FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Danny Guzmán, Member, Board of Trustees, South Texas College; Ricardo Solis, Ph.D., President, South Texas College; Paul R. Rodríguez, Member, Board of Trustees, South Texas College; John Quiñones, ABC News Correspondent; Gary Gurwitz, Member, Board of Trustees, South Texas College; Rose Benavides, President, Board of Trustees, South Texas College; and René Guajardo, Member, Board of Trustees, South Texas College. Quiñones was a keynote speaker on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 for this year’s National Summit for Dual Credit Programs, held at South Padre Island, where he inspired educators in attendance with his story of struggle and success.
Photograph By BENJAMIN BRIONES
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Paul R. Rodríguez announces reelection bid for South Texas College Board of Trustees
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
In 2012, following the passing of Michael “Mike” Allen, a former Catholic priest who became a McAllen business leader and member of the South Texas College Board of Trustees, Paul R. Rodríguez was appointed by the remaining six members of the STC Board of Trustees to complete Allen’s unexpired term.
Allen, 72, was battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia when he passed away on Wednesday, August 25, 2010.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/themonitor/name/michael-allen-obituary?id=6908739
Rodríguez then ran for the seat and was elected by voters, having since served as a member of that governing board.
On Friday, March 11, 2022, Rodríguez announced his reelection bid for the position of District 3, Board of Trustees, South Texas College ,which represents south McAllen, southwest Pharr, Hidalgo, southeast Mission, and Granjeño.
Early voting by personal appearance will begin on Monday, April 25, 2022 and end on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
Election day shall take place on Saturday, May 7, 2022.
Details on early voting and election day locations are available from the Hidalgo County Elections Department by calling 956/318-2570, and additional information on the election is available online at:
https://www.hidalgocounty.us/105/Elections-Department
“STC is truly a catalyst for economic development and regional prosperity,” Rodríguez said.
South Texas College has an estimated enrollment of about 31,000 students and a staff of 1,600 working across its campuses.
“It has been my distinct privilege to support and promote the efforts of South Texas College,” Rodríguez said. “The STC faculty, administration, and staff have provided our students, and our communities, with a myriad of educational and career options, ranging from remedial education and GED attainment to dual credit enrollment and baccalaureate degrees.”
Founded in 1993, South Texas College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers more than 127 degree and certificate options, including associate degrees in a variety of liberal art, social science, business, math, science, technology, advanced manufacturing and allied health fields of study.
South Texas College is the only community college in the State of Texas to offer five baccalaureate degrees.
A bachelor’s degree or baccalaureate is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years. The two most common bachelor’s degrees are the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science.
An associate’s degree is an academic program taken at the undergraduate level (the first stage after secondary school). It aims to give students the basic technical and academic knowledge and transferable skills they need to go on to employment or further study in their chosen field.
In the U.S., associate’s degrees are available at various types of college, including community colleges, junior colleges and technical colleges, affiliated colleges of universities and university institutes. It typically takes two years full-time to complete an associate’s degree.
For some students, an associate’s degree provides preparation for a bachelor’s degree, while for others it’s a qualification in its own right, helping to improve employment prospects compared to only having completed a secondary-level education.
https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/what-associates-degree
Certificate programs are relatively short term, three to nine months, low in cost, and have high rates of completion relative to degrees programs.
Certificates offer very specialized education and training that allow the student to develop transferable skill-sets specific to the work field or type of job they desire to be in. They also allow the student to dive right into their desired area of focus and to graduate in a shorter time frame with the skills they need to succeed in the work field.
https://martinsburgcollege.edu/blog/2017/11/07/college-certificate-program-many-people-enrolling/
During the past decade, Rodríguez has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees, South Texas College, and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, South Texas College.
Currently, he is a member of the Education and Workforce Development Committee and a member of the Finance, Audit, and Human Resources Committee, Board of Trustees, South Texas College.
Also in 2021, Rodríguez served as Chairman of the South Texas College Presidential Search Committee following the retirement of Shirley Reed, Ph.D.
Reed served as President of South Texas College for 26 years and was the college’s founding president.
Following a nationwide search, Ricardo Solis, Ph.D., assumed the role in July 2022.
Rodríguez said he has been able to put his expertise to use, focusing his efforts as a trustee on maintaining the college’s financial integrity, with the goal of minimizing the burden on taxpayers.
A native of Pharr, Rodríguez has been married to the former Myrna Hidalgo, a native of Mission, for 42 years. They have three adult children and two grandsons.
He graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and currently serves as president and CEO of Valley Land Title Co., a real estate title insurance agency with offices in McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, and Weslaco.
He accepted this position after retiring in 2005 from a 30-year commercial-banking career, which included roles as president and CEO of national banks in Pharr and Mission.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-rodriguez-71231119
Rodríguez is president-elect of the Texas Land Title Association, a statewide trade association representing nearly 15,000 professionals in the land-title industry.
Public service has been a hallmark of Rodríguez’ life, offering his time, talents, and expertise as he served as:
• Board member and Charter Chairman of the Mission Economic Development Authority;
• Board member and Chairman of Mission Hospital;
• Board member and Chairman of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;
• Trustee and President of the Board of Trustees, Sharyland Independent School District;
• Trustee and Charter Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Juan Diego Regional Catholic High School; and
• Board member and President of Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS).
Rodríguez is a current board member and past president of Affordable Homes of South Texas and a board member and current chairman of Municipal Utility District #1.
Each of these has been important to Rodríguez, but serving on the Board of Trustees, South Texas College, has allowed him to combine his degree in economics and his vast business experience with his dedication to education and community prosperity.
Rodríguez said he has been able to put his expertise to use, focusing his efforts as a trustee on maintaining the college’s financial integrity, with the goal of minimizing the burden on taxpayers.
Rodríguez has also played an integral role in helping South Texas College seek additional assistance from the state and federal legislatures in order to provide students with the educational and financial resources they need to graduate and pursue their careers.
In 2021, Rodríguez was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Community College Association of Texas Trustees, which oversees 750,000 community-college students across Texas.
He also serves on the Latino Association of Community College Trustees and has held the position of treasurer.
History of South Texas College
When South Texas College was approaching its 25th anniversary of its creation by the Texas Legislature, the higher education system published background on the anniversary, including a video by former Gov. Ann Richards, who was the keynote speaker.
A summary of some of that lengthy history follows:
As a young teen, current STC Trustee Rose Benavidez recalls traveling with her father, the late Manuel Benavidez, across Starr County looking for support for what was then known as South Texas Community College (STCC).
Her father had just been appointed as a trustee for the college, and in the summer of 1995, public acceptance for STCC had snowballed, resulting in an election that saw voters approve three propositions that were essential for the college.
“When I was a kid driving around with my father I remember they were having classes in laundromats or they were allowed by school districts to have classes in old libraries,” Benavidez said. “I can recall my very first experience with the college was when I was maybe 15 years old. But far beyond the brick and mortar is the impact and the change in the people of our community.”
In June 1993, then Texas Gov. Ann Richards signed legislation creating South Texas Community College, converting the former Texas State Technical College campus in McAllen into a locally governed community college serving Hidalgo and Starr Counties.
“I had the passion, the commitment and the tenacity to say ‘by God, we’re going to do this,” said then- STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed. “When you look at the level of poverty in the Valley and the number of individuals who haven’t even had an opportunity to finish high school, much less go to college, it becomes clear there is no end to the work that needs to be done in the Valley.”
South Texas College opened its doors as South Texas Community College in September 1993, and classes began with 1,058 students.
“To see friends, family and ex-students come through our programs and to see them graduate has been a very satisfying experience,” said trustee Dr. Alejo Salinas. “To hear the feedback from those who have come here, and how full of pride they are with their education, that’s a very rewarding experience for me. It provides me with plenty of reason for wanting to be a part of this college.”
https://www.southtexascollege.edu/25-years/
Locations
Mid-Valley Campus
400 N. Border
Weslaco, Texas 78596
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/mid-valley-campus.html
Pecan Campus
3201 W. Pecan
McAllen, Texas 78501
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/pecan-campus.html
Pecan Plaza
2501 W. Pecan Blvd.
McAllen, Texas 78501
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/pecan-plaza.html
Technology Campus
3700 W. Military Highway
McAllen, Texas 78503
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/tech-campus.html
Nursing & Allied Health
1101 E. Vermont
McAllen, Texas 78503
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/nah-campus.html
Starr County Campus
142 FM 3167
Rio Grande City, Texas 78582
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/starr-county-campus.html
Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence
3901 S. Cage Boulevard
Pharr, Texas 78577
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/rcpse-campus.html
Higher Education Centers
La Joya Higher Education Center
Jimmy Carter Early College High School
603 College Drive
La Joya, Texas 78560
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/lajoya/
Pharr Higher Education Center
1100 E. Business Highway 83
Pharr, Texas 78577
https://campuses.southtexascollege.edu/pharr/
The elections for members of the Board of Trustees, South Texas College, are highlighted in the Manuel of Policy for the higher education system:
A Confirmation Election was held on August 12, 1995. The voters in the College District approved the confirmation of South Texas Community College, which became South Texas College on June 24, 2004.
As a result of such confirmation, Board of Trustee elections were required. Section 130.0311 was amended in 1995 to provide that the then seven (7) current trustees would draw lots to determine the initial term for each Trustee District so as to provide for staggered six (6) year terms.
Such procedure was followed resulting in the terms and election dates as provided below.
Date of Regular General and Runoff Elections
The Board shall call and hold regular elections for Trustee Districts on a Uniform Election Day in May of each even-numbered year as follows:
a. Districts 5 and 7 in 2008 and every six (6) years thereafter; and
b. Districts 3 and 4 in 2010 and every six (6) years thereafter; and, c. Districts 1, 2 and 6 in 2006 and every six (6) years thereafter(Section 130.082 of the Texas Education Code).
A candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate to be elected to the Board of Trustees (Section 2.001, Texas Election Code).
In the case where two (2) or more candidates for a Trustee positions tie for the number of votes required to be elected, the Board shall follow the applicable procedures as set out in Section 2.002 of the Texas Election Code.
Election to be Called
The Board shall call an election in accordance with the Texas Election Code.
Ballots
The location on the ballot of the names of candidates for each position shall be chosen by the candidates.
Reporting Regarding Campaign Funds
Candidates for the Board shall file any designations and reports required by law, including the filing of any required designation of a campaign treasurer and all required financial statements with the Secretary of the Board in accordance with applicable law and directives fromthe Texas Secretary of State.
https://admin.southtexascollege.edu/president/policies/pdf/1000/1400.pdf
JOHN QUIÑONES, ABC NEWS NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, PROMOTES DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS AT NATIONAL SUMMIT HELD AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
ABC News Correspondent John Quiñones on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 kicked off this year’s National Summit for Dual Credit Programs, held at South Padre Island, where he inspired educators in attendance with his story of struggle and success.
The National Summit for Dual Credit Programs is a premier conference tailored for higher education institutions, school district personnel, and state/national entities and provides attendees with valuable information and key takeaways regarding dual credit and college readiness.
https://www.nsdcp.org/schedule.html
Quiñones is host ofWhat Would You?, author,broadcast journalist andmotivational speaker.
Quiñones grew up in San Antonio in poverty with parents who only obtained third grade educations but who stressed to their children that “education was the way out.”
The Emmy Award winning journalist and host of the TV show “What Would You Do?” remembers shoe shining at the age of eight and picking cherries in Michigan and tomatoes in Ohio as a teen-aged migrant farmworker.
“My father Bruno would ask me, ‘Juanito, do you want to do this for the rest of your life or do you want to get a college education?’ And to me it was a no-brainer,” said Quiñones.
He went on to get his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and a master’s from the prestigious Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
“I can connect with the dual credit mission very well because I was in a program called Upward Bound, which is much like dual credit that gave students college courses like math and biology and it made the transition to college possible for me,” said Quiñones.
The National Summit for Dual Credit Programs was hosted by South Texas College and the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) is at the intersection of college and high school, advancing quality college courses for high school students.
They are the only national organization supporting programs, practitioners, and policy to advance concurrent and dual enrollment programs.
The two-day event attracted high school and college educators working in dual credit, concurrent enrollment and early college programs in which high school students take college courses saving time and money in the process.
In all, 23 different states including Hawaii were represented.
Breakout sessions and presentations focused on the many challenges facing dual credit programs today, some brought on by the ongoing pandemic.
“We are at a critical crossroads with 25 percent of all students sitting out college during the pandemic due to economic or health issues,” said Ricardo Solis, Ph.D., President, South Texas College. “Many of the so-called lost generation were dual enrollment students and we have some catching up to make these students college-ready.”
Among the other challenges the dual credit educators are facing:
• Finding qualified teachers;
• Funding models; and
• Closing the equity gap for students who are traditionally underrepresented in dual credit, particularly Latino students.
“Originally (dual credit) programs started for those high achievers, those high-flying students. Research has started to show that students that are in that 50%, not in the top of their GPA class, are really performing,” said Amy Williams, Director of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. “We see that students who are the first in their families to attend college really are getting added benefits, including students of color.”
And dual credit, once limited to academics, has expanded to Career Training Education like welding, automotive and even nursing.
“Today our high school students have opportunities to take classes not only in academics but in technical programs as well. The numbers are 70% in general studies and 30% in technical programs,” said Rebecca De León, Dean of Dual Credit Programs and School District Partnerships, South Texas College. “We will see more growth in this area as we try to meet workforce needs and as we see movement in America towards more technical fields.”
Organizers said this conference and others like it are imperative to help educators learn how to deal with the challenges, share best practices, celebrate successes and advance dual credit.
The Dual Credit Programs at South Texas College provide the opportunity for eligible high school students, in a participating school district, to enroll in college courses while still attending high school.
High school students interested in participating in the program must meet the same requirements as all other college students within the guidelines established by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Eligible high school students are able to take courses in place of, or in addition to, the normal course load at their high school. Dual Credit courses, offered at high school sites, are provided at no cost to students.
By taking part in the Dual Credit Programs, eligible high school students can take academic or technical college courses that will get them a jumpstart to a college degree while in high school.
Eligible high school students and their families can potentially save hundreds to thousands of dollars in tuition and other expenses during their college career at South Texas College.
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Chris Ardis and Joey Gómez contributed to this article. For more on this and other Texas legislative news stories that affect the Rio Grande Valley metropolitan region, please log on to Titans of the Texas Legislature (TitansoftheTexasLegislature.com).
