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Message from Trustee Sean Cheben	District V

HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM 
P.O. Box 667517
Houston, TX 77266-7517

Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to a new academic year at Houston Community College. As your District V Trustee, I am fully committed to making sure HCC is prepared to embrace the rapidly changing landscape of higher education and will continue to provide the very best in education and workforce training. As the Fall 2024 semester begins, I encourage you to look towards HCC to enhance and complete your credentials. The energy is vibrant on our campuses and no matter where you are in Houston or even around the world with
our Online College, HCC offers a great setting to continue your academic and professional journey.

TSI Prep Boot Camp
If you are looking to improve your score on the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSI), I encourage you to connect with HCC and take advantage of our TSI Prep Boot Camps. These intensive courses will help you understand the various objectives that will be asked on the exam and how to successfully answer the questions.
HCC is currently working with our ISD partners across the HCC service area to finalize dates for TSI Bootcamps tailored to their specific school district for the upcoming school year. High schools or middle schools interested in organizing a TSI Bootcamp should contact Ms. Casey Chavez, Dean of Dual Credit Partnerships, and Initiatives at casey.chavez@hccs. edu or (713) 718-7698.
The TSI is a standardized test used by colleges and universities in Texas to determine whether students are ready for college-level work in reading, writing, and mathematics. It plays a crucial role in identifying whether students may need additional support before they can successfully engage in college coursework. For middle and high school students, particularly those interested in dual credit opportunities, the TSI is especially important. Dual credit courses allow students to earn both high school and college credit simulta- neously, giving them a head start on their college education. However, to enroll in these courses, students often need to demonstrate their readiness through the TSI.
Meeting TSI College Readiness benchmarks opens a variety of academic opportunities for students. By demonstrating their readiness for college-level coursework, students gain the ability to enroll in college-level classes at HCC for enrichment, and without the need for prerequisites, broadening their academic experience and deepening their knowledge in areas of interest.

Please connect with your local HCC College to find more information on the session in your area or you can begin your search via the HCC website: https://www.hccs.edu/programs/ adult-education/tsi-prep-boot-camp/

Cyber Security at West Loop
The Cyber Security program at HCC is nationally recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. These classes can be taken as either an associate degree track or as a certificate program offering options that best fit the students’ current needs as they look to enter the workforce or enhance their current skills. If you are looking for an academically intensive program with great career opportunities, I encourage you to consider connecting with Houston Community College.
Cyber Security graduates from HCC are well trained to land a job in Entry-Level and Mid-Level jobs as well as general Help Desk and Computer Support Specialist entry-level jobs (the range for those are $40-60K). Also, the median salary for Information Security Analysts in the Houston-Woodlands-Sugar Land area, is $114,358. Penetration Testers have a median salary of $79,418. Computer User Support Specialists have a median salary of
$48,996. You can learn more about salary ranges of these positions and more at https://hccs. lightcastcc.com/?radius=&region=Houston-The%20Woodlands-Sugar%20Land%2C%20 TXt.

Please see the Cyber Center webpage for more information: https://www.hccs.edu/ programs/areas-of-study/science-technology-engineering--math/cyber-center/

I along with my colleagues on the Board of Trustees hope that you will take the next steps to connect with Houston Community College and remember you can enroll at any time. Please visit our website at hccs.edu, if you ever need direct assistance contact me via email at sean.cheben@hccs.edu or leave a message at my direct number 713.718.7435. We are dedicated to the success of all students at HCC and our faculty and staff are here to help you along the way.
We look forward to seeing you on campus at Houston Community College! Respectfully,

Sean Cheben
HCC Board of Trustees District V

from HCC
HCC enjoys seamless transfer agreements with state and national universities

Fall 2024

View online:

hccs.edu/trustees

Houston Community College (HCC) has “articulation” agreements with dozens of colleges and universities to allow HCC students to seamlessly transfer their college credits to other higher ed institutions.
“It is a high priority for HCC students to be able to transfer easily to other institutions,” said Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. “We continue to expand the number of schools that allow our graduates to move onward with full credit for their HCC classes.”
A partial list of HCC articulation agree- ments with Texas universities includes:
Lamar University

University of St. Thomas
University of Texas
Out-of-state universities which maintain articulation agreements with HCC include:
Arizona State University
Colorado State University Global
Grand Canyon University
Loyola University
Missouri State University
Purdue University Global
Southern New Hampshire University
University of Maryland Global

HCC offers students resources that foster success

Houston Christian University
Prairie View A&M University
Sam Houston State University
Texas A&M University
Texas Southern University
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
The University of Houston
The University of Houston - Downtown

Campus
Western Governors University
Dr. Ford Fisher noted that schools who receive transferring HCC students report that HCC students tend to excel in their course work. “We are proud that our students can move forward with their education or career preparation at these schools,” she said.

Completing a degree or certificate can be daunting as students balance studies with work and family. HCC eases the way with a variety of services and resources tailored to individual journeys. Here are ways HCC helps students succeed:
Academic advising: Caring and trained advisors act as personal advocates helping with course selections, meeting degree requirements and explaining career pathways.
Financial aid: HCC assists students in

Student life: Organizations and clubs foster personal growth and social connec- tions. HCC promotes student involvement through diverse extracurricular activities and events, creating a vibrant college experience.
Specialized support: For students with disabilities or veterans, HCC provides disability accommodations, counseling about veteran benefits, and tailored academic support to ensure equitable access to education and resources.

HCC helped Saja Sosa transition from Pre-K teacher to high-performing engineer

After earning an HCC associate degree in science and taking part as vice president of the school’s Society of Women Engineers club, Sosa transferred into the University of Texas at Tyler to pursue electrical engineering. Armed with a bachelor’s degree, she applied at Aggreko, a leading international provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services, and was offered a role as a field engineer.
After six months of additional training, she passed the requirements to become

navigating aid options, payment plans and emergency funds to help ensure that financial concerns do not hinder academic pursuits.
Library and tutoring: Libraries offer extensive resources, including books, journals and study spaces conducive to academic success. Additionally, tutoring centers provide individualized support, helping students grasp challenging concepts and excel in their coursework.
IT and technical support: Students qualify for a multitude of IT benefits, including the use of software programs and discounts.

Career services: HCC helps students find jobs by helping craft compelling resumes and cover letters, experience mock interviews, secure internships or full- or part-time jobs.
Eagle Pantries: HCC helps students with food insecurities through its Eagle food pantries.
Learn more about ways HCC helps students at hccs.edu.

HCC grad Saja Sosa, an electrical engineer at the international energy firm Aggreko, is making waves and breaking down gender barriers.
Sosa’s journey exemplifies determination and perseverance and just how flexible studying at HCC can be for those willing to strive toward a goal.
“I chose to attend HCC because it allowed me to balance a full-time job as a pre-K teacher with studying at night and during lunch hours,” she said. “I hoped to become a computer engineer.”
She shifted her goal after classes with Dr. Juurong Hsieh. “He’s an amazing professor, and he ignited my love for electrical engineering,” Sosa said.

a certified high-voltage engineer. Her passion and worth ethic were noticed, and she has climbed the company ladder. She is now responsible for top projects for major players throughout the energy sector.

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The 29-year-old earns a six-figure salary and hopes to continue climbing the firm’s ranks to become a manager.
As the only female electrical engineer at Aggreko, Sosa continues to advocate for women joining the engineering ranks. “It is important to tell young girls not to stop studying subjects that societal stereotyping may discourage them from doing,” she reflected. “I’m an example of persistence. Girls can do whatever they choose to do.”

	

DEGREE HIGHLIGHTS 
NATIONAL LY
#1

among 2-year institutions awarding associate degrees to international students

IN TEXAS 
#1

in awarding associate degrees to Asian students

TOP 10 
WORKFORCE 
DEGREE PROGRAMS 
BY ENROLLMENT DURING FALL 2023 

STUDENT 
ENROLLMENT 
FOR 2022–2023 

85,858

#2

#2

among 2-year public institutions
in awarding associate degrees to
Black students

in awarding associate degrees to total students

Business Management Accounting
Computer Systems Networking
Business Technology Digital Communication Real Estate
Welding-Structural Automotive Technician Nursing
Interior Design

Hispanic /	Black /

Latino

38.9%	26.2%

African-American

White

14.2%

Asian

12.4%

Other

8.4%

DEGREES & A W ARDS OFFERED 

63 of Applied

Associate

Science

#

3

in awarding associate degrees to
Hispanic students

12

Associate of Arts

2
75
35

Bachelor Degrees
Certﬁcate
Level 1
Certﬁcate
Level 2

3
2
11

Enhanced Skills
Certiﬁcates
Advanced Technical
Certiﬁcates
Occupational Skills
Certiﬁcates