2009 state of the college Tuesday, October 13, 2009 The Junior League of Houston Houston, Texas An Address by Dr. Mary S. Spangler, HCC Chancellor Houston Community College held its 2009 State of the College address to underscore the progress HCC has made towards its vision for the future. Dr. Spangler highlighted the significant impact that HCC’s programs and partnerships are having on the community, workforce and economy of our city as well as the region. We all recognize education and training are the keys to our future. Cover photo features HCC Central Campus, with the Learning Hub and Science Building in the foreground and the historic San Jacinto Building. 1 HCC is the Opportunity Institution HCC is proud to be part of what makes Houston the opportunity city. HCC provides opportunity to students, to our community and to local business. HCC is the gateway to education, to jobs and to the future workforce of our great city. We are pleased to share with you highlights of the exciting progress we have made toward our vision for the future - to become the most relevant community college in the country, an opportunity institution that is essential to our community’s future success. The administrative team has been working with the Board of Trustees to improve enrollment, facilities, funding, and partnerships, as we work to fulfill our strategic plan for the future. There has never been a more important time for community colleges in our country’s history than now. At Houston Community College, we are redefining what a community college can be for our students, community, and local business. And that is evidenced in HCC’s record numbers • 65,000 students each semester • #1 in transferring students to the college of their choice • the largest number of exemplary workforce programs in the state, with 26 outstanding programs • more than $5.10 returned for every tax dollar spent • among the lowest tax rates and costs per credit hour, at $57 in the state. HCC is the opportunity that leads to more opportunities. Cover photo features HCC Central Campus, with the Learning Hub and Science Building in the foreground and the historic San Jacinto Building. 2 HCC Provides Opportunity for our Community Because of their flexibility, high quality, affordability, and high economic impact on the communities they serve, community colleges have been advanced to the forefront of higher education in our country. In July, the President of the United States delivered a powerful address on the importance of community colleges in providing broadened access to higher education. We are here this morning to share how HCC is continuing to mature both for and with our community. This college is at the forefront of what is working in postsecondary education in America today. While we recognize we are making a difference to our community, to local business and to students across the greater Houston region, it’s important to update you on the recent recognition the college has also achieved nationally and internationally. The White House invited Houston Community College to be one of a select group of higher education institutions to host an event for its important national initiative on better understanding, reaching and educating the Hispanic community. The input gleaned from this cross-country effort will provide the foundation for the new Presidential Executive Order that will shape the White House Initiative on Hispanic Education. In addition, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton invited our participation, along with a handful of distinguished education leaders across the nation, in an education policy discussion at the State Department. It is important to note, HCC was the ONLY community college at the table for that conversation about how higher education can support and serve the interests of a strong U.S. foreign policy. While privileged to be recognized nationally and internationally, we remain committed to serving our local community through innovative programs and partnerships. Among these are partnerships with Houston ISD, BioHouston, Chevron Energy Solutions, Lumina Foundation, Gates Foundation, USAID, Higher Education Development, and the Association of Community College Trustees, to name a few. One exciting example is a partnership with the City of Houston and the Houston Dynamos soccer team that enabled HCC to reclaim 23 acres of previously unusable land worth tens of millions of dollars. Administratively, we have taken bold steps to reorganize and continue to decentralize the district, making the central office a service center to the six colleges located strategically throughout our community. This fall we launched a public information campaign which reinforces the themes of relevance, opportunity and being essential that are core to our vision. The campaign also reminds Houstonians and those in this region that they enjoy unparalleled access to one of the top two-year institutions in America. The campaign was developed to drive enrollment and encourage students to register for classes, while continuing to build the regard necessary for the institution to achieve its other very important short- and long-term initiatives. 3 HCC Means Opportunity for Local Business and the Economy HCC is committed to maximize effectiveness, maintain stable tuition and fees, and decrease property taxes. To that end, we have implemented several major initiatives to enhance Houston’s regional economy and utilize our public resources wisely and strategically. First, through an innovative cost-saving initiative involving the entire HCC family, we have reduced operating costs over the last two years by $4 million and added revenue, including that from competitive grants, in excess of $14 million, all of which were derived without additional taxes, tuitions, or fees. The HCC Board of Trustees will return these savings to the taxpayers in the form of 1. reduced taxes and an increased household exemption for seniors of 11%, 2. dual credit waivers to 7,400 high school students (an increase of 54% over the same time last year) and 3. 4.2% raises to faculty and staff. All of these actions have the effect of improving the economy of Houston. Second, the HCC Board also commissioned an energy audit of 38 buildings and 2.3 million square feet of floor space to reduce utility costs and identified 28 projects that will save HCC approximately $1 million annually for each of the next 15 years. We are now implementing those audit recommendations and transforming HCC into a greener learning and working environment. Speaking of energy, I am proud to announce that HCC has just been awarded a $3.5 million grant from the Department of Energy to establish a network of educational, industry, and state partners to ensure the availability and effectiveness of solar installation training throughout the region. You will be hearing more about this important accomplishment, in the coming months. 4 Third, the HCC Foundation Board of Directors launched the Foundation’s “Opportunity 14” capital campaign, which raised $1.4 million in its first year alone. In addition, the Foundation received the largest single gift in the history of the college, $1 million, from the John P. McGovern Foundation. We are grateful to all of our donors who support community college education because of its significant value to the entire community. Another example of HCC’s innovative business partnerships is its collaboration with local businesses and organizations through HCC Partners for Jobs. HCC and community leaders joined with Houston-area employers to help Houstonians get training and education that lead to jobs. The collaboration was developed to heighten awareness of workforce training programs available through a community campaign. HCC and 11 partners are working together to increase awareness of the effort. The campaign has had a significant impact, with over 550,000 page views on the campaign’s microsite and a 14% increase in enrollment in our workforce programs. We are also impacting the economy through our careful stewardship of resources. HCC’s tax rate of $09.233 per $100 of assessed valuation is lower than any of the other community colleges in the region. In fact, our board has proposed a still lower tax rate and will vote October 15 on that proposal, which, if passed, will be the fourth year in a row they have lowered taxes.* And to repeat, because it bears repeating, this year HCC trustees approved an increase in the system’s over-65 exemption – raising it from $90 to $100K. In case you want more evidence of this Board’s sound fiscal management, I offer the following proof of our financial strength as evaluated by Standard & Poors earlier this year: our rating was improved from AA to AA+. This bond rating denotes a very substantial level of confidence in HCC’s financial and operational excellence -- no small feat during this challenging economic period. We are proud of all these accomplishments and the role we are asked to play for our community. We will continue to strive for an unequalled level of educational excellence and be the standard by which all community colleges might be measured. The HCC Board approved a $09.222 per $100 of assessed valuation on October 15, 2009 5 HCC Provides Opportunity for Students HCC has placed a high priority on increased enrollment due to the value a higher education holds both for individuals and our community. Research indicates that a typical HCC student with an associate’s degree will earn more than double the salary of someone without a high school diploma at the mid-point of his or her career and 38% more than someone with only a high school diploma. Our total enrollment increased from 55,000 to 68,000 this fall, an increase of 24% in two years and the highest in our history.