Education
BY SIERRA MARTIN
Technical college looks to future in the New Braunfels area
Texas State Technical College will be able to build a campus in Comal or Guadalupe county following the approval of House Bill 4997. Representatives from the technical college spoke to business professionals in the area during the Greater New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation quarterly luncheon July 25. “Thanks to the leadership of [Rep. John Kuempel] and [Sen. Donna Campbell], the bill that passed this session allows TSTC to operate without restrictions in Comal and Guadalupe counties,” foundation Executive Director Greg Lutz said. “This is a signifi- cant win for our region.” The big picture According to the presentation, service-area jurisdiction rules prevented the technical college from providing its programming without an estab- lished district community college first declining to serve as the educational provider. The new law gives the technical college the ability to bring new
programs without going through the process of offering a right of refusal each time. Texas State Technical College has 10 campuses throughout the state and offers over 40 programs and degrees through two-year courses and certi- fications. Programs focus on high-demand fields, including engineering and manufacturing, aviation, information technology, and health care. The specifics “TSTC is different; we get paid if and only when we put the student in a job,” said Gail Lawrence, Texas State Technical College deputy chancellor. “So we’re hyperfocused on the job. And we get paid what’s called a commission rate. ... We don’t focus on programs where there’s not high placement.” According to the presentation, funding for the college has two variables: student employment outcomes and a funding rate. The technical college acts like a placement agency; a graduate’s salary determines the commission the college receives.
Creating the college The Texas State Technical College is looking for the perfect location to build its local campus. 6-7 buildings on campus Nearly $268M total project budget At least 100 acres of property in Comal or Guadalupe county
SOURCE: TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
“We’re never gonna tax you; we don’t have the authority to levy a tax,” Arnold said. “We’re paid by the state of Texas. Once you make the invest- ment and it’s on the ground, there are no more local tax dollars being taken from you.” The next steps for the technical college are to organize stakeholders, raise capital from donors and identify property in either county for a campus.
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