TJC receives a $105,000 Texas Pathways/Temple Foundation grant to help students improve math skills
HIGHLIGHTS In August, TJC celebrated the inaugural graduating class of its new Bachelor of Applied Technology in healthcare technology and medical systems.
TJC Faculty Senate marks 40th anniversary
TJC celebrates inaugural class of graduates from new Bachelor of Applied Technology program
The Tyler Junior College Faculty Senate celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020. The senate was founded in 1980, to provide a voice for TJC faculty in College affairs and to improve the quality of education and services for students through meaningful faculty participation in planning and decision-making. Tyler Mayor Don Warren presented a proclamation recognizing the group by declaring Tuesday, Dec. 1, as TJC Faculty Senate Day in Tyler. The proclamation read, in part, “The TJC Faculty Senate promotes diversity of ideas, a sense of shared governance, responsibility, collaboration and institutional excellence and works with college administrators to improve programs, policies and physical accommodations to best serve the interests of the students and society.” The TJC Faculty Senate Cabinet includes: Stephanie Lassanske, president and sociology/social work professor; Dr. Tammy Burnette, president-elect and professor/department chair of healthcare technology and medical systems; Regan Minkel, secretary and English professor; James Ledet, student relations committee chair and professor/coordinator of public administration/criminal justice; Lucas Shepherd, instructional support committee chair and English professor; and Ginger Christiansen, faculty development committee chair and associate degree nursing professor. Mejia said, “I have the utmost respect for all of our faculty, and I truly celebrate President Lassanske and her cabinet, our past senate presidents, and the numerous senators and committee chairs, who promote teaching excellence and student success.”
One of TJC’s August 2020 graduation ceremonies also marked another historic TJC first, as the inaugural graduating class of the new Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in healthcare technology and medical systems (HTMS) crossed the stage to receive their diplomas.
Designed for students who juggle work and family, the program offers classes in flexible but intensive fiveweek sessions. This allows students to complete their upper-division courses in five semesters while only attending one night per week. “These students are entering the workforce with the This is the second four-year degree TJC has created as skills and knowledge they need to be outstanding one of four Legacy Colleges designated by the Texas leaders in healthcare,” said Dr. Tammy Burnette, HTMS Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer up to department chair and professor. “They have worked five baccalaureate degrees. very hard to accomplish The first, a Bachelor of their educational goals Science in dental hygiene, we are so proud that “These students are entering the workforce and began in 2016. TJC was able to offer this with the skills and knowledge they need to bachelor’s degree to them. Graduates and their This is just the first of many be outstanding leaders in healthcare.” hometowns: Jennifer Bellbachelor’s degree graduates Matthews, LaRue; Irene you will see from our Dr. Tammy Burnette DeLuna, Longview; Debra program.” Dickerson, Longview; Katy Ereman, Tyler; Danielle In his remarks to the Heard, Tyler; Nicole LeBlanc, Whitehouse; Shelly graduates, TJC President Dr. Juan E. Mejia said, “Today, Maxfield, Tyler; Jennifer Melton, Flint; Kelly Peters, we celebrate you and your achievements and wish you Tyler; Shannon Pruett, Longview; Tracy Sawyer, the best as you go forward in your journey. Whatever Winona; and Annessa Simms, Tyler. you thought you were going to accomplish when you started here, we hope we helped you stretch a bit more The HTMS program, which began in January 2019, and that your dreams got a bit bigger.” was designed for working professionals who wish to advance into a higher level of management in the For more information, go to TJC.edu/HTMS. healthcare industry.
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The TJC Faculty Senate celebrated its 40th anniversary on Tuesday, Dec. 1, with a proclamation presented by Tyler Mayor Don Warren. From left: Warren; Stephanie Lassanske, TJC Faculty Senate president; and Dr. Juan E. Mejia, TJC president.
In November, TJC received a grant to help students achieve greater success in mathematics courses. TJC was one of eight East Texas community colleges encouraged to apply for funding from a $960,000 grant from the Texas Success Center to help with scaling essential practices of the Texas Pathways model. The Texas Success Center, a division of the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC), received the grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. TJC’s $105,000 award allowed for the creation of two mathematics labs, which offer additional technology such as computers and graphing calculators as well as personalized attention from math faculty and peer tutors. “These labs enable us to help a lot of students, especially those that we can identify early,” said Dr. Belinda Prihoda, TJC director of institutional effectiveness, who was a member of the grant application committee. “It gives us a greater chance of getting students the help they need to successfully complete the course.” In addition to Prihoda, the TJC grant application committee included: Dr. Tim Drain, associate vice provost for student affairs; Dr. Terry Peterman, associate vice provost for academic and workforce affairs; Dr. Cliff Boucher, dean of the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Sciences; Dr. Tam Nannen, dean of students; and Barbara Greenbauer, director of major gifts and special initiatives. Dr. Deana Sheppard, TJC provost and vice president for academic and student affairs and chief academic officer, said, “We appreciate the T.L.L. Temple Foundation and the Texas Success Center for this incredible opportunity to help our students achieve their academic goals. I would also like to thank our TJC committee for their great work. This is an invaluable resource for our students.”
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