ACC Regents Discuss Pearland Campus

The Alvin Community College Board of Regents discussed the college’s involvement with Pearland ISD’s plans to open a third campus during a board meeting on April 26.

Pearland ISD trustees voted 4-3 during an April 10 meeting to explore the possibility of the third campus which would open in the fall of 2013. The school district would like to use the campus on Bailey Road for workforce training and dual credit students.

ACC Dean of Academic Programs Drew Nelson attended the Pearland ISD meeting and told ACC regents that the move will be good for the college and its students. Nelson said the campus would make it easier for students to receive technical and workforce training.

“Those students who want technical training, work force training or dual credit…will probably come to this school full time,” Nelson said.

Pearland ISD hopes to have between 300 and 400 students at the campus by fall 2013, Nelson said.

“The goal is to use the existing facility and get up to about 700 and 1,000 students five years from now,” he said.

Regent Karlis Ercums said he is looking forward to the new campus to help future ACC students.

“It’s great I hope we can move forward and I hope things can really become fertile and grow,” he said.

Regents also said the campus would be paramount in helping students learn needed workforce skills.

“We have to find a way to get those folks trained,” regent Bel Sanchez said. “I think we have exciting things ahead.”

Ercums felt that ACC and local school districts need to do more outreach and educate parents about dual credit and technical programs.

“I think so many parents want to do this and participate, they just don’t know how,” Ercums said.

Nelson suggested that ACC can explore a new position for someone to manage the dual credit programs.

ACC Foundation President Jay Hawkins presented an annual report to the board. The foundation raised money through several events that helped fund scholarships, ACC programs and faculty and staff development throughout the year.

In two of the fundraisers, the foundation raised $35,000 at the 2011 Christmas Gala and $10,000 at the Author’s Luncheon in April, he said.

The funds allow the foundation to give out several student scholarships including 15 opportunity scholarships that are $1,200 each, Hawkins said.

The funds also support the student ambassador program, ACC Children’s Summer Children Theater and more.

During the meeting, regents decided to delay action on whether to pursue an advertising position on the Alvin ISD football field scoreboard. The deal also would allow ACC to produce commercials that would air on the scoreboard screen.

“This ad on this scoreboard will be hitting our target market – students and their parents,” Sanchez said.

The board opted to move the issue to the May 22 meeting.