HCC Central College President, Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi, Named to a Global Education Commission

Dr. Siddiqi said he looks forward to representing HCC on the commission. “I am excited by this appointment and welcome the opportunity to share my experience and HCC’s values with commission members.

The president of Houston Community College’s (HCC) Central College has been appointed to a special commission by a national education organization.

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) named Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi to its Global Commission on Global Education.  Dr. Siddiqi says he is honored to receive the appointment.  “I believe that global education plays an increasingly important role in enriching students’ learning experiences in U.S. institutions of higher education.” 

The purpose of the AACC commission is to provide a forum for focused conversation on global education and to advise the organization’s board and staff.  In naming Dr. Siddiqi to the commission, Dr. Walter Bumphus, president and CEO of the AACC said, “Your insight and leadership will significantly contribute to the board’s decision-making process.”

Dr. Siddiqi has an extensive background in international education and business. He worked a dozen years for multinational corporations in six countries. His tenure in higher education is marked by successful implementation of campus internationalization activities. 

At his previous institutions in Illinois, Dr. Siddiqi worked with the Illinois Consortium of International Studies and Programs, an international education consortium of over 25 community colleges, to dramatically expand international faculty and student exchange programs and cultural tours.  He also worked with faculty and staff to create a comprehensive campus internationalization plan that integrated international education goals into academic and student affairs strategic planning processes and outcomes.      

Dr. Siddiqi received his undergraduate education in Pakistan and Afghanistan and also pursued postgraduate studies in Singapore, Thailand and the Netherlands.

HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado said, “Dr. Siddiqi’s international business and educational experience makes him an invaluable asset to HCC.  His appointment to the Commission on Global Education is well deserved.”

Dr. Siddiqi said he looks forward to representing HCC on the commission.  “I am excited by this appointment and welcome the opportunity to share my experience and HCC’s values with commission members.Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 15 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society.

HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit www.hccs.edu.Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 15 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit http://www.hccs.edu/

 

A reunion of cohorts: HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumni celebrate success

Photo: (l-r) Tammy Fleming, Trendz by Tammy; Alyse Makarewicz, AMB Architects; CV Rao, TechOne Centre; Kim Moore, Leaps & Bounds Tutorial Center; and Chandra Kill, KRESS Employment Screening presented at the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at HCC 10KSB Talks at the HCC Alief-Hayes Campus.
Photo: (l-r) Tammy Fleming, Trendz by Tammy; Alyse Makarewicz, AMB Architects; CV Rao, TechOne Centre; Kim Moore, Leaps & Bounds Tutorial Center; and Chandra Kill, KRESS Employment Screening presented at the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at HCC 10KSB Talks at the HCC Alief-Hayes Campus.

What do an architect, teacher, engineer, private investigator, and hairdresser have in common? They are graduates of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Houston Community College (HCC) and they had the opportunity to share stories of survival and success in front of fellow alumni during the program’s year-end celebration.

Aptly titled “The Real Small Business Owners of Houston”, the 15 minute, TED-style talks highlighted the ups and downs of owning a business and the journey these entrepreneurs went through to grow their businesses.

“These presenters shared their hearts with the audience. They put it all out there. They bared it all,” said Rita Reed, alumni manager, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at HCC. “They talked about challenges and how making wrong decisions actually put them on the right track.”

The grant-based program started at HCC in 2011 and by the end of the year will have graduated 478 small business owners from 17 cohorts.

“The entrepreneurial mindset is something that many community colleges are really getting into and the initiatives here at HCC are very powerful,” said Catherine Landry, executive director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at HCC. “The goal with our program is to help small businesses develop a pathway for growth to increase revenue, provide new jobs, and help build economic structure in the Houston area.”

In order to help build the economic structure, students learned the importance of creating a positive company culture, implementing a growth plan, pursuing your passion, and investing in your employees.

Kim Moore, owner of Leaps & Bounds Tutorial Center, is a teacher by trade.  She learned the hard way about the rollercoaster of owning a business.  Moore faced setbacks that included an illness and being forced to close a center because a bar and a gun shop moved in next door. She overcame those obstacles, took advantage of her second chance, and delivered valuable advice to her colleagues.

“Know your why and what you can do different to get a different result,” said Moore. “You can’t solve your problems with the same thinking you used to create them.”

To learn more about the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at HCC, visit hccs.edu/10ksb.

 

New HCC-TSU partnership creates ultimate student experience

Photo: (front row l-r) TSU Board Chairman Derrick Mitchell; Dr. Austin Lane, TSU president; Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor; Dr. Adriana Tamez, HCC Board of Trustees Chair; and Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, secretary, HCC Board of Trustees, District IV were in attendance for ceremony to sign historic transfer agreement between the two institutions.
Photo: (front row l-r) TSU Board Chairman Derrick Mitchell; Dr. Austin Lane, TSU president; Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor; Dr. Adriana Tamez, HCC Board of Trustees Chair; and Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, secretary, HCC Board of Trustees, District IV were in attendance for ceremony to sign historic transfer agreement between the two institutions.

A pen stroke and a handshake signified the start of a new relationship between Houston Community College (HCC) and Texas Southern University (TSU) – one that focuses on creating the ultimate student experience.

A crowd that included students, administrators, trustees, and staff from both institutions gathered at the TSU College of Education to witness Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor and Dr. Austin Lane, TSU president sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow students to complete their core classes at HCC then make a seamless transfer to the four-year university.

“We are excited to partner with HCC and strengthen the bonds of higher education between the campuses,” said Lane. “We are going to work in an aggressive manner and ensure that interested students know how to get from the community college system into a direct track that ends in a bachelor’s degree.”

The articulation agreement provides the framework to develop programs that will enhance the educational experience of students attending both HCC and TSU in a manner that is both cost-effective and simple. Benefits to students include:

  •  scholarship opportunities
  •  joint admission
  •  transfer and reverse transfer of credit
  •  academic advising services
  •  data sharing

“Studies show that students who start at community college complete in much higher numbers than students who start straight at the university,” said Maldonado. “Our objective here is to help our students, ease their burdens, and focus on student success.”

Milo Mansaray is quite familiar with life at TSU and HCC. She graduated from TSU with a Bachelor’s in Biology and is pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing at HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences.

“I think the HCC-TSU agreement is a great opportunity for students and long overdue,” she said.

Two-time TSU alumna Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, HCC Board of Trustees Secretary, joined Dr. Adriana Tamez, HCC Board of Trustees Chair in expressing the significance of this partnership.

“It is history in the making,” said Tamez. “The fact that we have collaborated well together both the administration and support level, to make this happen at both sides, says a lot about the commitment at TSU and HCC.”

For information about programs and courses at HCC, visit hccs.edu.

 

HCC ranked top college for Federal Work-Study aid

The Student Loan Report has ranked Houston Community College (HCC) number three in the nation for Federal Work-Study Employment, having placed 739 students in jobs through the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program in 2016. The average amount earned per job was $5,500.

HCC was also ranked number five in Texas for the most overall financial aid awarded to its student body through the FWS Program.

The Student Loan Report, which released the study, ranked colleges and universities across the country using statistics from the August 2016 Peterson’s Undergraduate Financial Aid Database to calculate the rankings.

Formerly known as College Work-Study Program, the FWS Program funds part-time jobs at participating university campuses for student workers in need of financial aid. According to the U.S. Department of Education, hourly wages must not be less than the federal minimum wage. Student earnings may be used toward tuition, textbooks, or living expenses.

HCC student Breanna Williams is a FWS Program recipient and works as an assistant in the Financial Aid department while completing coursework for a dual degree. Williams, who plans a career as a dental hygienist, said that the work-study program has helped her develop time management skills.  

“I work nineteen and a half hours every week, which is the maximum number of hours the program allows. The rest of the time I’m studying,” explained Williams.

The FWS Program provides an alternative to student loans. According to the 2016 Student Loan Report, approximately 60 percent of undergraduates are borrowing federal student loans. Of those borrowers, only 56 percent are successfully repaying the loans.

Breanna Williams will not become one of those statistics. Through the FWS Program, she will graduate in 2017 debt-free.

For more information about the Federal Work-Study Program, visit www.ed.gov/programs/fws.

 

Katy VFW makes generous commitment to support HCC veteran students

During the October meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees, members of both organizations presented the HCC Foundation with a check for $10,000 with $7,500 coming from the VFW Post 9182 and the remaining $2,500 from the Texas VFW Foundation.
During the October meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees, members of both organizations presented the HCC Foundation with a check for $10,000 with $7,500 coming from the VFW Post 9182 and the remaining $2,500 from the Texas VFW Foundation.

Students enrolled in the Houston Community College (HCC) Veteran Workforce programs will benefit from a generous donation by the Katy, TX VFW Post 9182 and the Department of Texas VFW Foundation.

During the October meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees, Edward Bland and Kenneth Burton, Jr. presented the HCC Foundation with a check for $10,000 with $7,500 coming from the VFW Post 9182 and the remaining $2,500 from the Texas VFW Foundation.

“We are grateful for the generosity of the Katy, TX VFW Post 9182 to provide valuable support for our HCC veteran students as they pursue their higher education through our workforce programs,” said Dr. Adriana Tamez, HCC Board Chair. “This gift will impact the lives of many veterans.”

Bland, senior vice commander, VFW Post 9182, explained that many individuals come right out of active duty having to support a family with no income. This donation will help them transition into high-paying careers.

“When we discovered there was a gap between the VA funding for certain students and those coming out of active service looking for jobs in the private sector, they couldn’t get their certifications paid for by the VA because it was too short a period of time for the VA money to kick in,” said Bland. “These men and women are fully capable of doing the jobs. They just don’t have that piece of paper and HCC is providing that opportunity for them and we are happy to be able to fund part of that for these folks.”

Mary Williams, president of the HCC Foundation Board of Directors, expressed sincere appreciation on behalf of fellow board members.

“Your organization’s commitment for all you do for our veterans is impressive,” said Williams. “We thank you for your philanthropy and your gift and we look forward to growing our partnership in support of these students.”

To learn more about the HCC Foundation and the scholarships available, visit hccsfoundation.org.

 

HCC Interior Design students excel in top honors

Design students -  Rebeca Munoz is the  winner of Best of Residential Design, and Tania Albin is the winner of Best of Commercial Design.
Interior Design students – Rebeca Munoz  (left) is the winner of Best of Residential Design, and Tania Albin is the winner of Best of Commercial Design. Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society.

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has chosen two students from the Houston Community College (HCC) Interior Design program as winners of two categories at the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter Ruby Awards.

During the recent event at the Decorative Center of Houston, Tania Albin won Best of Commercial Design and Rebeca Munoz won the award for Best of Residential Design.

“This award is very important for me because is the first time in my life I feel that an organization and a school is supporting me in achieving my professional goals,” said a thrilled Munoz. “The HCC Interior Design program helped grow as an interior designer. Since I started the program, my design abilities have been constantly improving with the help of my experienced professors. They are constantly pushing you to do your absolute best.”

Those proud professors are Shasta Swift, associate chair, HCC Consumer Arts & Sciences Center of Excellence and Kevin Hamby, HCC Interior Design program coordinator.

“We provide a rigorous two years of intensive design classes which has produced some of the most refined and talented interior designers Houston has to offer,” said Hamby. “Shasta and I are so delighted when our students receive recognition from the professional interior design community for the hours of hard work and dedication it takes to get though the program.”

The Interior Design program is part of the HCC Consumer Arts & Sciences Center of Excellence. For more information, visit hccs.edu/interiordesign.

 

Houston: HCC opens Public Safety and Automotive Technology Center of Excellence

Houston Community College held a grand opening for the Public Safety & Automotive Technology Center of Excellence at the Northeast Campus. Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit www.hccs.edu.
Participants as the Houston Community College holds a grand opening for the Public Safety & Automotive Technology Center of Excellence at the Northeast Campus.
Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 13 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. To learn more, visit www.hccs.edu.

Ryan Russell has wanted to be a firefighter ever since he was a little boy. Today, the Houston Community College (HCC) Fire Academy cadet is on his way to achieving that dream.

“I really like helping people,” said the class leader. “This is something I can do to give back to the community.”

Helping others has always been a passion for Maria Mora, who has been in law enforcement for nearly 10 years. Mora started as a 911 dispatcher and is now a student at the HCC Police Academy.

“I’ve been a cadet for nearly four months and choosing Houston Community College has been one of the best decisions in my life,” said Mora.

Russell and Mora are just two of the many success stories coming out of the Public Safety and Automotive Technology Center of Excellence housed at the HCC Northeast Campus. This Center of Excellence offers associate degrees and workforce certifications in public safety including EMS, fire science, criminal justice and law enforcement, automotive technology, and heavy vehicle and truck repair.

You may wonder why police, fire, EMS, and transportation fall under the same center of excellence umbrella.

“They all have problem solving in common,” said Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor. “When you are in an ambulance and need care, the person who is helping you is trying to analyze what is going on. An auto mechanic does the same thing. Assessing the problem is what our students are learning and using their experience in their special fields to apply that.”

According to Johnny Sessums, director of the Public Safety and Automotive Technology Center of Excellence, all programs are certified by the State of Texas and students have pass rates from their respective licensing agencies ranging from 85-98 percent and consistently high placement rates with police and fire departments across the Greater Houston area and Texas. There is also a 100-percent job placement rate for automotive technicians who graduate from HCC.

“These are the programs that we expect to provide reliable transportation maintenance and upkeep, and to come to our rescue in the event of police protection, fire emergencies, or sudden medical crises,” said Dr. Margaret Ford-Fisher, HCC Northeast President, during the Center of Excellence grand opening.

Dr. Ford-Fisher joined fellow administrators, industry partners, students, faculty members, and HCC trustees Dr. Adriana Tamez, board chair; Dave Wilson, District II; and Eva Loredo, District VIII.

“I am glad about all the opportunities this Center of Excellence has to offer and all the programs we have,” said Loredo. “It makes me proud to see that these students are going to be the first line of defense for us and that they are here for a purpose – to help people.”

Assistant Chief Kevin Alexander with the Houston Fire Department’s (HFD) Professional Development Command spoke about the longtime partnership between HCC and HFD and encouraged both public safety and automotive students to strive for the best.

“As you move on in your careers, as you move up the ranks, each badge will mean something,” said Alexander. “For those in the Automotive program, make sure that every time you go to work, leave your mark.”

To learn more information about the programs offered at the Public Safety and Automotive Technology Center of Excellence, visit hccs.edu/public-safety.

The ITT catastrophe – Houston Community College wades in to help students

A student arrives to find the doors locked at the ITT Technical Institute campus in the 2900 block of South Gessner Road in Houston, Texas on Sept. 6, 2016. Nationwide, ITT Educational Services shut down all campuses after the U.S.
A student arrives to find the doors locked at the ITT Technical Institute campus in the 2900 block of South Gessner Road in Houston, Texas on Sept. 6, 2016. Nationwide, ITT Educational Services shut down all campuses after the U.S.

Houston Community College (HCC) is assisting more than 150 former ITT Technical Institute students, faculty and staff to decide their next steps after their institution was abruptly shut down by the U.S. Department of Education.

HCC says its staff would continue to answer questions through the HCC website and the HCC call center about course transfers, financial aid issues, and career opportunities.

According to a release from ITT Educational Services, Inc. the actions of and sanctions from the U.S. Department of Education forced the institution to cease operations. “We reached this decision only after having exhausted the exploration of alternatives, including transfer of the schools to a non-profit or public institution,” the release read.

ITT Educational Services eliminated the positions of the overwhelming majority of our more than 8,000 employees. “Our focus and priority with our remaining staff is on helping the tens of thousands of unexpectedly displaced students with their records and future educational options,” ITT said in a statement.

HCC says it would accepts in transferring all of ITT courses including: Electronics, Information Technology, Business, and Drafting. For answers to questions about enrollment, programs, transcripts and other issues, students are advised to visit hccs.edu/itt for or call the HCC Student Services Contact Center at 713-718-2277.

 

HCC receives INSIGHT into Diversity 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award

HOUSTON [September 1, 2016] – Houston Community College has received the 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award – a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion – HCC solidifies its position as the #1 community college among 1,905 in the nation serving students from across the globe.

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For David Cross, HCC Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance, receiving this distinction for the second year in a row is recognition of the focus that every department of the institution has on diversity and inclusion.

“I am very proud because this award demonstrates that HCC has applied a strategic leadership approach to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to support student and faculty success,” said Cross.

The HEED Award considers not only achievements in equity and inclusion, but also progress made in community engagement and student programs.

“We take a holistic approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus.”

The HCC Diversity and Inclusion Council was established in 2010. On a continual basis, the council conducts lunch-and-learn sessions, round table discussions, training regarding diversity issues, and the promotion of various diversity initiatives led by student organizations.

HCC Procurement Department receives national award

Members of the Houston Community College Procurement Department were recognized during the August meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees for being awarded the 2016 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute.
Members of the Houston Community College Procurement Department were recognized during the August meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees for being awarded the 2016 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute.

 

The Houston Community College (HCC) Procurement Department has received the 2016 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute, Inc.

This prestigious, annual award recognizes organizations that demonstrate excellence in procurement through best purchasing practices with client departments and the vendor community. The evaluation criteria measures innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement, and leadership attributes.

During the August meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees, members of the HCC Procurement team, led by Executive Director Rogelio Anasagasti, were applauded for their hard work.

“It is our distinct honor to have been recognized for the hard work and dedication the Procurement team puts forth each day,” said Anasagasti. “This award is a testament to what can be accomplished through teamwork.”

HCC is one of 25 higher education institutes across the country to earn the award this year. To learn more about the HCC Procurement Department and its mission, visit hccs.edu/procurement.

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