3 minute read
HILL COUNTRY HIGHER ED
One non-tourist-related attraction that adds to the quality of life and this area’s workforce is that higher education is available right here in Fredericksburg.
Hill Country University Center, located on the eastern city limits, has higher education options in the Fredericksburg area for both traditional and non-traditional students.
HCUC houses the Texas Tech University Regional Teaching Site in Fredericksburg (TTU) and a branch of Central Texas College (CTC). Together, the schools offer area students an affordable way to complete a four-year degree without leaving town.
The 24,000-square-foot center opened in 2010, and boasts seven classrooms, a science lab, computer library, student lounge, offices, and the H-E-B Community Events Center, which can host large gatherings. It is located on 68 acres at the eastern city limits and the Hill Country University Center Foundation has big plans as growth continues in the region.
The HCUC campus serves students in Gillespie and the surrounding six-county area. Evening classes serve many adult students who also work full time.
The center offers a variety of associate, bachelor and master degrees and provides scholarships to local students to offset the cost of attending college.
With the wine industry a growing part of the Hill Country economy, Texas Tech University-Fredericksburg offers many educational certifications and degrees in growing and production. It also has begun a Farm-to-Table program for area growers and
restaurateurs. — Standard-Radio Post file photo
CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
CTC is a two-year public community college that provides freshman and sophomore courses while maintaining some of the lowest tuition rates in the state. Students can earn an associate’s degree while completing their core curriculum toward countless areas of study.
CTC also works with local school districts to expand trade and technical training opportunities for high school students who wish to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. By earning college credits at CTC, a student can build a solid academic foundation and save on the cost of college before transferring to a four-year degree program.
TEXAS TECH
One popular path to a bachelor’s degree is by transferring from CTC to TTU-Fredericksburg.
TTU offers junior- and senior-level coursework needed to successfully complete baccalaureate and graduate degrees without leaving Fredericksburg.
Students also can design a degree that prepares them for a variety of careers.
Bachelor degrees are offered in local food and wine production, political science, and teacher education, to name a few.
The institutions offer certifications and professional development to help meet the area’s workforce needs. TTU is leading the way in the study of winemaking and offers viticulture and enology certificate programs, taught by some of the country’s top instructors. The program has brought in grape growers and wine makers from around the nation to earn industry certification and many of them go on to careers in the region.
ADULT EDUCATION
The HCUC also offers a variety of adult education courses from the TTU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).
OLLI offers members 50-years and older the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics from experts in their field.
By combining quality and affordability, the partnership between CTC and TTU at the HCUC offers a unique opportunity for higher education in Fredericksburg.
Hill Country University Center
2818 U.S. 290 East Fredericksburg
www.fredericksburg.ttu.edu Central Texas College
www.ctcd.edu/locations/other-texas-locations/ fredericksburg
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