Computer Science invites curiosity, says TSTC department chair

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Javier Nieto has worked at Texas State Technical College for five years. His role as department chair for the Computer Science program allows him to help students learn the intricate skills that will allow them to venture off into vital careers.

What do you enjoy about working with students?

My students are always giving me something new to learn. I have students with different backgrounds and ideas, and it always makes things so interesting. I try to get involved with different projects where we can engage in topics that show off their ideas, and it constantly gives me something new to think about.

What inspired you to get into higher education?

I always realized that in order to change the world, you have to teach something. Everything I learn, I like to share. When you share your knowledge with somebody, they share it with others as well. You create a network of learning, and it just grows. I am always inspired when my students reach out to me about their careers after TSTC. You get a feeling of accomplishment when you see your students become successful.

What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing computer science?

If you are curious about how something works, this is the right career for you. You need to be curious; you need to ask questions. Computer science is the art of solving problems.

Fall registration is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

 

Rise in digital occupations due to pandemic makes computer science a fast-growing career

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Flexibility and working from home are a few characteristics of the perfect job during the current global pandemic. A career in computer science can offer these benefits, along with a great salary and the opportunity for job advancement.

Texas State Technical College Computer Science program chair Javier Nieto discussed the advantages of studying for the career and shared his passion for it.

“Students don’t have issues finding jobs, especially if they are flexible,” he said. “(Computer) networking is one of the biggest markets, especially right now.”

The global crisis has made computer networks vital for essential workplaces, such as hospitals and clinics.

“Hospitals, for example, need to make sure that their networks are available and working to update patient information and input physician data,” he said. “Our computer networking students can get into these careers and be very well paid.”

With the number of such jobs increasing comes the need for qualified workers to fill them.

“The demand for this type of work and employees is huge,” Nieto said. “There are simply not enough people in computer science.”

Current circumstances have brought worry for many people unsure of the current employment outlook. An Associate of Science in Computer Science is a degree path that might ease the burden of worrying about what the future will look like.

“There are a lot of opportunities to work from home in this field,” he said. “Outside of the coronavirus, there are many jobs in computer science that are able to be done remotely. It’s a very flexible career that was not diminished because of the pandemic.”

Fall registration is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC helps unemployed workers get trained faster with RISE programs

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – The new coronavirus has impacted more than just social gatherings. In Texas, nearly 1.3 million people are unemployed because of the current pandemic, and that number continues to climb.

To help Texans get back to work, Texas State Technical College is deploying the Rapid Industry Skills and Employability (RISE) program that will allow students to quickly learn the skills they need to help them toward a new occupation.

“With so many Texans affected by the pandemic, we wanted to offer courses that would get them the skills needed to enter into industry quickly, while also focusing on providing flexible time commitments,” said Trey Pearson, TSTC’s regional director of student recruitment. “Some of the programs are completely online, and some are taught in a hybrid format, which allows students to complete the coursework while still working or taking care of their families.”

Upon completion, students earn an Occupational Skills Award, which is the formal name for the curriculum designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. These short-term courses provide quick and basic entry-level skills that can open up opportunities for those experiencing unemployment and are seeking to get back into the workforce.

The courses are designed to feed into the regular certificates or degrees that TSTC offers if a student wants to pursue additional skills in the field. These courses provide graduates with the ability to apply for positions in their new fields, confident that they have the knowledge to start in a new job.

The idea of shortening the time to gain needed skills to enter the workforce has been in the works, but the current economic crisis necessitated starting the programs as soon as possible.

“RISE was accelerated because of the pandemic,” said TSTC Provost Edgar Padilla. “We’ve had this vision for a while to reduce the amount of time it takes for students to get quality training. The economic climate in the post-coronavirus world really created a sense of urgency for us to move quickly to be in a position to address the economic recovery in Texas.”

Students registered in the RISE program will begin this fall, and registration for the programs will be on a continuing basis.

“The registration process was kicked off in early July, and the applications have started to come in,” said TSTC Senior Vice President of Student Learning Hector Yanez. “These students will begin during our regular fall semester, and some of the programs are designed to be delivered and completed in as little as 7 1/2 weeks.”

Currently there are 12 short-term offerings available online, or via a hybrid format, but that number will change once the first cohorts complete their programs.

“As we continue to roll into the next fiscal year, the goal is to grow the inventory of options in the RISE curriculum,” Padilla said.

Tuition for these programs was also an important factor when they were being created.

“The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act allocated federal dollars to pay for short-term credentials,” Padilla said. “We have launched Occupational Skills Awards that are eligible for this funding immediately, and we have a team working on everything that needs to be in place in order for us to have that funding available for students.”

Hands-on training is one of TSTC’s strongest attributes, and it is something that is the key to the success of the RISE program.

“Every student enrolled will have the same access and opportunities as that of the traditional TSTC college student,” Yanez added. “The TSTC resource teams have been preparing and meeting to make sure that the needs and services of these students are met and provided.”

With a quicker curriculum, TSTC is hoping to provide stability for those seeking a rapid entry into the Texas workforce.

“These programs will really allow students the opportunity to rise to the occasion,” Padilla said. “This is designed to lead to some quality employment opportunities for students, which will ultimately be very impactful.”

To learn more about TSTC’s RISE program, visit https://www.tstc.edu/rise.

First-generation college graduate brings passion for helping others to TSTC students

(ROSENBERG, Texas) – In the seven months that Sugar Land native Yareni Gomez has spent with Texas State Technical College as a program enrollment coach, she has not only assisted TSTC students in Fort Bend County plan for their futures, but also made it her goal that they know they can count on her for help along the way.

“I assist students with anything that they may need while they are completing their degree, from planning and registering for classes, to helping with financial aid items, and everything else in between,” she said.

Gomez is one of the familiar faces in Fort Bend County that students know they can count on as they are completing their programs.

“I am here to ensure that our students are receiving the support that they need, from the moment they submit their application, to when they walk across the stage at graduation,” she explained. “When I finish a session with a student, I want to make sure that they feel supported and know I am available to help in any way that I can.”

Gomez, a first-generation college student, hopes that those she helps do not face the same difficulties that she did when she was obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies.

“I want to help make the college journey easier for them than it was for me,” she said. “I remember how hesitant I was to ask for help my first year of college because I didn’t understand some of the higher-education lingo. I love that my position allows me to sit down with students and answer their questions to help them understand certain processes and to remind them that they have someone supporting them in their journey to earn their degree.”

Her willingness to help others succeed brought her into higher education, which came as a surprise journey that ultimately changed her life.

“I entered this career path accidentally as a student worker, and I quickly developed a passion for helping others,” she reminisced. “When I was in college, there were times that I was overwhelmed and hesitant to ask for assistance, but what made a difference for me was the staff and faculty at the University of Houston who took the time to mentor me and teach me things I needed to know.”

The guidance that Gomez received from passionate mentors at her alma mater was a factor in her decision to work in higher education herself.

“I decided to continue my work in higher education to help ensure that all students feel supported and know they have someone they can turn to for guidance and to celebrate their victories with them.”

Fall registration is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

TSTC Workforce Training helps businesses during pandemic

(ABILENE, Texas) – During a pandemic, the workforce still needs training.

Texas State Technical College workforce trainer Terry Steelman has not seen a decline in requests for training over the past few months. Some area companies have been able to use federal funds to provide employee training through TSTC, he said.

“A lot of the essential businesses have needed some training. We are teaching the companies the current industry standards,” Steelman said. “Businesses have received funding and contacted us for the training.”

Steelman and other workforce trainers help clients with specialized programs using the latest technology and production systems available. Training focuses on improving employee skills, knowledge and abilities, he said.

An Abilene plastics company that supplies containers for the food industry, which has been deemed an essential business in Texas, has taken advantage of federal funds and TSTC’s workforce training program.

“This company makes containers for salads and other food items for local restaurants. This has been a big area because these containers are easily replaceable,” Steelman said. “The restaurant/hospitality industry is transitioning to this type of service since COVID-19. They want to make sure everything is safe.”

TSTC has provided other training opportunities for companies in West Texas, including Buzzi Unicem in Nolan County. Steelman said the concrete company is looking to develop an apprenticeship program at its Maryneal plant.

The college will help provide industry-standard training for employees. One of the benefits is that employees will learn the skills by doing the skills, Steelman said.

Another area Steelman said TSTC is helping businesses is a fast-track program. He said wind energy companies want to hire employees quickly, and TSTC provides an eight-week program to help fill the workforce.

“Employees will be able to walk away with a certificate and get to work. That will give the employee a jump-start if they want to come back to earn a degree,” Steelman said. “A lot of companies cannot wait 18 months to hire someone. They need people now.”

The fast-track program allows a student to earn certification as an electrical technician in eight to 10 weeks. Steelman said that certification may lead to a higher salary.

For more on TSTC’s Workforce Training, visit https://www.tstc.edu/workforce/training.

TSTC Culinary Arts Program Adapts to New Learning Environment

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Culinary Arts program worked in late March to accommodate a campuswide shift to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Until that time the program used Moodle, the college’s open-source learning platform, on a limited basis. But Michele Brown, lead instructor of TSTC’s Culinary Arts program in Waco, said faculty members had to learn new skills quickly. The program worked with TSTC’s statewide online learning office to adapt the curriculum to an online format and still meet its teaching standards.

“It has forced us to reevaluate how we deliver material,” said Len Pawelek, statewide chair of TSTC’s Culinary Arts department. “I think it has actually been better for the students.”

Instructors have created online quizzes, directed students on ways to upload homework, and recorded lectures for online use. The faculty continues to create their own teaching videos.

One way the faculty has transitioned online is by using SoftChalk, an e-learning software for interactive course development.

“It’s a way for [the students] to use different parts of their brain,” Brown said.

Pawelek said faculty cannot forget about teaching students about soft skills. He said working in a kitchen for hours at a time can teach students about building a work ethic, punctuality, respect and other skills.

“I think in this environment, we are going to have to be creative in working with them to be successful in our industry,” Pawelek said.

Hands-on labs resumed in early May so the spring semester could be completed. The online and in-person hybrid format is being used this summer and will carry over into the fall.

“The students come in for an abbreviated period of time,” Brown said. “We don’t want people lingering.”

Dequan Carter, a third-semester Culinary Arts major from Hewitt, said he has adapted well to the hybrid way of teaching.

“I do not have any issues with doing the online section at all,” he said. “The hardest part of it is having to be in a mask (during labs),  but I understand that is necessary.”

This new way of teaching culinary arts is also being adapted as uniformly as possible at TSTC’s Harlingen and Williamson County campuses.

“I think we are dealing with a generation of students that see this hybrid system is actually more beneficial for them,” said Pawelek. “These are the kind of students that will sit down and watch YouTube videos of culinary techniques and perhaps practice them. It is really in line with how our students are learning nowadays.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC and Midlothian Forge Relationships to Increase Educational Opportunities

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus continues to strengthen relationships with municipalities throughout Ellis County. Midlothian, in the northwest part of the county, has proven to be a supportive partner in promoting technical education to residents.

“There has been a lot of collaboration with Midlothian,” said Marcus Balch, TSTC’s provost.

And, there are a lot of people in the area to recruit as potential students.

The city had more than 33,000 residents as of July 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. About 93 percent of residents age 25 and older have at least a high school education. Twenty-nine percent of residents have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Kyle Kinateder, president and chief executive officer of the Midlothian Economic Development Corp., said TSTC plays an important  role when companies are considering sites in the city. The city has the Midlothian Business Park and RailPort Business Park where companies can consider locating.

“We provide our prospects a variety of information on the many training and educational opportunities available in our community; however, it’s far more impactful when we can connect them with one of our many existing businesses that have a positive, first-hand experience working with TSTC,” he said. “This company-to-company approach helps to ensure our prospects that TSTC was there for our existing businesses and they will be there for them too.”

Kinateder said TSTC’s Automotive Technology, Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Engineering, Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology are some of the technical programs fitting in with Midlothian’s economic plans.

“A resident of Midlothian could pick from any of the programs and graduate fully qualified for the many open jobs currently available in our area,” he said.

TSTC’s Workforce Training department has done specialized training in the past for the Target Distribution Center and Gerdau Ameristeel, both in Midlothian.

Balch said Gerdau Ameristeel continues to send employees to study in the Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization program. The first cohort of company workers graduated from TSTC in summer 2018.

Jayelle Kryder, Gerdau’s human resources manager, said the company has had three graduating cohorts with 31 employees and another two cohorts, or 18 workers, now studying at TSTC. She said the employees come from throughout the plant.

Kryder said TSTC has been able to adapt the curriculum to the company’s specific needs and equipment. The company works with employees’ schedules to enable them to attend classes one day a week. 

“We have been very fortunate to work with such a collaborative team at TSTC,” Kryder said. “Our employees come away from the program with comprehensive technical knowledge in industrial maintenance. We place these students in (Gerdau’s) maintenance apprenticeship positions early in the program so they can pair the technical knowledge they gain at TSTC with hands-on experience at our plant. We have found that to be the best approach to their development.”

Darrell Phillips, manager of Mid-Way Regional Airport in Midlothian, has had meetings with campus leaders on how to work together in the future.

“We do have an interest in education,” he said. “We want to do some sort of educational program at the airport for our region. I want to get the kids in our area interested in aviation. We are open to looking at some type of opportunity.”

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

TSTC recruiters remain busy during summer

(ABILENE, Texas) – Texas State Technical College recruiters have been busy working the phones and online resources this summer.

With the different TSTC campuses closed for student tours, the college’s recruiters in West Texas have been getting creative in informing prospective students of the programs available.

“It has presented us with some new challenges,” said Chris Johnson, lead recruiter, in discussing how the team is working to recruit students. “We have spent some time figuring things out.”

One of the most-asked questions from prospective students is the security of a job, especially with the economy in recession.

“People want to know if they get a job, would they be laid off six months later,” Johnson said. “We have great programs available, and they are considered to be recession-proof. People are still going to need to have their cars worked on during this time. Companies are still going to need workers.”

With campus tours currently not possible, recruiters have spent their time working on virtual visits. Johnson said many school counselors are interested in the online visits.

Johnson said the virtual visits allow instructors to showcase the equipment available on campus. But they do have one downside.

“One thing we pride ourselves on is showing the equipment during a tour. We are still able to show off the equipment, but it is virtual,” he said. “I do miss seeing the reaction in person of students watching how it is used.”

With fall semester classes scheduled to begin Aug. 31, Johnson said recruiters will continue to work with local high schools to provide information.

“We want to be available to the students. We want them to be excited about what they can see, even though they cannot get out and see it in person,” he said.

Registration for the fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.

TSTC Process Operations Technology Program Uses Virtual Reality Software

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Faculty members and students in Texas State Technical College’s Process Operations Technology program started working with a new virtual reality software system this summer.

PetroSkills Simulation Solutions’ Distillation VR is in the early stages of use this summer in the Process Technology III – Operations and Process Troubleshooting classes. Students can  access the virtual software through TSTC’s Moodle platform if they are off campus.

The Marshall Economic Development Corp. authorized the purchase of the software in February and donated it to TSTC. 

“Students experience what an actual process operator would see while being in the control room or walking the plant or refinery,” said Nicholas Cram, lead instructor in TSTC’s Process Operations Technology program. “The virtual operator provides students with a view of the plant similar to what you see with Google Earth if you were to scroll down to road level.”

The program’s instructors are able to virtually simulate dangerous scenarios for distillation systems like chemical leaks, explosions and plant fires.

“We can introduce problems into the simulation while it is running, then assess the students’ ability to get the situation under control and back on track,” said Cram. “We think this will be a great asset for the future.”

The program’s first-semester students will use the software starting this fall in the Introduction to Process Operations class.

“The software is very user-friendly,” Cram said. “It’s like anything new. Once you understand the functions of all the buttons, you pick things up really fast.”

TSTC’s program teaches students about industrial processes, troubleshooting, process instrumentation and other topics. Students can use these skills in chemical, gas, pharmaceutical, power plant, refinery and public utilities operations.

“We would like for those individuals to stay in Marshall and work here,” said Rush Harris, director of business services at MEDCO. “It increases our percentage of educated folks in town and increases our annual median and mean income. We are trying to keep the pipeline of employees going to some of these larger companies that pay well.”

Blake Cox, The TSTC Foundation’s East Texas field development officer, agreed. 

“I think the gift has its importance mainly because it is coming from an economic development corporation,” said Cox. “I think that speaks volumes to what we are doing, and they want to reinvest back into their community.”

Instructors and MEDCO leaders see the software as a great recruiting tool.

“Using any educational technology provides a better learning platform for students and really emphasizes the ‘technical’ in TSTC,” Cram said. “We can also accommodate more students in a virtual lab, learning the same or more material than we can in a face-to-face lab. The software will never replace face-to-face, hands-on training, but it certainly shortens the learning curve in understanding process operations technology.”

More than 200 workers in Harrison County were employed  in process operations as recently as 2018, according to a June wage and employment study conducted by MEDCO. The study found the annual average salary for process operations workers was $63,200.

Graduates of TSTC’s Process Operations Technology have gone on to be hired at Eastman Chemical Co. in Longview, Matheson Gas locations throughout Texas, and Sherwin-Williams and Plastipak Packaging Inc., both in Garland.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu. 

Students do not need experience to begin TSTC aviation maintenance programs, instructor says

(ABILENE, Texas) – Students do not need to have any mechanical experience to start Texas State Technical College’s Aircraft Airframe Technology or Aircraft Powerplant Technology programs.

“We tell people that you do not have to have a mechanical background to be successful,” instructor Josh Parker said. “All of our students start out in the same place and work to get to the same point.”

That point, according to Parker, is to be successful in the workforce. But he also has one additional goal for students.

“We are going to get them to the point that they have the knowledge to pass the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) exam,” he said.

Parker said a majority of graduates find entry-level positions with competitive pay.

“For the past six years, we have been able to put our graduates in the workforce,” he added.

In Abilene, some TSTC graduates have been hired by Eagle Aviation Services, which is on the grounds of the Abilene Regional Airport. Having the company nearby helps, Parker said.

“We do not have a lot of options in West Texas. Having Eagle Aviation right here helps us, especially since they are a maintenance-based company,” he said.

Students in the Aircraft Powerplant Technology program will learn to inspect, maintain and overhaul engine systems. Most of the learning, according to Parker, is hands-on.

“Students learn more when they get in there and do the work,” he said.

The aviation programs are also available at the Harlingen and Waco campuses. They offer both Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates of completion.

Registration for the fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.