Article by DMC College Relations Office (Messge/update sent to DMC campus community on March 4, 2021)   Del Mar College’s Return-To-Campus (RTC) committee met this morning to review Governor Greg Abbott’s order that was released earlier this week. The Executive Order includes lifting the state’s mask mandate and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100 percent.   At this time, there are no changes to DMC’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols – meaning face coverings are still required on all our campuses and social distancing measures will remain in place. Additionally, the College remains in Phase 2 of our Return-to-Campus plan, with campuses closed to the public and limited access for instruction and testing. Del Mar College will provide further direction regarding plans for the remaining of the spring semester and transitional plans for summer after Spring Break.  

Article by DMC College Relations Office (Messge/update sent to DMC campus community on March 2, 2021) Del Mar College administration is aware of today’s (March 2, 2021) announcement by Governor Greg Abbott regarding the lifting of the state’s face coverings mandate. At this time, there are no changes to DMC’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols – meaning face coverings are still required on all our campuses. Additionally, the College remains in Phase 2 of our Return-to-Campus plan, with campuses closed to the public and limited access for instruction and testing. College officials will be reviewing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health and governmental authorities, and the College will share information with students and employees as soon as it becomes available.  To review the College's Return-to-Campus plan, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.    

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso It’s not too early for parents and their high school-age children to think about college. In fact, it’s not too early for high school students to start earning credits toward a college-level education while saving Mom and Dad some money! During the COVID-19 pandemic, how do you get started and where do you send admissions documents to enroll in dual credit courses? Join the Del Mar College (DMC) Dual Credit team for a live chat at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, where high school juniors and seniors—and their parents—can learn about earning college credits while concurrently working toward their high school diplomas. College representatives will provide information about the admissions application and testing requirements, transferability and other information needed to get started. To participate, access the live chat on YouTube at https://youtu.be/b7QapyDLj5w or join using Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/delmarcollege/live. For more information, contact Bob Montez, DMC Early College Programs director, at 698-1634 or dualcredit@delmar.edu, or visit the program’s page at www.delmar.edu/dualcredit. Del Mar College’s Dual Credit program is specifically designed to provide a cost-effective option for Coastal Bend secondary school partners. The program ensures that students, administrators and school districts are afforded access to the educational value Del Mar College has offered for over 80 years. High school students can earn up to 60 college credit hours by the time they graduate with a $99 per three-hour credit course fee structure that applies no matter where they live within or outside the College’s district.  As a DMC Dual Credit student, eligible high school students have access to the College’s facilities and services, including online library resources, computer labs and other online student support services. And depending on the program provided at their high school, students may take college-level courses at their own school, on one of the College’s campuses or online. Note: Del Mar College is currently under Phase 2 of its Return-to-Campus Plan with restricted access to campus facilities limited to designated employees and students. Dual Credit at Del Mar College … it’s a great start toward the future.  

Article by Melinda Eddleman Offering a bachelor’s degree will be a first for Del Mar College (DMC). Starting in fall 2021, licensed registered nurses (RNs) holding an associate’s degree from an accredited nursing program can take their careers to the next level through DMC’s new RN to BSN program by earning their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through the College’s Nurse Education Department.   Dr. Jennifer McWha, RN, Nurse Education program director, adds, “Currently, the area’s job market needs nurses with advanced training to help care for members of our community–particularly, care for patients with chronic and often complicated conditions. Additionally, the BSN degree is the preferred credential for many health care organizations and is typically the next step when pursuing other higher level degrees such as nurse practitioner, nurse educator or nurse researcher.” The College currently offers an Associate in Applied Science in Registered Nursing degree, along with a Vocational Nurse Education (LVN) Certificate, LVN/Paramedic to RN Transition Associate in Applied Science degree and an Associate in Arts in Nurse Education degree. Individuals who hold a BSN can earn higher pay as compared to those who hold an associate’s degree in registered nursing (ADN). According to nurse.org and PayScale, the average salary for RNs with the ADN is $69,000 while those with a BSN is $84,000 In 2020, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the College offering the baccalaureate degree and the program curriculum. The Nurse Education Department is currently undergoing the accreditation process for the new RN to BSN program .Dr. McWha noted that currently there are nine RN to BSN programs offered at community colleges in Texas with others pending approval. The department is now accepting applications for the new program through April 30. Visit the RN to BSN web page at www.delmar.edu/bsn for more details. Individuals can also contact the DMC Nurse Education Department at 361-698-2809 or RNtoBSN@delmar.edu. The program will accept up to 30 students as its first cohort this fall. The Level II RN to BSN curriculum is comprised of 30 semester credit hours (SCHs) offered over three semesters with courses scheduled in eight-week segments for the first two regular semesters (fall and spring) and 12 weeks for the third semester during the summer. The curriculum is concept-based, and faculty will teach courses using a hybrid format that incudes online and clinical instruction. Applicants must hold a valid RN state license and have completed 90 SCHs that include required general education credit courses. Additionally, interested individuals must also have completed associate’s degree level RN coursework from an accredited nursing program. (The online sample curriculum includes the 90 SCHs required prior to acceptance into the RN to BSN program, along with the 30 RN to BSN credit hours, for a total of 120 SCHs required to graduate with the bachelor’s degree.) In addition to adding the new RN to BSN program to their offerings, the Nurse Education Department has celebrated other successes. Last October, the department reported to the DMC Board of Regents their RN graduates’ pass rates on their first attempt taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for state licensure for years 2016 through 2019. The College’s RN graduates outperformed both state and national average pass rates during the last three reported years with 93.16%, 94.44% and 93.1% pass rates, respectively. DMC RN graduates increased the department’s pass rate from 86.75% in 2016 to 93.1% over a one-year period, which set the trend over the following three-year period. (Data is available at www.delmar.edu/offices/nursing/student-achievement-outcome-data.html) The Nurse Education Department’s increase in pass rates were attributed to well-prepared students, along with initiatives focused on: employing cohesive, diversified faculty, establishing the Nursing Success Center with faculty coaches and peer tutors, providing access to ATI resources for faculty development to remediate and improve student understanding of concepts, transitioning to a concept-based curriculum to move students away from memorization and toward high-order thinking, and utilizing robust clinical simulations to improve students’ reasoning skills by applying knowledge and decision-making and then dealing with outcomes and consequences. Of the new RN to BSN degree, Dr. McWha notes that the program track will build graduates’ marketable skills that employers seek. For area RNs thinking about taking that next step to further their careers, now is the time to apply for the new RN to BSN program at Del Mar College.

Article by Melinda Eddleman The COVID-19 pandemic continues with all levels of students, including K-12 and college, needing to complete their work or attend school remotely at times. And, last week’s winter storm and the disruption of internet services also hasn’t helped. For area students with little or no access to Wi-Fi and the internet, Del Mar College (DMC) is continuing to provide a solution not only for its own students but also for all students in the Coastal Bend area attending K-12 schools and higher education institutions––FREE internet access in designated parking lots with high-density Wi-Fi hotspots. The continued service is a way to give back to the communities the College serves.K-16 students can access VikingNet seven-days-a-week between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. in designated parking lots that have high density access points at four DMC locations (maps provided), including: East Campus Venters Business Building - parking lot adjacent to Ayers Street, West Campus Health Sciences Buildings 1 & 2 - parking lot adjacent to Airport Road, Center for Economic Development (3209 S. Staples) - parking lot adjacent to Staples, Northwest Center in Calallen (13725 Northwest Blvd.) - parking lot behind the building. To log into VikingNet, current DMC students will use their College assigned username and password, which they use for WebDMC and their student email. They will be directed to a splash page where they will enter their credentials.Non-DMC students (all grades) will gain access through a “guest account.” Users will select VikingNet as the hotspot and then fill out a guest access account request. This process is self-service and in real-time.Students who have questions or need technical assistance with accessing VikingNet can contact the Information Technology Department Help Desk Monday through Friday only between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Email Vikinghelpdesk@delmar.edu or call 698-2330.Some rules to follow: Free Wi-Fi service is for educational purposes only and is not for video streaming and Netflix or other entertainment service use. See the College’s acceptable use policy:www.delmar.edu/current-students/student-right-to-know/computer-and-network-use.html Students must remain in their vehicles and practice social distancing at all times. The College is currently under Phase 2 of its Return-to-Campus Plan with restricted access to DMC facilities for designated employees and students. Restrooms are not available. Individuals can also view online information about this service by visiting:https://delmar.edu/offices/cro/cv/public-wifi.html.

Article by DMC College Relations Office Students who are without essential services, such as power or water, are advised to contact their course instructor to discuss class accommodations. The majority of face-to-face, on-site instruction will resume with a few exceptions. Those students who are enrolled in face-to-face courses that are unable to meet will be contacted by their instructors. All students are encouraged to check Canvas for further updates and instruction. Currently, ALL classes (face-to-face, online and hybrid) remain cancelled through Sunday, February 21. All college facilities and on-campus operations will remain closed through Sunday, February 21. College employees will be expected to resume working remotely on Monday, February 22. As of today, only those employees contacted to assist with emergency response efforts will be authorized to access campus facilities.  EMERGENCY AID In need? Student emergency aid is now available through the DMC Foundation! Click here to complete the online application. Students and employees should make sure to monitor the DMC website, email and social media accounts for future updates.    

Article by DMC College Relations Del Mar College will resume online classes on Monday, February 22.  Students taking online courses who are without essential services, such as power or water, are advised to contact their course instructor to discuss class accommodations. The College will continue to assess campus facilities throughout the weekend to determine when face-to-face classes can safely resume. Due to recent issues with loss of power and water, College officials must ensure facilities are in working order to accommodate on-site student instruction. Currently, ALL classes (face-to-face, online and hybrid) remain cancelled through Sunday, February 21. All college facilities and on-campus operations will remain closed through Sunday, February 21. College employees will be expected to resume working remotely on Monday, February 22. As of today, only those employees contacted to assist with emergency response efforts will be authorized to access campus facilities. EMERGENCY AID In need? Student emergency aid is now available through the DMC Foundation!  Click here to complete the online application. The College will continue to monitor conditions over the weekend and will adjust operational plans accordingly. Please make sure to monitor the DMC website, email and social media accounts for future updates.  

Article by DMC College Relations Due to students and employees facing continued crisis conditions in our service area, DMC Administration has decided to cancel ALL classes (face-to-face, online and hybrid) through Sunday, February 21. All college facilities and on-campus operations will remain closed through Sunday, February 21.  Inclement weather days have been declared college-wide and employees WILL NOT be expected to work remotely through the end of the week.  Only those employees contacted to assist with emergency response efforts will be authorized to access campus facilities.  The College will continue to monitor conditions over the weekend and will adjust operational plans accordingly. Please make sure to monitor the DMC website, email and social media accounts for possible weather-related updates.  

Article by DMC College Relations Due to hazardous winter weather conditions and the continued loss of electricity and water for thousands in our service area, DMC Administration has decided to continue the cancellation of ALL classes (face-to-face, online and hybrid) through Wednesday, February 17. All college facilities and on-campus operations will remain closed through Wednesday, February 17. Inclement weather days have been declared college-wide and all employees WILL NOT be expected to work remotely today or tomorrow. The College continues to monitor conditions and will adjust operational plans accordingly. Please make sure to monitor the DMC website, email and social media accounts for possible weather-related updates. As always, we advise everyone to exercise appropriate caution for their personal travel and safety situations through this and all weather events.