Galveston College experienced a substantial increase in student success rates in the past three years, according to a report on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Success Points Model presented to the Galveston Community College District Board of Regents on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

The Success Points Model was developed to measure the performance of institutions in a way that promotes their efforts to increase the rate of student progression and achievement.

In 2013, the 83rd Texas Legislature approved the use of a three-year rolling average of Success Points for determining a percentage of state funding that is allocated to community colleges. Overall, Galveston College experienced a 5 percent increase in its Success Points rolling average from 2017 to 2018.

Carmen Allen, director of institutional effectiveness and research, said Galveston College saw a 25 percent increase in the number of degrees and certificates awarded in the past three years – from 658 awards in 2016 to 820 awards in 2018.

Over the past three years, the college experienced a 21 percent increase in degrees and certificates in critical fields identified by the Texas legislature, which included areas such as engineering, computer science, mathematics, allied health and nursing.

The college also experienced an 11 percent increase in students transferring to four-year institutions and a 19 percent increase in students completing 30 semester credit hours in one year.

The college experienced a 12 percent increase in college-level reading, a 5 percent increase in college-level math and a 44 percent increase in math readiness. The number of students requiring developmental coursework in reading and writing also dropped by 6 percent and 44 percent respectively.

In other business, the board approved a new level 1 professional certificate in Emergency Medical Services to complement the college’s existing Associate of Applied Science degree and certificate programs.

Beginning this summer, the three-semester program will start preparing paramedics for entry into management, education and supervisory positions.

The board also approved a recommendation from its Facilities Committee to enhance the Cheney Student Center dining area to serve the anticipated increase in students housed on campus with the opening of the Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation Student Residences in fall 2020.

The $48,489 maintenance project will create additional dining space, a meeting/dining area and cold storage space for the kitchen.

Regents also heard a report from Dr. Shane Wallace, associate professor of English and coordinator of English and humanities, regarding a service-learning initiative with Galveston’s Own Farmers Market and the Young Gardeners Program in Galveston schools.

Dr. Wallace said 78 students volunteered for the service-learning project during the 2019-20 academic year and that it benefitted the community, while also advancing the goals of the curriculum.

In other action, the board

  • approved a memorandum of understanding between college and the Galveston Independent School District through Aug. 31, 2023, for the Galveston Career Connect grant.
  • approved the purchase of $33,070.48 in computer equipment for the Drs. Charles Eric and Octavia Hall Center for Educational Technologies.
  • accepted an increase in funding from the U.S. Department of Education for the Perkins Career and Technical Education – Basic Grants.
  • approved a $20,931 change order for additional drywall replacement and refinishing for the Fine Arts building on the main campus.
  • approved a $7,500 change order for cabling and boring for the new student housing.
  • approved primary annual construction services job order contract with J.T. Vaughn Construction, LLC of Galveston and secondary contracts with The Trevino Group of Houston and TUCON, LLC-Unbehagen Construction of Galveston.
  • approved an annual plumbing services contract with Wade Bailey Plumbing Co. Inc. of Galveston.
  • adopted a proposal to purchase $1,680.20 in classroom furniture for the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program.
  • engaged the auditing services of Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC of Houston.