 "Photo: Photo by Natalia Contreras")
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College opportunities for students in the Calallen area could now be as easy as walking across the street.
DMC has plans to expand into the Calallen area by next year with the objective of increasing access to institutional programs for residents of Calallen, Tuloso Midway and Northwest Nueces County.
By June, the DMC Northwest Education Center plans to offer students in that area classes in health science, nursing, public safety and alternative and renewable energy.
“This had been part of [DMC President Mark] Escamilla’s vision since the last 15 months that he came to the college as President,” Claudia Jackson, DMC spokeswoman, said.
Corpus Christi Medical Center is offering DMC a 14,000-square-foot facility located at the intersection of Highway 77 and FM 624 (across the street from Calallen High School) at no cost for 10 years.
The Corpus Christi City Council and Business, Job and Development Corporation also plan on awarding the college $979,000 in funding to renovate the Northwest Center.
“Statistics tell us that since the year 2000, 60% of the students that attend Del Mar College are students from the Calallen and Tuloso Midway area. With this project, there’s an opportunity to have a center that will minimize their travel time and will make it easier for individuals from that area to have access to good education,” Jackson said.
On December 15, the DMC Board of Regents (BOR) approved the project and the college is now in the process of signing contracts with the City and the Corpus Christi Medical Center Jackson said.
“The Board is very excited about the project, it not only helps the students from that area meet their needs, but it also helps the college grow,” DMC BOR President Trey McCampbell said.
“At this point we want to keep moving forward with the project,” McCampbell said.
The college estimates that in 10 years, 1040 students could graduate with nursing, health science and public safety degrees and about 200 students with alternative energy degrees.
“The Council’s approval is a perfect example of strategic planning in action as we increase Coastal Bend access to education as defined by the Del Mar College Strategic Plan for 2009-2014: Access to Excellence,” said Escamilla in a press release.
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