RGC Hits Educational Milestones

Slated for official dedication in mid-March, RGC’s 32,000-square-foot Dolph and Janey Briscoe Building completes a construction cycle begun in the early 1990s to provide more permanent, spacious and better-equipped facilities for students at the college’s three locations: Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Uvalde.

The new facility triples the Uvalde campus’ space, housing under one roof administration, classrooms and faculty offices that had been located in two smaller RGC buildings on the campus of Southwest Texas Junior College, and at other Uvalde locations. Upgraded technology at the Briscoe campus links 60 testing center computers, provides new high-definition projection technology in four distance learning classrooms, and connects students to a wireless network that triples current bandwidth. The $4.5 million building accommodates five regular classrooms, four teleconference rooms, two computer labs, and features a 110-seat auditorium.

“Together with the new campuses we have provided at Del Rio and Eagle Pass, our Uvalde facility advances Rio Grande College’s reputation even more for offering students throughout Southwest Texas state-of-the-art communications and technologies,” said Dr. Joel Vela, RGC vice-president.

During a recent visit, Dr. Ken Craycraft, of the Texas State University System, cited Rio Grande College’s aggressiveness in upgrading the delivery of learning programs through technology puts the College in a league with few peers.

“Rio Grande College is at the forefront of our mission to close the educational gaps that exist in Texas,” he said.

Interactive courses now help more than 40 percent of RGC’s students to concentrate on coursework instead of travelling the roads leading from one campus to another. About one-fifth of the college’s total course offerings are provided through “virtual classrooms” and internet programs that continue to improve. RGC provides 25 teleconferencing courses and 19 internet courses.

As Rio Grande College matures, a sure sign of “growing up” is the increasing number of daytime students.

“Fifteen years ago, more than 80 percent of our courses were taught after the normal workday,” remembers Dr. Frank Abbott, RGC dean. “Back then, the average undergraduate was aged 32, most graduate students were about 35 years of age, and the average course load was 4.5 hours per semester.

 “Today, at least 60 percent of our students are taking day-time classes, they’re younger -- about 24 years of age --  and they’re buckling down to 12 to 15 semester hours,” he continued. “So in this sense, Rio Grande College is becoming a more traditional institution: with a younger, more focused student body which is able to devote daylight hours to serious study.

The last eight years has also seen a turnaround in student achievement scores. In the 1990s, the overall pass rate on the teacher licensing examination was less that 75 percent, below the state accountability standards. Since 2006, the pass rate for teachers has held steady at 100 percent, and 100 percent in the last year for all but one of the disaggregated groups of students measured.
 

“For them,” said Abbott proudly smiled, “the pass rate is only 99 percent.

Dr. Abbott continued: “We not only have the highest passing rate of any institution along the Texas border, we’re also right up there with some of the state’s largest and most prestigious universities.”

As it reaches the prime of its life, Rio Grande College broadens the base of knowledge available within its own walls, as well as in classrooms far beyond. 

RGC’s biology program, introduced in 2006, is attracting more students every year, and by 2010, computer science programs will add to the roster.  The College recently earned approval from the State Education Coordinating Board to begin the development of a Chemistry program. Funds available through RGC’s recent Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution grant will help support the program – one of only 25 grants made nationally.

“When I see how the recent inclusion of math and science courses is proving successful – why, this semester we have an unprecedented 29 students with math majors – it goes to show there’s plenty of demand in the region to justify such new programs,” says Dr. Abbott.

Meanwhile, Rio Grande College faculty and administrators are steadily engaging public school and community leaders in P-16 Council “think tanks” to develop ways to better prepare high school students for the rigors of college learning.

“The future of this region is bound hand and glove to a citizenry that is well educated,” says Dr. Vela. “Business and industry will actively seek the resources of the region for start-ups and relocation if they can be assured that we can provide them with a workforce that can lead them into the future.

“With every graduating class, Rio Grande College is fulfilling that need,” he asserts.