needs to come in,” LeBlanc said.
TCC is examining artificial intelligence for teaching and learning, college operations and the skills students will need in the workplace. LeBlanc said cybersecurity programs may need to expand, while health programs could serve more students if the college had additional resources. TCC is also working with employers to update manufacturing and automotive programs.
Blankenbaker will take on that work without leaving Northwest.
LeBlanc has increasingly adopted the dual-role model across TCC. Sean Madison has led both the South and Trinity River campuses since June. Beginning Sept. 1, Southeast President Andy Bowne also oversees TCC Connect, the college’s online campus.
The structure can strengthen communication between campuses and district administrators and help TCC operate more consistently as one college, LeBlanc said.
“It is both fiscally responsible and it supports the concept of the one-college model,” Deakyne said.
Dang Le is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at dang.le@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 Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington and UNT Health Fort Worth.
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