The application deadline is April 26 for Texarkana College students to apply for the Faculty Association Scholarship Fund.

Any student interested in applying may pick up an application from scholarship coordinator Kim Wharton in the Financial Aid Office.

Requirements for the scholarship are:

• Students must have completed one full semester (minimum 12 semester hours) in a program at Texarkana College with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5.
•  Applicants must have two letters of recommendation from TC faculty members.
• To receive scholarship, students must enroll full-time at TC and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in a program.

Status update on conversion: The conversion has completed for all currently enrolled students. Click this post for important login information. Remember only new mail will be in your Office 365 Email box. Use “Legacy Mail” from the myTC portal to access mail sent to you prior to the conversion. Hope you like the new system. Office 365 has several cool features in addition to email we will be introducing you to in the future.

Email accounts belonging to students who are currently enrolled or recently enrolled will be moved Friday (completed). Older accounts will be moved next week.

Logging in for the first time

• For now, unlike the old email system, Office 365 will require you to sign in. Your username and password for Office 365 are the same username and password you use for myTC. The username hint on the login screen gives an example of the login name being “Domain\username”. We are not using the Domain feature – type only your username.
• The first time you login you will be asked to provide your timezone. The default is Reykjavik, Iceland (Microsoft chose it – not TC). Scroll up and select US Central time.
• The bit.ly/TCmail link is a quick shortcut if you want to go straight to the email login page. That link is case sensitive – you have to use the exact capitalization shown.

Important information on how the conversion affects you as a student:

• Your old email account will still be accessible through the myTC portal until June 1, 2013. The icon will be renamed ‘Legacy Mail’. After that time, the current system will become unavailable, so you need to print or forward email messages* in that system that you may need in the future.
• Your email address will change. The user part of your email will remain the same, but the ‘@my.texarkanacollege.edu’ will be replaced with ‘@texarkanacollege.edu’ (no ‘my’ anymore).

Example:

• j.doe1234@my.texarkanacollege.edu (old address)
• j.doe1234@texarkanacollege.edu (new address)

Any mail sent to your current TC email account will be automatically forwarded to your new account.

To access your new mail, you will have several options:

• Click the ‘E-Mail 365’ icon on either the TC home page or the myTC portal
• Go to: bit.ly/TCmail (case-sensitive: capital ‘TC’, lower case ‘mail’) from a web browser
• Configure your own email client (such as Outlook, Windows Mail, or Mac Mail) to access your TC account*
• Configure your mobile device (iPad, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows 8 Phone) to access*

If a “Sign In” dialog box is displayed with the heading “auth.texarkanacollege.edu”, use the same login name and password you use to log into the myTC portal. The dialog shows an example for the format of the user name as “Domain\username”. You do not need to enter Domain information. Enter only your login name (Ex: j.doe1234) as the top entry and your myTC password in the password box.

*Instructions and information on how to forward emails from the old system to the new system and how to configure your mobile devices will be provided once the new system is fully active.

Important information regarding phishing and online scams

There are thousands of schemes on the Internet to trick you into clicking something or visiting a site that will steal your credentials or load a virus onto your computer. It is smart not to believe everything that you get via email, no matter how legitimate it may seem. You should have recently received an email from Texarkana College containing the same information that appears in this news item. This is probably one of the only emails you will receive from TC that has truthful information about changes to email and, as stated, it will be backed up by information on our website. If you receive any other emails that appear to be from Texarkana College regarding information about your email account, always check the website for news updates that confirm that the information is valid. DO NOT BELIEVE other emails about changes to your account. A follow up email will be sent after the conversion is complete and it will arrive in your new email box.

Also, you may have been receiving notices your password needed changed within the next week or so. That was legitimate, but we are going to reset the expiration date on all passwords since we don’t want to add additional hurdles during the email switch. Those notices will go away today some time. If you already changed your password, the change will stick – we are only changing the expiration dates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our help desk at 1-866-614-5008.

Fall Semester 2013 – Payment Deadlines

• If you register between April 29, 2013 and July 31, 2013 – you must pay by August 1, 2013
• If you register between August 1, 2013 and August 16, 2013 – you must pay by  August 16, 2013
• If you register after August 16, 2013 – you must pay the same day you register

Download the Fall 2013 Tuition & Fees Table (.pdf)
Note: This table does not include course fees. Summer tuition and fees are the same as Spring 2013.

Texarkana College Launches New, Affordable Healthcare Training Program: Partnership with Boston Reeds Brings Unique Education Opportunity to The Texarkana College Community

Texarkana, TX, April 30, 2013 – As demand for skilled healthcare workers increases, the Texarkana College Continuing Education Division launches a new, affordable healthcare training program. The short-term, affordable training opportunity will provide interested, motivated individuals seeking a job in healthcare the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a job in allied health fields.

“We take great pride in offering this training for the first time to provide access for local adults to affordable training that can lead to sustainable job opportunities in the healthcare industry. It’s estimated that 20 percent of new jobs through 2014 will be located in the medical industry, and the majority of these positions will be filled by individuals with four years or less of training,” said Joanne Rose, Allied Health Coordinator at Texarkana College.

Through a partnership with Boston Reed, a national education provider, Texarkana College now provides healthcare training programs that prepare students for job opportunities in the growing allied health industry. Texarkana College will offer Boston Reed’s healthcare training programs in the areas of Clinical Medical Assistant.

“We are pleased to partner with Texarkana College to offer this high-demand, science-based curriculum for local residents seeking a career change or additional skillset for today’s fast-growing healthcare industry,” Patricia Pool, MBA, PhD – Regional Vice President Sales of Boston Reed. “Boston Reed commits to offering a high-quality education option for schools that do not have immediate resources or expertise to offer this type of coursework. All courses are taught by seasoned experts including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

As part of its partnership model, Boston Reed provides all materials, instructors and helps place students in externships upon completion of classroom instruction. Upon completion of the partnership program, many students are immediately eligible for employment and often pursue higher education, working toward nursing or other healthcare pathways. Program fees are approximately $2,300 and include textbooks, classroom materials, externships and certificates of completion.  Financial assistance for students will be available through Boston Reed.

The courses will be held at Texarkana College – 2500 N. Robison Rd, Texarkana, TX beginning on July 9, 2013, on Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 6 pm – 9 pm.

Course registration is open and interested attendees can learn more by attending an Information Session on June 6 at 6pm at the Texarkana College, Truman Arnold Student Center, Great Room and is free to anyone wanting to attend or by calling Joanne Rose, Allied Health Coordinator at 903-823-3384.

###

About Boston Reed

Boston Reed has provided healthcare career training programs through public and private training partnerships, educating more than 75,000 students in the past 20 years. The company offers training and certification preparation in the pharmacy technician, clinical medial assistant, phlebotomy technician, electronic health record systems technologist fields and more. Boston Reed employs over 1,200 healthcare professionals to teach its programs. In addition to classroom instruction, the company has relationships with more than 6,000 hospitals, medical offices, pharmacies and other healthcare organizations to help graduates find externship opportunities. For more information, visit www.bostonreed.com.

| By Bobbie J. Player and Joseph Kennedy, TC News Reporters |

On May 2, five Texarkana College senior art students painted a canvas in the Stilwell Humanities Building, as a desired art project that they selected to do in order to leave their mark on campus.

Bushra Khan, Hannah “Dee” Trahan, Erica Smith, Amanda Harmon, and Hillary Klenk have come together to paint a giant acrylic peacock feather to brighten up the first floor of the Stilwell Humanities Building.

“It is our swan song,” says Trahan. “We all wanted a large display to leave here, when I heard the idea I jumped at it.”

The students began painting the canvas on May 2. In a few weeks, the painting will be hung on the first floor of the Stilwell Humanities Building.

“This is something I am going to have done every semester,” says Valerie Owen, TC Art Instructor. “ It teaches the students team work and allows you to see what is in someone else’s head.”

The piece is 4×6 feet and is an original of group minds and is semi-realistic with an impressionistic overtone.

The art students have said that this experience has helped them grow as both a person and an artist. They have laughed, cried, shared past experiences and have gained a new sense of respect for each other as well as themselves.

As the spring semester comes to an end, Texarkana College took time on May 10 to honor students, faculty and staff for their achievements. More than 300 people attended the Spring Luncheon and Awards Assembly in the Truman Arnold Student Center, including members of the TC Board of Trustees.

Scroll down for a full listing of this year’s scholarship and award recipients, and visit the TC Flickr for photos of the event.

Mary Ellen Young, who helped coordinate the luncheon, referred to one of the recipients of the All-USA Community College Academic Team as her “right-hand man in Phi Theta Kappa for the last two years.”

“We’ve traveled on bus rides from Odessa, Texas to Nashville, Tenn. Many times he (Andrew Lusk) has missed out on other presentations to help with one of our presentations. He’s always a presenter at leadership conferences and honors conferences,” said Young, who also serves as faculty advisor of Phi Theta Kappa and interim division chair of Humanities and the Performing Arts.

Lusk and Laurie Mitchell are the recipients of the All-USA Community College Academic Team, which is also recognized as the All-Texas Academic Team Scholarship. Mitchell will receive a scholarship of $12,000 a year to attend college and plans to attend the University of Texas in Arlington. Lusk, who is still undecided, has the option of attending the University of Texas in Arlington, Texas A&M University in Commerce or Texas A&M University in Texarkana.

Michael Cooper, a member of the Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts, presented three art awards, three TexRep awards and two music awards.

Jerry Hutchison presented $27,000 worth of Faculty Association Scholarships, which grant $1,000 for one academic year.

Hutchison also recognized Amanda Wise as the recipient of the $1,500 Dr. Carl M. Nelson Memorial Scholarship.

Dr. Carol Hodgson, division chair of Health Occupations, presented several health occupations scholarships ranging from $400 to $1,300.

“We award scholarships throughout the year. In January, we were able to award over $20,000 to some of our students. Today, we will be presenting over $8,000 in scholarships,” Hodgson said.

Hodgson is also retiring after 40 years of service at TC and was recognized for her service during the program.

Financial Aid Director Martin Hernandez presented three students with the Jake & Bessie Eldridge Memorial Scholarships.

“This scholarship will financially assist those students who continue their educational pursuits at universities throughout Texas,” Hernandez said. “Recipients of the Eldridge Scholarship must not only demonstrate academic excellence, but exceptional character as well. They reflect some of the best values that faculty and staff can impart upon their students at Texarkana College.”

Each student will receive $2,000 a semester for up to four years.

Dianna Kinsey, the 2012 Endowed Chair, announced Dean of Students Robert Jones as the 2013 recipient of the TC Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence.

Kinsey began by describing the recipient as a person who “wears many hats in and out of the classroom, on and off of our campus.”

“He is a professor who truly cares about the students not only in the classroom but in their lives,” Kinsey said.

Jones accepted the award, but not without expressing his gratitude.

“It is indeed an honor to be given this award. And I can only hope that I can uphold some of the principles of those who have received this award before me,” Jones said.

TC President James Henry Russell and Chief Instructional Officer Vernon Wilder presented four Presidential Scholarships. These students attend various high schools in the area. In addition, faculty and staff who have served from 5 to 40 years at TC were recognized.

The smiles and energy continued, especially when Dean of Students Robert Jones re-entered the Great Room wearing a strongman suit.

“This is like the Olympics here,” Jones said, as the crowd laughed.

This year, TC faculty and staff participated in an eight-week Take Charge Fitness Challenge.

“These last eight weeks have been just unbelievable. I heard some of the funniest things at the weigh-in…but it has been fun and exciting,” said Jones, as the crowd laughed.

Jones, who spearheaded the fitness challenge, announced winners of various challenges, highest percentage of weight loss, and highest cumulative number of steps as a team.

TC President Russell concluded the event with words of gratitude to everyone involved in helping TC.

“It has been a great luncheon, a great year. And we have so many things to be thankful for,” Russell said.

All-USA Community College Academic Team (with All-Texas Academic Team Scholarship)

• Andrew Lusk
• Laurie Mitchell

Jake & Bessie Eldridge Memorial Scholarship Recipients

• Leah Green | Transferring to Stephen F. Austin University
• Brittany Morris | Transferring to Stephen F. Austin University
• Corey Daniels | Transferring to University of Texas-Arlington

Presidential Scholarships

• Amanda Gentry | Hooks ISD
• Melissa Minter | Texas ISD
• Laura Persons | Bloomburg ISD
• Dugan Livingston | Liberty-Eylau ISD

Dr. Carl Nelson Memorial Scholarship

• Amanda Wise | Texarkana, Arkansas

Faculty Association Scholarships

• Claudia Barron | Texarkana, Arkansas
• Robin Bennefield | Atlanta, Texas
• Hunter Bobo | Wake Village, Texas
• Tonya Grimes | De Kalb, Texas
• Cameron Calhoun | Texarkana, Texas
• Devin Cigainero | Queen City, Texas
• Jeremy Cross | Texarkana, Texas
• Carrie Dupas | Texarkana, Texas
• Keandrea Elijah | Douglassville, Texas
• Amy Fowler | New Boston, Texas
• Amanda Frame | Texarkana, Texas
• Amy Howard | Linden, Texas
• Aaliyah Irving | Texarkana, Texas
• Lynette Jackson | Texarkana, Texas
• Meghan Icenhower | Texarkana, Arkansas
• Sopheak Khat | Hooks, Texas
• Courtney Lynx | Texarkana, Texas
• Kandace Meisinger | Texarkana, Arkansas
• Amy Mills | Texarkana, Arkansas
• Melissa Minter | Texarkana, Texas
• Novella Price | Texarkana, Arkansas
• Kayla Singleton | De Kalb, Texas
• Daiyonna Smith | Texarkana, Arkansas
• Logan Striplin | Bloomburg, Texas
• Michael Willis | Texarkana, Arkansas
• Santana Wilson | Texarkana, Arkansas

Four States Regional Art Club Scholarships

• Heather Bishop
• Karla Enriquez
• Christian Mackey

Wednesday Music Club Scholarship

• Crystal Davis

Tex*Rep Scholarships

• Ben Hathoot
• Zac Shipe
• Austin Alford

Outstanding Music Students for 2012-2013

• Benjamin Munson
• Haley Patillo

Health Occupations Scholarship Recipients

• Chelse Ritchie
• Lauren Peek
• Gretchen Bragg
• Kim Van Nguyen
• Amber Record
• Mendy Cantu
• Laura Aguilar
• Carrie Dupas
• Amanda Wise
• Katie Smith
• Maria Mercado
• Jennifer Simpson
• Kristinia Eason
• Roshanda Hill

2013 Endowed Chair

• Robert Jones

Faculty & Staff 5-Year Service Awards

• Robyn Cornelius
• Ronda Dozier
• Darren Elmore
• Kristen Floyd
• Jerry Herring
• Suzanne Irwin
• Melisa Jones
• Suzanne Lasagna
• Sheila Lynn

Faculty & Staff 10-Year Service Awards

• Thomas C. Brooks
• James M. Smith

Faculty & Staff 15-Year Service Awards

• Linda L. Bennett
• Tony L. Bennett
• Letha K. Colquitt
• Susan Johnston
• Bart S. Upchurch

Faculty & Staff 20-Year Service Awards

• Kathy R. Anglin
• Jerry Hutchison
• Robert D. Laird
• William A. Scallish
• Herman M. Sheets
• Debby S. Steifer

Faculty & Staff 25-Year Service Awards

• Jamie Ashby
• Shirley Batts
• Kristi L. Hart
• Catherine E. Howard
• Johnny S. McJunkins
• Michael W. Sewell
• Kenneth W. Smith

Faculty & Staff 30-Year Service Awards

• Connie L. Brian
• Tony A. Hartman
• Sandra A. Klar
• Steve Mitchell
• Candy S. Smith

Faculty & Staff 35-Year Service Awards

• Linda J. Arnold
• Delbert C. Dowdy
• Mary J. Hedrick

Faculty & Staff 40-Year Service Award

• Carol Hodgson

May 28, 2013- In a regular board meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, the Texarkana College Board of Trustees acknowledged a donation by CHRISTUS St. Michael of used medical equipment including two hospital beds, 20 IV poles, 20 over-bed tables and 20 night stands that will be used in the College’s health occupations simulation lab.

“We are excited to support the efforts of Texarkana College in providing a realistic training environment for medical professionals,” said Nancy Keenan, Vice President/CNE for CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System. “For more than 50 years, CHRISTUS St. Michael has partnered with the college to offer the opportunity for area residents to seek education and training to prepare them for medically based careers and for service to our community. We view the donation as an investment in our community.”

Courtney Shoalmire, H2P Grant Project Director for Texarkana College, said one of the major strategies of the Health Professions Pathways Grant is to increase technology in health occupations training.

“To help meet this charge, TC used H2P grant funds to purchase two high fidelity patient simulators which will be used in real-world patient care scenarios,” Shoalmire said. “The two donated beds from CHRISTUS St. Michael will be used exclusively for our patient simulators, allowing us to leave them in the beds, significantly reducing the risk of damaging them between uses.”

Shoalmire said simulation is proven to increase critical thinking and confidence while decreasing negative patient outcomes.

“We are so thankful to CHRISTUS St. Michael for supporting Texarkana College with this generous gift,” said Mike Sandefur, Texarkana College Board President. “Our priority is to make sure our health occupations students are prepared to meet the needs of the health care industry, and this donation is going to help maintain a high quality training environment that directly prepares students to serve in high-demand health care jobs.”

In other business, the board approved the administration’s recommendation to select Express Employment Professionals to provide temporary staffing for the College and to operate an on-site career center that will assist current students with job placement.

“The new career center is going to be a very important resource for our students, helping them secure job placement both while they are students and as they graduate from our programs,” said Texarkana College President James Henry Russell. “Having Express Employment Professionals staff the career center means it will cost the College less to operate it, so everybody benefits from the arrangement.”

The cost of using Express Employment Professionals to provide temporary staffing will be offset by the College avoiding fringe benefit expenses, worker’s compensation insurance and potential unemployment claims.

Pictured from Left to Right: Courtney Shoalmire, TC Health Professions Pathways (H2P) Grant Coordinator; Thomas McKinney, Administrator of the CHRISTUS St. Michael Atlanta Facility; Jason Rounds, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System Chief Operating Officer; James Henry Russell, TC President; Nancy Keenan, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System Vice President/CNE; Cynthia Montgomery, TC Health Occupations Division Chair

In a show of support for Texarkana College, four Texarkana banks are collaborating on a $3.5 million participation loan to upgrade campus HVAC, lighting systems and roofing. Officials from Guaranty Bond Bank, Commercial National Bank, Bancorp South and State Bank of Texarkana met last month to finalize the loan and express their support of the need to maintain Texarkana College’s facilities at a level that will best serve students and the community.

 
“The facilities on the Texarkana College campus have years of deferred maintenance needs and high utility costs that are necessary to address if we are going to continue to provide a safe and desirable campus for our students,” President James Henry Russell said. “We need to begin right away to replace and upgrade the lighting and HVAC systems on campus, and this loan will provide the means for us to begin the process quickly.”

 
In early March 2013, Texarkana College invited local financial institutions to submit a proposal for a term note not to exceed $3.5 million based on either a 15-year fixed interest rate or a 10-year fixed interest rate with an adjustment option over a 15-year amortization. Guaranty Bond Bank’s proposal offered the best interest rate for the college. Although the loan was approved with a single vendor, officials at Guaranty Bond Bank invited several peer institutions to participate in the loan.

 
“Texarkana College plays a vital role in the economic stability of our region by preparing students to thrive in our local workforce,” Robert Irwin, president of Guaranty Bond Bank, said. “By coming together with other banks to finance this loan to Texarkana College, we hope to show collaborative support of maintaining the operation of a first-class community college in our region. Texarkana College has served our community for over 85 years, and we want to see that legacy continue for years to come.”

 
With the installation of energy-efficient equipment, loan repayments will largely be offset by savings realized from upgraded equipment. Payments on the loan will begin in the fall of 2013 and will consist of semi-annual payments of approximately $143,000. The 10-year fixed loan rate is set at 2.65 percent, but will be amortized over 15 years with a maximum capped interest rate of 3.8% the final 5 years.

 
“We are so pleased at the outpouring of support from the banking community to benefit the college,” James Henry Russell said. “Texarkana College is committed to providing quality and affordable access to higher education for the students in our region. The availability of funding provided by the four banks who are participating in this loan enables Texarkana College to continue to serve students in facilities that are conducive to a first-class college experience.”

 
Photo: From left to right:
Robert Irwin, President- Guaranty Bond Bank
Dennis A. Huffman- President, Commercial National Bank
James Henry Russell- President, Texarkana College
Mike Sandefur- President, Texarkana College Board of Trustees
Dennis Landreaux- President, Bancorp South
Joe Nichols- President, State Bank of Texarkana

Texarkana College’s Continuing Education Division offers great opportunities for summer fun!

Registering online? (For Kids’ College, Early College Prep, and Swim classes after Tuesday, June 4th, you will need to register in person in the Continuing Education Office).

Tired of hearing your kids say they’re bored all summer? Sign up your 2nd-6th graders for Kids’ College, which offers a variety of classes from cake decorating to photography to Lego-robotics–and everything in between. Register or learn more about Kids’ College.

• Kids’ College Session I: June 17-20
• Kids’ College Session II: June 24-27

Your 7th-9th graders have the opportunity to take fun classes in a college setting by enrolling in the Early College Prep Academy. Now in its second year, Early College Prep Academy offers classes in a variety of subjects, including aviation, culinary arts, drawing, physics, and many more. Register or learn more about Early College Prep Academy.

• Early College Prep Academy Session I: June 17-20
• Early College Prep Academy Session II: June 24-27

Are your kids (or YOU) planning to spend a lot of time at the lake or pool this summer? Our Summer Swim programs offer classes for everyone, from babies to adults, to learn swim basics and water safety skills that can save their lives. View a full schedule of Summer Swim class offerings.

For more information about any of the Continuing Education Division’s summer programs for both adults and children, visit their website or call 903-823-3270.

We’re giving away Texarkana College Bookstore gift certificates to qualifying students who register and pay for fall classes at Texarkana College by June 30.*

• Returning TC students and graduating seniors with a 3.25 GPA or higher who register to attend TC full time will receive a $150 gift certificate.
• All students who register to attend TC full time will receive a $100 gift certificate.
• Students registering to attend TC part time will receive a $50 gift certificate.

What are you waiting for? Your future starts today at Texarkana College!

Not sure where to start? Our admissions and registration checklist will tell you everything you need to know.

*Some restrictions apply. Students must enroll, register, and either pay, set up a payment plan or secure a financial aid package by June 30 to qualify for the bookstore gift certificate promotion. This offer is only eligible for students registering for Fall 2013 classes between June 1, 2013 and  June 30, 2013. Bookstore certificates must be redeemed in the TC Bookstore from August 12, 2013 to November 1, 2013. Gift certificates are not redeemable for cash.

Texarkana College mourns the loss of Dr. Shirley Finn, who worked for the Texarkana College Health Occupations Division from September 1966 to July 1995.  Her service to Texarkana College has left a legacy that is far-reaching in the nursing community and throughout the region.

Dr. Finn began her employment with Texarkana College as a member of the nursing faculty. In August 1972, she began her term as division chair for the Texarkana College Health Occupations Division. At that time, she was the first and only woman division chairperson at Texarkana College and the first African-American administrator on campus.

Dr. Finn was a trailblazer for nursing in northeast Texas, and many TC faculty members say much of the Health Occupations Division’s success is owed to Dr. Finn. While serving as Division Chair, Dr. Finn oversaw the Associate Degree Nursing program, the Vocational Nursing Program and the EMT/Paramedic program. She also served under a joint appointment at the University of Texas- Arlington and East Texas State University-Texarkana as the coordinator for extension campuses, as well as the coordinator for recruitment and counseling of students who were interested in pursuing a nursing degree. Through this appointment, Dr. Finn helped coordinate a state-of-the-art program to offer bachelor degrees at Texarkana College through a consortium with UTA and ETSU-T (now Texas A&M University – Texarkana).

In 1991, under her leadership, Texarkana College was the first to design and implement classes available to students by satellite.  This technique was a unique and forward-thinking method of delivery at that time and was geared more toward helping non-traditional students achieve their higher educational goals. Eventually, the satellite program was expanded to include partnerships with three other colleges, including McLennan Community College, Grayson County College and Paris Junior College. The consortium partnership evolved into the development of a Master’s Degree program in nursing, which was established at ETSU-T.

Former students said Dr. Finn exemplified excellence as a teacher, mentor and leader.  Students saw her as a loyal professional who devoted her working life to the development of skills and abilities in students and faculty and to establishing and maintaining the high standards of the Health Occupation Division at Texarkana College.  Others described Dr. Finn as a stately and captivating professional and noted that she was everyone’s idealized picture of nursing.

Dr. Finn led by example and never asked colleagues or students to put forth more effort than she was willing expend. In 1992, Finn obtained her Doctoral Degree in Education while serving as division chair. She worked with TC administrators to ensure that health occupations instructors had the same opportunities she had and helped many faculty members obtain their graduate degrees to meet the demands of changing state regulations. Dr. Finn was also a keen grant writer and had a knack for seeking out funding opportunities for projects that helped improve the division’s facilities and enhance both teaching and student learning.

Dr. Finn retired from Texarkana College in 1995 and continued to live by example within the Texarkana community.  She was always striving to make a world a better place and was involved in many civic organizations. One Christmas morning she was spotted ringing a bell for the Salvation Army, and she commented, “See what you can do when you are retired!”

In 2002, Dr. Finn was honored by the Texarkana College Faculty Association as a Distinguished Faculty member. Her 29 years of exemplary service to TC and the many contributions to the nursing profession in the Texarkana area and region fueled her nomination. Also in 2002, a committee of current and former students, TC board of trustee representatives, faculty and administrators chose to honor Dr. Finn with the coveted Arbor Award, which recognized an exemplary retired or current Texarkana College faculty member with the planting of a tree on the campus grounds. At that time, this was the highest honor the College bestowed upon a faculty member. The Arbor Award was given to individuals who had served Texarkana College for the majority of their careers and their selfless dedication and service to their students and professional disciplines brought honor and recognition to Texarkana College.  These individuals were identified as “teachers of teachers.”

Dr. Finn was succeeded by Dr. Carol Hodgson as the Health Occupations Division Chair. On May 7, 2013, Dr. Finn joined Texarkana College President James Henry Russell in honoring Dr. Hodgson at her retirement reception. Dr. Finn spoke fondly from the podium about her times at TC and her admiration for Dr. Hodgson and the entire nursing faculty and staff at Texarkana College (see photos of the reception on Flickr).

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2013, at 11 at St. James Episcopal Church, Texarkana, Texas.

Texarkana College is proud to announce the names of students who have earned academic achievement in Spring 2013 and have been placed on the President’s or Dean’s List. Students enrolled for 12 or more college level semester hours who make a 3.8 grade point average or higher are placed on the President’s List. Those who make a 3.2 or higher are placed on the Dean’s List.

President’s List

Dean’s List

Haven’t registered for fall classes yet?

Here’s a great reason to register by July 31: Starting the week of July 15, we’re giving away one iPad per week until July 31. We’ll post the winners on the TC homepage and on the TC Facebook page each week.

What are you waiting for?

Register now! This checklist will take you through all the steps in Texarkana College’s registration process.

Some restrictions apply. Students must enroll, register, and either pay, set up a payment plan or secure a financial aid package for academic or workforce courses by July 31, 2013 to qualify for the weekly iPad drawings. This offer is only eligible for students registering for Fall 2013 classes between July 15 and July 31. iPad drawings will be held each week. All non-winners will remain in the drawing until the end of this promotion. Winners will be announced each week on the TC website and on the TC Facebook page.

Do you need to register for fall but can’t come by in person because of your work schedule?

• August 5-17, the Texarkana College Carl M. Nelson Administration Building will be open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students who need to enroll in Fall classes.
• The administration building will be open Saturday, Aug. 10, and Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for your convenience.

Travel the world with Texarkana College’s Road Scholars program and bring your educational experience to life by seeing the world firsthand. Encounter amazing cultural differences, find unique native foods that you truly like, and meet people whose interests are like your own, but coming from a different perspective. With the TC Road Scholars program, the pictures in your textbooks will come to life. You’ll gain a greater understanding of our world. Apply today (.pdf) for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Financial assistance is available for Road Scholars students.

Road Scholars is a new program at Texarkana College designed to give students the opportunity to travel, experience different cultures, and enrich their learning with real-world adventures. Many people never have the opportunity to travel extensively, and Road Scholars makes world travel accessible for TC students to better prepare them for future success in the global marketplace. Road Scholars offers structured learning experiences abroad within the framework of academic courses.

Learn more about TC Road Scholars

As demand for skilled healthcare workers increases, Texarkana College launches a new, affordable allied health training program. The short-term, affordable training opportunity will provide interested, motivated individuals seeking a job in healthcare the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a job in allied health fields.

“We take great pride in offering affordable training for local adults that can lead to sustainable job opportunities in the healthcare industry. Employment trends show that through the year 2014, twenty percent of new jobs will be found in the medical industry and the majority of these positions will be filled by individuals with four years or less of training,” said Joanne Rose, Allied Health Coordinator at Texarkana College. “Upon completion of the partnership program, many students are immediately eligible for employment and often pursue higher education, working toward nursing or other healthcare pathways.”

Through a partnership with Boston Reed, a national education provider, Texarkana College’s Continuing Education Division now provides healthcare training programs that prepare students for job opportunities in the growing allied health industry. Training programs include Clinical Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy Practical, Phlebotomy Course, online Billing & Coding Procedures and online ICD-10 Coding courses.

Dr. Patti Pool, Regional Representative for Boston Reed said, “We are pleased to partner with Texarkana College to offer high-demand, science-based curriculum for adults seeking a career change or an additional skill set for today’s fast-growing healthcare industry. Boston Reed commits to offering a high-quality education with courses taught by seasoned experts including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.”

Through the partnership model, Boston Reed provides instructors, materials, and helps place students in externships upon completion of classroom instruction. Program fees are approximately $2,300 and include textbooks, classroom materials, externships and certificates of completion. Courses will be held at Texarkana College, 2500 N. Robison Rd, Texarkana, TX.

In-person registration will begin on August 12, 2013 in the Texarkana College Continuing Education Division located in the Charles Nelson Administration Building on the TC campus. On-line registration and additional information can be found at www.texarkanacollege.edu. Interested persons may speak to a registration specialist by calling 903-823-3384.

For more information, please contact:

Joanne Rose, Allied Health Coordinator, jrose195258@yahoo.com

###

About Boston Reed:

Boston Reed has provided healthcare career training programs through public and private training partnerships, educating more than 75,000 students in the past 20 years. The company offers training and certification preparation in the pharmacy technician, clinical medial assistant, phlebotomy technician, and electronic health record systems technologist fields, and more. Boston Reed employs over 1,200 healthcare professionals to teach its programs. In addition to classroom instruction, the company has relationships with more than 6,000 hospitals, medical offices, pharmacies and other healthcare organizations to help graduates find externship opportunities. For more information, visit www.bostonreed.com.

Starring all new Texarkana College students as featured cast members on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. in the Truman Arnold Student Center on the Texarkana College campus.

Check the CRN on your schedule to see which session you are registered to attend.

Meet fellow students and senior college staff at the production mix & mingle at 1 p.m. In the Truman Arnold Student Center pit.

Contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@texarkanacollege.edu or 903-823-3200 with any questions you have about College 101: New Student Orientation!

If you have been thinking about furthering your musical education, consider enrolling in music classes at Texarkana College. You can earn your Associate of Arts in Music degree right here in Texarkana, or simply add to your musical education by enrolling in specific classes that suit your needs. You can also pursue our new one-year Church Music Certificate, attending only night classes.

Church Music Certificate

Semester 1

Foundations of Music, 3 hrs
Voice/Piano or Organ, 3 hrs
Texarkana Regional Chorale, 1 hr
Conducting, 2 hrs
Elective, 3 hrs
Total: 12 hrs

Semester 2

Music Appreciation, 3 hrs
Voice/Piano or Organ, 3 hrs
Texarkana Regional Chorale, 1 hr
Conducting, 2 hrs
Elective, 3 hrs
Total: 12 hrs

The Foundations of Music Theory class on Monday night is a great way for anybody to acquire the fundamentals of Music Theory in a convivial and entertaining atmosphere.  If you have always wanted to know about the nuts and bolts of music-making, this is the class for you!   No musical pre-requisite needed.

Full-time faculty Mary Scott Goode (piano), Celia Richardson (voice and choir) and Marc-André Bougie (theory, ear-training, and composition) are here to help you reach your educational goals.  Adjunct faculty also include Laura Bennett (woodwinds), Steve Bennett (brass), T. Jon Kelly (percussion), Larry Dymott (organ), and Chuck Richardson (recording technology).

SCHOLARSHIP MONEY IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS!  E-mail Marc-André Bougie to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Contact our music faculty if you have any questions.

Marc-André Bougie, Associate Professor of Music  |  318.272.0935

Mary Scott Goode, Associate Professor of Music  |  903.278.5986

Celia Richardson, Associate Professor of Music  |  903.293.6031

Please see below for important information about student refunds for the Fall 2013 semester. If you have any questions you may contact the Business Office at 903-823-3331.

STUDENT DROP REFUNDS

If a student drops a class and has paid their own tuition and fees (cash, check, credit card), depending on the drop date and percentage of refund – those refunds are issued on a weekly basis.  Some charges are not refundable so you cannot take an exact percentage of what a student paid and get the amount of the refund.

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID REFUNDS

If a student has any type of aid (grant, scholarship or loan); the aid shows up on the student account as “authorized”.  This authorization lets a student know that their aid is complete and available.  The student will continue to see an amount due on their student account even though their aid is authorized.  The reason for this is that their aid amount can fluctuate based on the number of hours they are enrolled.

On the Census Date (12^th class day – for the TC campus, not the 12^th day a student attends class) or within several days, the Financial Aid Office runs a process called “disbursement”.  This process does not issue refunds to students.  This process moves the authorized aid onto a student account as a payment.  The payment will pay off any and all charges that it can (and are allowed).  If the aid/payment is more than what a student owes (tuition/fee charges, bookstore charges), then that creates a credit balance on a student account.  This credit balance is showing that Texarkana College owes the student a refund.  The Business Office has 14 calendar days from the date of the Financial Aid disbursement date to issue a student their refund.  A student will not get their refund on the disbursement date.

For example, the 16 week Fall 2013 semester that started on 8/26/13 has a Census Date of 9/11/13.

The estimated time a student will get their refund is the week of September 23^rd – September 30^th.

Based on the number of financial aid refunds we issue (thousands), it can take up to the 14 day timeframe.  We do our best to issue them as quickly as possible but we review each student and their refund to make sure it is correct before it is issued.  We also do not make exceptions and issue any refunds early or based on student circumstances.

If a student is a first time student and first time borrower, their loan disbursement is delayed for 30 days and that refund would be issued within 14 days of that.

METHOD OF REFUND

Make sure you activate your Higher One Card with your refund preference.  Students that have not selected a refund preference can have a delayed refund.  Students must contact the Business Office if they have not received their Higher One Card or want to discuss their refund preferences.

If you have not received your Higher One Card and the Business Office has to issue you a paper check, those checks will be given out or mailed the day after our normal Higher One refund batch.

• Vocational nursing applications will be accepted through October 1. To apply, see Karen Holt, Enrollment Management Specialist, on the second floor of the North Academic Building. 
• Hesi A2 Entrance tests for the Associate Degree Nursing program have been scheduled for the following dates:
  -October 14-18 (Deadline to sign up is October 7)
  -November 18-22 (Deadline to sign up is November 11)
  Contact TC Health Occupations for more information.