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- Strengthening partnerships, building student success … DMC – Coastal Bend Superintendents Symposium focused on Dual Enrollment among region’s high school studentsArticle by Melinda Eddleman They make up nearly 30 percent of Del Mar College’s student enrollment, and they’re already on their way to earning college-level credits toward licensure credentialing through Continuing Education program, certificates or associate degrees within academic program or DMC credits transferable to a Texas public university before they even finish high school. In fact, the credits they earn as DMC Dual Enrollment students show up on a Del Mar transcript and also count toward their graduating from high school. On Nov. 7, Dual Enrollment students currently from 43 partnering Coastal Bend independent school districts as well as future students in the program were the subject of discussion between Del Mar College administrators and area superintendents during a Superintendents Symposium at the Oso Creek Campus. Presentations focused on strengthening DMC-ISD relationships, building more Dual Enrollment student success outcomes and improving ways to provide curriculum and training targeting in-demand workforce needs. That figure translates into more than a 12 percent increase in Dual Enrollment participation from the previous fall with current enrollment including 3,095 taking credit courses while another 2,200 are taking Continuing Education courses––such as health care, construction, welding and others––to complete stackable credits for Workforce Skills Awards that can count toward DMC credit programs, along with high school completions. The College offers the Dual Enrollment program to nearly 50 high schools among 43 partners combined, including regional public ISDs, parochial schools, charter schools and some home schools. Dual Enrollment students can access computer labs and other facilities, library resources, tutoring and advising services, student life activities and DMC Commencement ceremonies. But, the most significant benefit is that the College offers the Dual Enrollment program at no cost to ALL high school students enrolled in partnering ISDs and institutions, alleviating the financial burden for families facing the cost of higher education after a student graduates from high school. The College began providing Dual Enrollment programming at no cost to all students attending partnering high schools in fall 2023. This move resulted from passage and signing in summer 2023 of House Bill 8, which changed the funding model for Texas community colleges that is now based on outcomes. In turn, Del Mar adapted the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-funded Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program to expand accessibility beyond those students who originally qualified FAST to provide all regional high school students with partnering institutions tuition-free Dual Enrollment participation. (read release) The College’s Dual Enrollment program allows high school students to start earning college credits and industry-specific credentials in one of over 100 DMC certificate and degree programs among eight career pathways, including: • Architecture, Aviation & Automotive • Business Administration & Entrepreneurship • Communication, Fine Arts & Social Sciences • Health Sciences • Industrial Technology • Kinesiology and Education • Public Service • Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics During his presentation, Dr. Rivera shared how the College is positioning academic as well as career and technical education (CTE) programs with Texas Education Agency (TEA) curriculum standards and providing Dual Enrollment students with intentional advising to ensure they attain industry and college credentials of value that align with in-demand regional workforce needs identified by the state. He also covered several DMC initiatives targeting middle school-age students, specifically eighth graders and their parents, to encourage Dual Enrollment participation once they reach high school. “We’ll specifically target students in the lower 70 to 80 percent tier and give these middle schoolers the opportunity to explore possibilities by touring DMC’s programs to gain a better understanding about their own career interests,” he said. After Dr. Rivera’s remarks, students from Flour Bluff, London, Robstown, St. John Paul II and West Oso High Schools presented a panel discussion, providing education leaders with insight into why they’re taking Dual Enrollment courses from Del Mar College. All five panelists agreed that future high school students should learn about the program sooner and the opportunities available that give participants a head start, building a foundation toward their careers. Previously, Dr. Rivera shared data showing that among students who took DMC Dual Enrollment courses during high school, 42 percent completed a college award such as a certificate or associate degree within four years after their high school graduation. And, almost one-third of the College’s Dual Enrollment students earned a bachelor’s degree. “College degree completion rates among our Dual Enrollment students are well above those high school students who did not participate in our program,” he noted.
- DMC Board of Regents holding regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12Article by DMC College Relations Office On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Del Mar College (DMC) Board of Regents will hold their regular monthly meeting beginning at 1 p.m. in Room 106 of the College’s Center for Economic Development at 3209 S. Staples (78411). Get online directions and map. The regular meeting also will be livestreamed. Community members may access the meeting by going to the online video link at www.delmar.edu/webcast/ by 12:55 p.m. A copy of the Agenda Notice and Board Packet is available online at www.delmar.edu/regents-and-community/board-of-regents/_resources/agendas/regular-agenda-packet-11-12-24.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. To view the College’s COVID-19 guidelines, visit www.delmar.edu/rtc/index.html.
- Del Mar College Cyber Center cybersecurity internship initiative announced after landing $200K grant from U.S. Commerce Department’s NISTArticle by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. Del Mar College (DMC) is the only awardee in Texas that landed a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) this year. College administrators with the Workforce Development and Corporate Services Department, along with Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend, announced on Oct. 30 details about the $200,000 NIST grant that was awarded earlier in October. Overall, 15 grants totaling $3 million were awarded among 11 states. Darcy Shaw, DMC Cyber Center Program Manager, says, “The NIST grant is creating partnerships to promote cybersecurity education and workforce development because cybersecurity professionals are attaining their education, but they are not getting hired. There’s a very large need for cybersecurity professionals not just throughout the country but in our area and across Texas.” The funds the College received will support NIST’s Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) initiative in South Texas. NIST seeks to build multistakeholder workforce partnerships among employers, schools and higher education institutions, and other community organizations through its Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development Program through the funding awarding as part of the RAMPS initiative. The two key objectives of the DMC Cyber Center are: · Increase cybersecurity planning, awareness, and compliance · Add skills to cybersecurity students To that end, the DMC Cyber Center RAMPS initiative will utilize paid cybersecurity interns (students from DMC and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) to provide planning and training for business owners in the Coastal Bend starting in January. Small and mid-sized businesses are typically more vulnerable to cyber threats due to fewer resources, Shaw says. Shaw notes that the Cyber Center will host clinics for small and mid-sized businesses that utilize undergraduate students from the DMC Department of Computer Science, along with undergraduate and graduate students with TAMU-CC’s Computer Science and Networking and Information Security programs with the College of Engineering and Computer Science, to provide the following services: · Network mapping · Review and guidance with system security plans and recovery plans · Basic cyber hygiene awareness The College’s Cyber Center will manage South Texas’ initiative, which includes partnerships with Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend, the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center, QuickStart Business Services, DMC academic programs as well as TAMU-CC. Additionally, partnership also includes the City of Corpus Christi and the Corpus Christi B Corporation (Type B Board). Recently, the Corpus Christi City Council approved a $140,000 grant that also provides funding support for the Cyber Center. Ken Treviño, Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend CEO, says Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend is honored to partner with Del Mar College Cyber Center to open new doors for individuals pursuing cybersecurity careers. “By expanding access to critical training and connecting businesses with skilled professionals, we’re advancing workforce development across the Coastal Bend and supporting the security needs of industries vital to our region,” Treviño says. The DMC Cyber Center RAMPS initiative will allow the Cyber Center to serve Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Refugio, and San Patricio counties. Employees looking to expand their skills set will also have the opportunity to pursue “Grow Your Own” cybersecurity education and certification opportunities through the College’s Cisco Certification occupational track paid for by Skills for Small Business grant funds provided by the Texas Workforce Commission. “We’re uniquely positioned because of Del Mar College’s existing collaborative relationships with the business community (small and large), business resource partners, the City of Corpus Christi, Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend and University partners to foster and support cybersecurity students seeking entry into the workforce,” Shaw says. “Leveraging the Cyber Center’s role in assisting small and mid-sized businesses with cybersecurity planning, awareness and certification addresses the needs of students for applied experience and the needs of businesses for cybersecurity professionals.” NICE, previously known as the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education and overseen by NIST, funds Cyberseek, which is a tool designed for use by employers, educators and students to, provide data on the jobs outlook for the cybersecurity industry. According to Cyberseek analyzed data, only 83 cybersecurity workers were available for every 100 cybersecurity jobs demanded by U.S. employers between September 2023 and August 2024, and there were 457,433 openings that requested cybersecurity-related skills this year (2024). In Texas, the supply/demand ratio of available cybersecurity jobs relative to employer demand in a particular location is 85%, or 2% more than the national average (83%). The Lone Star State has nearly 37,000 job openings this year according to Cyberseek. “The need for a skilled cybersecurity workforce continues to grow,” says Shaw. “That’s our mission by offering the new Cyber Center here at Del Mar College: Addressing area employers’ needs while giving students pursuing the field the opportunity to find local employment as cybersecurity professionals.” Editor's Note: In the banner photo, Dr. David Ma (from left), Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; Ken Treviño, Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend CEO; Dan Korus, Dean of Workforce Development and Corporate Services at Del Mar College (DMC), DMC Computer Science major Noah Cantu; and Darcy Shaw, Cyber Center Program Manager with the DMC Small Business Development Center, attended the Cyber Center announcement at the DMC Center for Economic Development on Oct. 30.
- Del Mar College’s Counseling Center Celebrates a Decade of Fun, Food, and Info During “Spooktacular” Mental Health & Resource Fair for Students on Oct. 24Article by Richard Guerrero, Jr. For some students, the pressure of keeping up with classes while working and fielding responsibilities at home can seem utterly frightening. The Del Mar College (DMC) Counseling Center, however, is the place that students turn to when life’s challenges prove exceptionally vexing or insurmountable. And, making access to resources addressing the issue a fun experience is something the DMC Counseling Center, along with the Student Engagement and Retention Division, has been doing around Halloween for a decade. DMC Counseling Center staff and partners held their 10th annual Spooktacular Mental Health & Resource Fair on Oct. 24 for the College’s students, including a haunted house and various informational and health services tables throughout the first and second floors of the Harvin Student Center on Heritage Campus. DMC Counseling Center Director Jessica Edwards, M.A., LPC, says the event requires several days to transform the Harvin Student Center into the spooktacular event space that it was. Key to the fair’s success are the agencies who participate in the fair. “These agencies gave out lots of information and free giveaways,” Edwards said. “We had free flu shots courtesy of Walgreens and free pizza for students while supplies last. The Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation provided free health screenings – STI testing – as well. Of course, there also was the haunted maze that students visited to get additional info on alcohol and substance use awareness as well as suicide prevention.” The DMC Counseling Center offers free and confidential counseling services to students all year long. Staff also provide the College’s employees and students with consultations covering the Center’s services, and staff discuss how individuals can get help for themselves or for someone they’re concerned about. “Our center typically has more than 1,000 appointments each year,” Edwards says. “Based off last year’s data, the top three concerns that students reported are anxiety, depression and partner relationship distress; we are seeing a similar trend this year so far. We also assist students who are experiencing a mental health crisis, such as experiencing suicidal ideation. Last year, we assisted 20 students in crisis who either were then stabilized by a counselor or needed support getting to a local mental health hospital.” Among the organizations participating during this year’s fair were the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Amistad Community Health Center, Bayview Behavioral Hospital, Children’s Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend, Coastal Bend Wellness (including Behavior Health and the Pride Center), Coastal Plains Community Center, Corpus Christi Hope House, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District, Corpus Christi Police Department Victim Assistance Program, Council on Alcohol + Drug Abuse – Coastal Bend, Youth Continuum of Care Coalition, Counseling and Recovery Services, Family Counseling Services (including Crime Victim Services), Family Endeavor (Veteran Supportive Services), MHP Salud, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Corpus Christi, Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Oceans Behavioral Health, South Texas Family Planning & Health Corporation, South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services, Texas Adoption Center, Texas Department of Health and Human Services/Texas STAR, Women’s & Men’s Health Services, Women’s Shelter of South Texas (The Purple Door), Walgreens Flu Shot Clinic, Corpus Christi Public Library, Corpus Christi Regional Transportation, Coastal Bend Food Bank, Mobility Management Services – R. E.A. L. Inc., and New Life Direct Primary Care. Del Mar College campus resources participants included the Career Development Department, Center for Access and Advocacy, Financial Aid Services, Learning Resources, Nurse Education Department, Student Success Center, Student Leadership and Campus Life, TRIO Educational Opportunity Center, TRIO Student Support Services, DMC Nursing Department – Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society, Veteran Services and Valdar’s Market, a service provided by DMC in conjunction with the Coastal Bend Food Bank. For freshman Studio Art major Diamond Aguilar, the Spooktacular’s haunted house was her first opportunity to tour just such a creepy, ghoulish space. “I’ve always been so nervous when it comes to haunted houses, so whenever they said there was going to be a haunted house here, I said, ‘OK, I can totally go to that,’” Aguilar said. “I liked the decorations, the colors and the sounds. It was really cool.” Fellow freshman Studio Art major Alexis Camareno said she thought the experience was immersive. “I liked the lighting and how you were able walk around and see things for yourself,” Camareno said. When asked about a favorite feature, both Aguilar and Camareno declared in unison: The library. “There were little potions in there and characters – if you looked around in there, there was a lot to see even though it was a pretty small room,” Camareno said. “Del Mar definitely has a lot of Halloween spirit."
- Del Mar College Foundation Receiving Nearly $1.9 Million City Council-approved Grant to Enhance and Expand High-demand Workforce Training ProgramsArticle by Melinda Eddleman As the Coastal Bend economy continues to grow, the Corpus Christi City Council unanimously approved today a nearly $1.9 million grant to help fill the gap between the number of skilled workers available and local jobs ready to be filled. The direct award to the Del Mar College (DMC) Foundation will support the Enhanced Skills Training for High Demand Careers initiative. The DMC Foundation will use the funds to enhance and expand five existing workforce training programs by acquiring equipment and cutting-edge technology for current and emerging hands-on training that will keep the regional economy globally competitive while producing more graduates whose skills address in-demand workforce needs among area employers. Prior to the City Council’s grant approval, the DMC Foundation’s request for these funds were first vetted and approved with unanimous support by the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation’s Board and the City of Corpus Christi Type A/B Board. Matthew Busby, DMC Vice President of Development and Donor Advising, adds, “Del Mar College is a leader in workforce development and uses labor market information from the State of Texas and Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend to determine and provide training that meets 95 percent of our region’s most in-demand occupations. Today’s grant approval allows for the expansion and upgrades to the programs impacted by these funds, allowing the College to remain on the forefront as the Coastal Bend and its workforce move into the future.” The DMC Foundation will channel grant funds to the following five programs or training areas, including Industrial Instrumentation, the Artificial Intelligence and Geospatial Visualization Lab, Engineering and Robotics, Chemistry Lab Technician and Industrial Machining/Welding. These programs proactively address challenges to both sustain and grow the number of graduates entering the workforce and are designed to shorten the onboarding time for new local hires by producing skilled employees empowered with the necessary critical thinking skills that target the region’s workforce demands. In each case, new equipment will support expanded instruction, increase skills development or add emerging skills training in new areas of industrial and business development. Busby notes, “This investment will enhance students’ educational experience and increase the level of immersive, hands-on training.” More than 1,400 students were majoring in one of the five programs during the Spring 2024 semester with 396 graduates for the 2023-2024 academic year. The goal is to increase total graduates to 472 for 2026. The College’s long-term objective is to enhance and further expand training programs and graduate outcomes to provide more support to local small, medium and large businesses that rely on skilled employees.
