News

“Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Process Technology Lab” formally named during dedication ceremony at Workforce Development Center
Article by Melinda Eddleman Del Mar College (DMC) thanked Gulf Coast Growth Ventures (GCGV), a joint venture between ExxonMobil and SABIC, for their support and generosity with a dedication ceremony and tours of the new “Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Process Technology Lab.” The training lab is housed in the Workforce Development Center, which is one of the most recently built facilities on the College’s Windward Campus. (Click on each photo on the page to enlarge, read cutlines and download.) In March 2019 as part of their “Good Neighbor” Program, GCGV donated $1.5 million to Del Mar College for purchase of the most contemporary training equipment available. DMC students will use the gift for generations to come as industry needs continue to expand for highly-skilled workers now and in the future. The donation is part of GCGV’s commitment to workforce development and enhanced quality of life in the area. Scott added, “This is more than just a lab. It’s a significant career option for area residents who want to raise families and earn excellent salaries without relocating to another city, and we’re fortunate to have industry partners like Gulf Coast Growth Ventures who prioritize workforce development in the communities where they do business.” GCGV’s donation funds covered equipment such as distillation, extraction and water treatment units and flow trainers, all crucial for students’ hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology before joining industry. She also noted that GCGV’s gift is one of the largest donations of direct funding from an individual company in Del Mar College’s history. GCGV is building an ethylene production plant on a 1,300-acre tract in San Patricio County. The plant will generate 600 permanent jobs with an average yearly salary of $90,000 once in full operation. According to current labor market data from Emsi (www.economicmodeling.com), the median salary in this region is $78,820 for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators and gaugers. Currently, DMC students from several programs train with equipment in the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Process Technology, including Process Technology, Industrial Instrumentation, Industrial Machining, Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental/Petrochemical Lab Technology and Millwright. During the dedication, two Process Technology majors spoke about the hands-on training they now access in the new lab. Both Alexis Gutierrez, age 30, and Daniel Adams, age 42, are making career changes and found the College’s program as their answer to entering the industry. “Your contributions have provided an outstanding training facility that will enhance the education of future generations of students and help many, such as myself, reach important milestones,” Gutierrez, who is also President of the Process Technology Club, told GCGV representatives. “The Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Process Technology Lab introduces state-of-the-art equipment and technology that takes hands-on training and visual learning to a whole new level. Many students, including myself, have benefitted greatly from this remarkable training facility that will continue to foster growth and learning for years to come.” Gutierrez previously worked in the banking industry and is now a stay-at-home mom of two daughters. This fall, she is taking five credit courses while juggling family life and extracurricular activities. Adams, who has worked in several disciplines over the years––including medicine, research, horticulture and husbandry––and holds a master’s degree in biology, added that thanks to GCGV’s funding, “your future worker pool will be more educated and have a greater understanding of how processes actually work. Plants in San Patricio County, including the new Gulf Coast Growth Ventures project, will soon have a high-caliber work pool from which to choose their staff.” Scholarships are also a vital part of getting more Coastal Bend residents into college and the workforce. Since 2018, GCGV has donated $164,000 to support scholarships that address students’ financial challenges during their pursuit of the Process Technology field. Sixty-seven (67) students have benefitted from this generosity. In addition to direct gifts given to Del Mar College, GCGV also donated $100,000 to the San Patricio County Workforce Development Consortium in August 2018 in support of the College’s career and technical education programs at the county’s high schools. The Consortium, an organization formed in 2017, includes DMC and seven San Patricio County ISDs, is engages high school students in career and technical programs that precisely meet the needs of industry. SABIC’s Americas Region Vice President Greg Adams also spoke and added that“it’s not just the state-of-the-art equipment, but the promising students and the dedicated staff of Del Mar College being celebrated today.” “Students learning here will be well prepared for jobs at GCGV, or similar facilities,” he said. “But a key component that works in tandem with this equipment is the teachers and trainers and all those who support Del Mar students. They really make the difference in the future of our community. Thanks directly to you.”
Cain Gallery now open with Fall 2021 show with works from across the country, collection spans over 50 years
Article by Melinda Eddleman In 1966, Del Mar College (DMC) Art Department Chair Joseph A. Cain started a legacy of bringing exceptional art to Corpus Christi with a juried competition that attracted artists from all 50 states. He also dreamed of preserving the best works, the award-winning pieces, with a permanent collection that Coastal Bend residents could enjoy for years to come. (Learn about Cain from the fall 2020 exhibit release.) Each year, that dream lives on with the College’s Art and Drama Department presenting the National Drawing and Small Sculpture Show featuring two- and three-dimensional works. The department then purchases the top award-winning drawing and sculpture for perseverance. As this year’s fall show, the department presents the “Permanent Collection Exhibition” with over 30 pieces curated in the Joseph A. Cain Memorial Art Gallery, located in the Fine Arts Center on the DMC Heritage Campus (Baldwin Blvd. and Ayers St.). The free exhibit is currently open to the public and runs through Friday, Dec. 3. Gallery hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. until noon. For more information, contact the Art Program at art@delmar.edu or 361-698-1216. Patrons are encouraged to practice COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing a mask or face covering and practicing social distancing. The College is current in Phase 3 of the Return-to-Campus Plan. The “Permanent College Exhibition” spans a wide variety of media used to create the drawings and sculptures by regionally and nationally acclaimed artists such as Texas native James Surls. “For over five decades, the Art Department’s National Drawing and Small Sculpture show has been a crossroad for new styles, new approaches to art-making,” said Benjamin Ogrodnik, Assistant Professor of Art and Gallery Director. “The works from our collection represent a wide variety of acclaimed practitioners from across the country, and the department feels it’s important for the College to preserve and showcase its legacy of collecting pieces from the national show.” Artwork featured in the exhibition ranges from a piece on view purchased in 1970 to several pieces the department recently purchased from the 2021 national show. Ogrodnik added, “The collection exhibition connects Corpus Christi with historic and contemporary art, inspires students in their studio art courses and allows all of us to become a bit more curious and sensitive to the visual world.”
DMC Continuing Education Nursing Professional Development Program Receives Continued Accreditation Through 2026
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation recently awarded “continuing accreditation” to the Del Mar College (DMC) Continuing Education Nursing Professional Development Program through 2026. The College’s program provides the 20-hour professional development, or Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits, that the Texas Board of Nursing requires of all nurses to complete every two years to maintain their state licensure. The ANCC’s award letter recognized the CNE program faculty’s “commitment to lifelong learning.” The next scheduled re-accreditation cycle will begin in July 2025. To learn about available professional development opportunities, Coastal Bend nurses who need the contact hours to maintain their licensure can contact the DMC Continuing Education program at 361-698-2115 or nursingce@delmar.edu. During the coronavirus pandemic this past year, the College’s program provided 144 contact hours for nurses after transitioning to online instruction. This year, face-to-face instruction resumed with online options still offered to area nurses seeking professional development for continued licensure. Huddleston noted, “We expect a 50 percent increase this year over 2020, and we have healthcare providers from the community––including pharmacists, physicians and nurses––who contribute to each educational activity by presenting best practices to their peers.” The ANCC Accreditation Program identifies organizations worldwide that demonstrate excellence in the ability to deliver nursing continuing professional development. The Accreditation Program ensures the integrity of the accreditation process through systematic, evidence-based evaluation of application materials submitted by qualified applicants for Accredited Provider or Accredited Approver status. Accredited organizations use evidence-based ANCC criteria to plan, implement and evaluate the highest quality NCPD activities. As a result, health ministries, nursing organizations, employers and continuing education enterprises rely on ANCC accreditation to call forth advanced nursing practice and improved outcomes.
Earning a high-paying job doesn’t mean you need a four-year degree
Article by Melinda Eddleman If you thought you had to attend college for four years and earn a baccalaureate degree to make good money, you don’t. And, you don’t even have to wait until next spring to start taking credit courses at Del Mar College, especially courses in the new Electrician Program offered by the Architecture, Aviation and Automotive Department. Registration is now underway with 8-week credit courses beginning Monday, Oct. 25. Admissions, registration and other information to get you started is available by visiting www.delmar.edu/registration or contacting the Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 or enroll@delmar.edu. Highly sought-after by the construction industry, the electrical trades are listed on the Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend’s Target Occupations List with nearly 1,440 jobs needing to be filled. In fact, Projections Central shows a projected growth rate of 14% in the electrical trades in Texas over the next eight years. The median salary in this field is about $50,300. In general, electrical trades programs follow a structured apprenticeship program and licensing process. The College’s new Electrician Program aligns with this process and currently offers that first step to get your foot in the door with the Electrical Helper Occupational Skills Award (OSA), which began this fall and has courses students can start taking during the next fall 8-week session. The OSA curriculum encompasses 13 total credit hours, including the following courses: CNBT 1110 Basic Construction Safety (completes OSHA 30), CNBT 1300 Residential & Light Commercial Blueprint Reading, ELPT 1321 Introduction to Electrical Safety and Tools (completes NCCER Core Curriculum), ELPT 1311 Basic Electrical Theory and ELPT 1325 National Electrical Code I. In fall 2022, individuals can begin taking courses toward a Level I Certificate in Residential/Commercial Electrician, Level II Certificate in Industrial Electrician and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Electrician. The new DMC Electrician Program curriculum is focused on training in basic electrical theory; industry safety; National Electric Codes; residential, commercial and industrial wiring; motors and transformers; electrical testing and maintenance; and electrical and power transmission. Courses provide students with practical training needed to function as an entry-level electrician and prepares them for the Journeyman Electrician License Exam. The program also includes OSHA 30, NCCER Core and NCCER Electrical Levels 1-4 curriculum. To learn more about the new Electrician Program and the Electrical Helper OSA, visit www.delmar.edu/electrician. Individuals can also contact Adjunct Instructor Norman Walters at nwalters@delmar.edu or call the Architecture, Aviation and Automotive Department at 361-698-1725.
Virtual “Discover Del Mar” scheduled Oct. 19 to prepare individuals planning to attend DMC
Article by Mleinda Eddleman Navigating higher education’s landscape can be a journey by itself for individuals just starting the admittance process or deciding what path to take like credit or continuing education courses. To help Coastal Bend residents––including high schoolers, recent graduates and older adults–––looking to start academic courses or workforce training, Del Mar College’s (DMC) Outreach Office will hold a virtual exploration event, “Discover Del Mar,” on Tuesday, Oct. 19. The one-hour online event begins at 5 p.m. and requires registration to receive the link by email to enter “Discover Del Mar.” To register, go to www.delmar.edu/discoverdelmar. Registrants will be entered for chances to win prizes during online drawings, too. During this virtual college preview, registrants can expect to interact with representatives from Admissions, Financial Aid Services, Continuing Education, Dual Credit and Student Support Services to have their questions answered by experts or where to go for more resources. Additionally, faculty from academic programs will present their certificate and degree programs, including those in the following DMC pathways areas: Architecture, Aviation, & Automotive; Business & Entrepreneurship; Communications, Fine Arts & Social Sciences; Health Sciences; Industrial Technology; Kinesiology & Education; Public Services; and Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math. Get campus updates, learn about DMC processes and gather information about various programs as you discover Del Mar College and plan your journey through higher education. Have questions or need more information about this online event? Contact the DMC Outreach Office at recruit@delmar.edu.
Partners Announce Aransas County Workforce Development Center with Opening Slated in 2022
Article by DMC College Relations and Aransas County Public Information Office The road to recovery is underway as Aransas County moves forward with efforts to revitalize the economy in Rockport-Fulton and surrounding communities. The area first suffered the devastating wrath of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017; and then last year, the coronavirus pandemic hit, further impacting an economy dependent on the tourism industry and the workforce that supports it. Today, Oct. 7, partners–– including Aransas County, the Aransas County Partnership Economic Development Corporation (ACPEDC), Del Mar College (DMC), the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Congressman Michael Cloud (R-District 27) and other government, business and education leaders––announced the establishment of the Aransas County Workforce Development Center and took preliminary tours of the former Little Bay Primary School, which will house workforce training, Continuing Education, Career and Technical Education and academic courses once renovation is completed next year. The $2,138,731purchase and renovation of the facility includes funding from a $1.7 million U.S. Department of Commerce EDA grant, along with local private fundraising by Aransas County business leaders. EDA Regional Director Jorge D. Ayala added by Zoom,“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support the partnership between Aransas County and Del Mar College to create a new workforce development and entrepreneurship center. This center will provide much needed high-skills training to Rockport and the surrounding area.” Aransas County and Del Mar College have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the county owning the facility and land while the College operates the workforce development center once renovations are completed next year. The 16,016 square-foot center will include classrooms, labs and additional space and house high-demand marketable skills training for Aransas County and surrounding communities to build a sustainable workforce based on “essential” jobs imperative to residents’ work skills sustainability, entrepreneurial endeavors and career resilience. The partnership strategically focuses on training that targets occupations identified by the Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend that meet Aransas County’s local and regional needs, including programs within health sciences, construction trades, public safety, technology, professional enrichment, adult education and communications. Keas noted that Del Mar College has long been an educational and workforce training partner in Aransas and San Patricio counties, offering dual credit programs in Ingleside, Aransas Pass and Rockport-Fulton high schools. Dr. Joshua Garcia, Superintendent of Aransas County Independent School District noted, “We are excited for Aransas County, Del Mar College and the Economic Development Administration partnering to create this Workforce Development Center in our community. This will provide more opportunities for our ACISD students to learn valuable trade skills.” Project renovation for the Aransas County Workforce Development Center was designed by Turner Ramirez Architects. Aransas County officials anticipate the bidding process to occur in January for contract work for the renovation to start early next year.
Board of Regents holding regular monthly meeting Oct. 5 in College’s Center for Economic Development
Article by DMC College Relations Office The Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold their regular monthly meeting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5, in Room 106 of the College’s Center for Economic Development at 3209 S. Staples. Community members may still access meetings online by going to the video web link at https://www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 12:55 p.m. A copy of the Oct. 5 Agenda Notice and Board Packet is available at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-agenda-10-5-21.pdf. Meeting agendas and other resources are also available on the DMC Board of Regents web page at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/index.html. The health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors are a priority for Del Mar College. In compliance with Texas Gov. Abbott’s executive order, the College no longer requires but encourages wearing masks or other face coverings, along with following other DMC safety protocols such as social distancing and hand washing, during in-person participation of campus activities. The College is currently in Phase III of the Return-to-Campus Plan.
Board of Regents Grants Distinguished Title of “Professor Emeritus” to Two Long-time DMC Educators
Article by Melinda Eddleman During the Board of Regents’ regular September meeting, two retired professors were bestowed the title of “Professor Emeritus.” Renato Ramirez, Professor of Political Science, and Russell Long, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, both retired from Del Mar College’s (DMC) Department of Social Sciences in 2020; and after almost a year-long process, both educators were recognized with the prestigious title for their exemplary teaching and dedication to DMC students and the institution. Ramirez’s 29-year tenure included not only teaching but also serving as the Social Sciences Department Chair from 2014 until his retirement. In 1997, he demonstrated his initiative and creativity as one of the first faculty members to deliver online instruction when that teaching method was in its infancy. Ramirez demonstrated commitment to enhancing his instructional methodology and his students’ success by maintaining a high retention rate of 90 percent or better as well as serving as an invaluable faculty advisor to numerous student organizations such as the Circle K Club Kiwanis Social Service Student Group, Native American Club, Student LULAC Organization and the Student Democrat Club. Among Ramirez’s other credits, he served on various academic program search committees, the Faculty Council, the former Strategic Planning Committee and the subcommittee for the College’s reaccreditation processes through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. He was also a member of several notable professional organizations, including the Texas Community College Teachers Association, the Texas Faculty Association and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Dr. Long’s 22-year tenure included serving as the Assessment Coordinator for the Sociology Program for nearly 10 years. Additionally, he provided dedicated service as a member of multiple academic program search committees, numerous instructional program review committees and on College standing committees, including Faculty Council, Dual Credit Advisory, eLearning Advisory and Faculty Advising Committees. As an invaluable student mentor, he served as a faculty advisor to several student organizations and their leaders, including the Social Justice Club, Safe Space Club and Student Government Association. He shared his expertise by authoring professional publications and giving academic presentations at notable events hosted by the Southwest Social Science Association, South Texas Studies Journal, Southwestern Sociological Association and Texas Junior College Student Government Association. Dr. Long was also a member of distinguished professional organizations, including the Population Reference Bureau, the American Association of University Professors and the Southwestern Sociological Association. While both retirees may not teach anymore, former colleagues, students and peers can now say, “Hello, Professor Emeritus,” the next time they see either of these former DMC faculty members.
Registration underway for Del Mar College second 8-week credit course session
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso If you think you have to wait until the spring 2022 semester to start at Del Mar College (DMC) ... think, again! Registration is underway for 8-week Session II credit courses, which are a great way to complete some of your classes in half the time it takes during the regular semester schedule. The 8-week second session courses begin Monday, Oct. 25. Tuition and fees are due by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The College offers classes using online, hybrid and face-to-face formats. To register or to connect with an advisor, go to www.delmar.edu/registration. Haven’t completed the admissions process, yet? Get more information at www.delmar.edu/becoming-a-viking/apply/index.html and complete the online Apply Texas form. Have questions, issues or need help registering? Virtual Assistance is available in the Harvin Student Center on the Heritage Campus (Baldwin and Ayers) Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Assistance is also available in the Coleman Center on the Windward Campus (Old Brownsville and Airport Roads) Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Virtual registration assistance is offered in both centers now through Tuesday, Oct. 26. Students should sign-in using the College’s Viking Virtual Line at www.delmar.edu/current-students/viking-virtual-line.html, use the VikingGo app or sign up in-person in the Harvin Student Center or Coleman Center. After using one of the available sign-in methods, students will receive a text message to their designated mobile device. They will then meet virtually with a Student Services representative inside the center where they’re signed-in. To speak to an advisor, visit www.delmar.edu/registration for contact information. Face coverings are encouraged at all times in addition to required protocols such as social distancing. Only individuals who are registering may enter the centers. Del Mar College is currently in Phase 3 of its Return-to-Campus Plan. Still have questions? Contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center at enroll@delmar.edu or 361-698-1290 (Heritage Campus) or 361-698-1741 (Windward Campus).
First DMC Cultural Programs Series performance set for Oct. 5 with livestreaming and very limited seating in Wolfe Recital Hall
Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso If you’ve missed Del Mar College (DMC) Cultural Programs Series events due to the pandemic, the wait is over. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, the program, in conjunction with the College’s Music Department, presents a chamber music performance from Wolfe Recital Hall on Heritage Campus (Baldwin Blvd. and Ayers St.). The concert features the department’s very own Dr. David Sutanto, Professor of Piano, joined by guest artists Violinist Pablo Donatti and Clarinetist Ivan Petruzziello. The free performance begins at 7:30 p.m. with very limited seating (45 seats) with required registration to attend in-person. No walk-ins will be permitted, and attendees must follow DMC protocols including social distancing. The College is currently in Phase 3 of its Return-to-Campus Plan. However, the chamber music ensemble also may be seen and heard by livestream using the following links: • YouTube: https://youtu.be/ez0WGiJz5A8 • Facebook: www.facebook.com/delmarcollege/live For more recital information and to reserve limited performance seating, contact Dr. David Sutanto at dsutanto@delmar.edu. The recital program will include Francis Poulenc’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Astor Piazzolla’s History of Tango and Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale. Recently performing as a soloist with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra (CCSO), Sutanto was winner of the 1997 Artists International Audition and 1996 Chopin Foundation Piano Competition in New York. Currently, he is the Principal Pianist of the CCSO. A long-time member and former CCSO Concertmaster, Argentine Violinist Donatti is also the Concertmaster of the ECHO Orchestra in Houston as well as First Violinist of the Opus4 String Quartet. Italian-born Clarinetist Petruzziello is a Yamaha Performing Artist and currently serves as the Assistant Principal Clarinetist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Principal Clarinetist of the CCSO.
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