DMC Board of Regents get “sneak peek,” tour final three capital improvement program projects funded by 2014 bond referendum
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October
2024
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08:00 AM
Europe/Amsterdam
Regents see modernizing renovations of Memorial Building, Viking Hall and White Library renovations that modernize and repurpose iconic Heritage Campus facilities
Article by Melinda Eddleman
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Del Mar College Board of Regents members and DMC administrators, along with architects and contractors, stand in front of the Memorial Building on the Heritage Camus before a tour of renovation projects that will complete the 2014 bond passed by DMC District taxpayers for capital improvements. The former classroom building will house the College’s administrative offices when opened in January 2025. (Credit: Del Mar College)
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In the foreground, Board of Regents Chair Carol A. Scott (left), Regent Dr. Laurie Turner and Regent Dr. Anantha Babbili listen to representatives from Gignac Architects share the process for renovating the Memorial Building, which will house DMC administrative offices once completed by January 2025. The Board toured the facility on Oct. 8 on the Heritage Campus as part of getting a “sneak peek” of the final three capital improvement projects funded by a 2014 bond referendum approved by Del Mar College District taxpayers. (Credit: Del Mar College)
The three buildings––Memorial Building, Viking Hall and the William F. White, Jr. Library––represent the final stages of overall renovation and construction projects funded by the bond.
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Del Mar College has the community to thank for the renovation and repurposing of these three buildings, along with the other capital improvement projects supported by the 2014 bond referendum. We have put these funds to good use and demonstrated responsible stewardship with both Board and DMC leadership prioritizing hiring Corpus Christi- and South Texas-based firms for these projects.
Dr. Mark Escamilla, Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer
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Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Escamilla, Ph.D., stands center in the lobby of Viking Hall and addresses renovations to the former Fine Arts Center Music Building, including raising the ceilings for a greater feeling of space within the building, during the Board of Regents Oct. 8 tour of renovation projects on the Heritage Campus. The facility now houses programs with the Business Administration and Entrepreneurship Department. (Credit: Del Mar College)
DMC Board Tour_100824_Viking Hall Lounge
The Del Mar College Board of Regents and DMC administrators, along with architects and contractors, view the lounge in Viking Hall, which is one of three buildings showcased as part of the Oct. 8 Heritage Campus renovation projects tour scheduled to give Regents a “sneak peek” of capital improvements funded by a 2014 bond referendum. The former Fine Arts Center Music Building was repurposed to serve students taking courses offered by the Business Administration and Entrepreneurship Department, including the College’s new Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership degree. (Credit: Del Mar College)
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As part of the Del Mar College Board of Regents’ Oct. 8 capital improvements project tour on the Heritage Campus, President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Escamilla, Ph.D., shares his personal experience as a DMC student searching for a spot on the fifth floor of the William F. White, Jr. Library to find a spot with a window to study as well as find quiet and peace. Now, Fifth Floor renovations will provide students with a 360-degree view of the Corpus Christi cityscape when White Library opens in January 2025. (Credit: Del Mar College)
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Community support for Del Mar College’s growth and modernization of its campuses reflects that they share our vision for the future.
Dr. Mark Escamilla, Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer
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DMC Board Tour_100824_White Library Fifth Floor_President and CEO Mark Escamilla
As far as the eye can see … Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Escamilla, Ph.D., points out from the Fifth Floor of the William F. White, Jr. Library the view of Corpus Christi with the New Harbor Bridge in the background during a Board of Regents tour on Oct. 8. Currently undergoing full renovation using funds from a 2014 bond, White Library’s Fifth Floor includes a 360-degree view of the city and a quiet space for study when the facility opens in January 2025. (Credit: Del Mar College)
About Del Mar College
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.
Latest DMC News
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- It’s never too early … Del Mar College Early Advising and Online/On-Campus Registration is underway for Spring 2025 credit coursesArticle 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 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. 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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. 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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.
