The Legislature also mandated bachelor’s programs align with the community college tuition rate, Jones said. Since 2017, LSCS has worked to receive regional accreditation from the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges as well as approval from the THECB, Head said. “The universities had questions about whether or not community colleges should be offering four-year degrees, and our argument was these are workforce programs four-year schools normally do not offer workforce programs,” Head said. In 2003, the state authorized Brazosport College, Midland College and South Texas College to each offer up to five bachelor’s degrees, according to a 2014 state-mandated study from the RAND Corp., a nonprofit institution doing research and analysis.Īfter more than a decade of assessing the initial programs, the Legislature expanded bachelor’s degrees to all community colleges, Silverman said. LSCS’ programs are among the 21 degrees approved for community colleges since 2017 and nine launched prior to 2017, said Stacey Silverman, the assistant commissioner for academic quality and workforce for the THECB. “We will seek to grow the program for all of our campus areas as quickly as we’re able to do so with resources and prioritizing the quality of the bachelor’s degrees,” Jones said. Over time, Head said he envisions expanding the bachelor’s programs to other LSCS campuses, including LSC-Tomball.

12, LSCS had received more applicants than seats available. 3, and Valerie Jones, the associate vice chancellor of academic affairs, said as of Feb. We’re trying to fill a niche that hasn’t been met, so I think in the long term what’s going to happen is we’re going to help keep people here ,” Head said. “You hear a lot companies that there’s a shortage of skilled labor. To bolster in-demand workforce programs, Senate Bill 2118, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2017, authorized community colleges to offer up to three bachelor’s degrees in applied science, applied technology and nursing upon approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, according to the bill summary. LSC-North Harris at FM 1960 and I-45 will also offer the management program. 242 in The Woodlands, will house the inaugural transition program from registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in nursing, according to LSCS information.Ī third bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity will be offered at the LSC-Westway Park Technology Center near Beltway 8 and Hwy. 249 and Louetta Road, will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in energy, manufacturing and trades management. Two Lone Star College System campuses located near Tomball and Magnolia will offer the system’s first bachelor’s degrees this fall, a process that began more than 15 years ago to afford students low-cost, four-year degrees close to home, LSCS Chancellor Stephen Head said.

Loanstar campus