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Del Mar College celebrates 90th birthday of longtime Sociology adjunct instructor Dr. Willard Rushton as he wraps up teaching career

Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. Dr. Willard Rushton has seen a world of change during his years at Del Mar College. He got his start in higher education as a student at the College back when No. 34 – Dwight D. Eisenhower - was in office in the early years of the Cold War. He’s now winding down his long teaching career as the 46th U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. serves out his remaining days in office. The College’s Social Sciences Department celebrated Dr. Rushton’s 90th birthday and his career with a party in C302 in the General Academic and Music Building Phase II (GAMBI) on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Faculty and staff gathered to enjoy cupcakes and light snacks while taking the opportunity to wish Dr. Rushton a “Happy Birthday,” along with well wishes as he formally concludes his extensive teaching career in higher education – a career that spans nearly six decades with much of that time spent educating Del Mar College students. A longtime member of the DMC Sociology faculty, Dr. Rushton began teaching the subject and economics courses in 1966. He then moved upward to serve as Chair of the Sociology Department for seven years. Dr. Rushton left as a tenured full professor in 1985 after teaching thousands of students who took his Introductory Sociology, Sociology of Minority Groups and Social Problems courses. Dr. Rushton also taught Sociology of Black Americans and Rural Sociology courses at his alma mater, Texas A&M University (TAMU) in College Station, and the Research Methods in Social Work course at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He returned to DMC and taught truck driving in the Department of Transportation for seven years, retiring in 2010. That same year, he began serving as an Adjunct Sociology Instructor – a role that he has continued to fill through this fall. Over the years, technology has come to play a key role in the classroom, and Dr. Rushton says he’s had to lean on the Information Technology team to help him keep up with those changes. “I've had to learn a lot of stuff. The IT folks have been very helpful,” he says. When asked if his current class knows that they will be the last students he will teach, Dr. Rushton says, “They do. I think they are happy for me.” His final adjunct assignment is teaching a DMC Dual Enrollment sociology class Mondays and Fridays at the School of Science and Technology off Saratoga Boulevard. Asked to share a few highlights of his long career with the College, Dr. Rushton responds modestly: “The biggest highlight has been the opportunity to be associated with the great folks in the Social Science Department.” As previously noted, Dr. Rushton’s connection to the College began during his undergraduate days. After starting his collegiate education at DMC in 1954, he attended TAMU, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. Afterward, he moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Rural Sociology from The Ohio State University (OSU); and as a doctoral student, he served as the sociologist on a research team whose goal was to identify factors related to effective farm management. Dr. Rushton earned his Ph.D. in Rural Sociology from OSU in 1970. Back in Texas, Dr. Rushton also served as a research associate for a faculty group at the College of Veterinary Medicine at TAMU that sought to identify factors related to effective clinical teaching as part of a two-year post-doctoral study in adult and extension education. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Rushton has contributed to several journal articles as well. So, what’s next for Dr. Rushton now that he is completely done with teaching and is at last ready to focus on leisurely pursuits? “I have a workshop full of woodworking tools that I plan to start using,” he says with a smile.

DMC Sound Recording Technology Program does it, again! Enjoy! (Videos)

Article by DMC CRO Media Relations and Dr. Paul Bissell The Del Mar College (DMC) Music Department’s Dr. Paul Bissell, Professor of Music and Director of the Sound Recording Technology Program, gathered past and present Music students, faculty and community members for a recording session on Saturday, Nov. 9, for some studio fun on the Heritage Campus. Dr. Bissell says that the first song, “Do It Again,” by Steely Dan “was to be the sound track of an ‘art project’ I have had in my mind for a while. I wanted the paintings and murals that I like to magically come to life and interact with the music. Thus, a crash course in motion graphics…and a dedication to Mike Anzaldúa.” The late Anzaldúa, Professor Emeritus of English, was a beloved faculty member with the College’s English & Philosophy Department who passed away in December 2012 and was considered DMC’s Plato or Socrates as an educator, leader, advisor and friend. “Mike” was very involved with the College’s chapter of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education as well as the establishment of the Mexican American Studies degree program. Of the first video, Dr. Bissell says, “The Chicano movement of the 1960 and70s influenced artists and musicians alike. Steely Dan’s ‘Do It Again’ clearly shows how two jazz guys from New York took in the sounds and happenings coming out of Los Angeles in 1970.” He notes that the second song, “Kodachrome” by Paul Simon, is a quick and simple classic from 1973. “Here, too, is the influence of culture so evident,” he says. “For this recording, quintessential New Yorker Paul Simon recorded in both Malaco and Muscle Shoals sound studios in Mississippi and Alabama, respectively, and it sounds like it.” Dr. Bissell notes that there’s nothing fancy about the second video … it’s “just showing the band playing Take 2.” And, if you want to learn more about Del Mar College’s Sound Recording Technology Program, visit www.delmar.edu/SRT. Enjoy! (Click on each video to expand and play in a pop-up box.)

It’s never too early … Del Mar College Early Advising and Online/On-Campus Registration is underway for Spring 2025 credit courses

Article by Melinda Eddleman With the holiday season already in full swing with “early” Black Friday sales and decorations popping up, it’s not too early to think about registering for Del Mar College (DMC) Spring 2025 credit classes. In fact, Early Advising and Early Online/On-campus Registration are underway, so why wait until it’s too late to get the classes you need at the times you want? And, if you’re thinking about becoming a Viking this coming spring, beat the holiday rush! Now is the time to complete the admissions process, apply for financial and register. Don’t wait to “own your dream” at Del Mar College! The first Early Registration period ends Monday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m. with payment of tuition and fees due the same day and same time to keep your class schedule. Spring 2025 credit classes start Monday, Jan. 13. For On-campus Registration, students need to contact the department of their declared major for specific instructions (access the Academic Advisor Directory). The second round begins with Online Registration reopening on Dec. 3 at 12:01 a.m. for students who meet qualifications to register online, and On-campus Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. Payment for tuition and fees is 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8. While Online Registration will remain open during the College’s two-week Winter Break, scheduled Dec. 19 through Jan. 1, On-campus Registration ends at 5 p.m. Dec. 18, and will resume at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2. The College offers 8-, 12-, 15- and 16-week as well as Maymester options, including in-person, online and hybrid courses to meet your learning style. And, both current and prospective students can access WebDMC at www.delmar.edu to view course offerings, which are frequently updated throughout the registration process. Current students can also use WebDMC to check their financial aid status, review their degree plan and find other information. Questions? Visit www.delmar.edu/registration or contact the DMC Student Enrollment Center at 361-698-1290 or enroll@delmar.edu. Del Mar College is closed Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 27-29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Closure includes all campuses––Heritage, Windward and Oso Creek––as well as the Center for Economic Development. Classes resume and offices reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 2.

Strengthening partnerships, building student success … DMC – Coastal Bend Superintendents Symposium focused on Dual Enrollment among region’s high school students

Article 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.

Del Mar College Cyber Center cybersecurity internship initiative announced after landing $200K grant from U.S. Commerce Department’s NIST

Article 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. 24

Article 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."

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DMC Board of Regents holding regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12

Regular meeting scheduled at College’s Center for Economic Development and available through online livestreaming, too

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