“I’m really, really excited about the impact they’re going to have on our community,” Andy Evans said as he introduced Kristin Tow Walker, executive director of the TSUS Polk County Center, Wednesday at Lions Club.
“First, who are we? The Texas State University System. We are four four-year universities – Texas State University, Sul Ross State University, Sam Houston State University and Lamar University – and three two-year colleges – Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College Port Arthur and Lamar State College Orange,” Walker said.
“We’re written in legislation and can go anywhere in the state and provide education,” Walker said.
“In one center, we have three colleges that have come together. We are united and can provide many opportunities to the people of Polk County,” she said.
Some of the workforce courses offered include maritime, CDL, IV therapy, ESL, Excel and IV compounding. Others that may be offered in the future include small engine repair, QuickBooks and intro to welding.
“Our college credit courses start Oct. 28, and we will be offering developmental courses, math, history, English, business administration, criminal justice and basic general education courses day to day face to face,” Walker said, adding, “We have hired our first five faculty to teach evening classes.
“We’re presently hiring and urgently need adjunct faculty in the following fields: accounting, biology, English, math, psychology, sociology, social media and digital communications, logistics management, nursing (CNA, LVN and medication aide), criminal justice and EMT,” she said, adding, “It can be really, really rewarding.”
Commenting that she has been in higher education for 20 years, Walker said, “I’m very passionate about what we do. I look forward to coming back and sharing more information with you.”
She invited everyone to come out to the center for a ‘meet and greet’ from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday where there will be popcorn, soft drinks and the opportunity to see what is happening.
LISD Superintendent Dr. Brent E. Hawkins said that last semester Livingston ISD had 550 students enrolled in college classes through the center.
“I can’t express enough how important this relationship has been. Dr. Johnson saw the opportunity and jumped in. School districts have had no new revenue since 2019. There are benefits financially with this relationship versus the previous one. Last year, we saved $180,000 as opposed to the year before. Our enrollment went up so now we’re getting more classes for less money,” Hawkins said.
“TSUS has no ad valorem tax. They can go anywhere. We were charged out of district tuition previously, paying $357 per course, and we’re paying $150 per course with these folks. And if it’s our teachers teaching the courses, it’s free. It’s a tremendous windfall for the school district,” Hawkins said.
“Another windfall is the vision that Dr. Johnson and his folks brought. There’s power in numbers. You customize students’ educations to offer the things they want. We have a very robust vision of ingraining students with opportunities. There’s lot of possibilities to put our kids in real world situations that they can learn from,” Hawkins said.
