By Dylan Bradley/editor-in-chief

TCC’s board of trustees approved four new degree plans during its Oct. 16 meeting.

The approval is tardy as students have already begun taking classes following the degree plans before either the TCC board or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved them.

Before the approval was passed, TCC board member O.K. Carter called to question student interest in the programs.

“I was going to ask if we really think we have enough student interest to approve these programs,” he said.

Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley said that the degrees didn’t require any new classes and were intended as a marketing tool for the concentrations.

“We have a few students who have already enrolled in these programs,” Hadley said. “We had a little snafu, and the programs went into the catalog before they were approved by the board.”

She said that a large number of students had already enrolled in kinesiology especially.

According to Institutional Research and Planning, 92 students have enrolled in the kinesiology degree program, 48 in chemistry, 33 in math and 13 in music.

Board member Conrad Heede made a point of confirming the music degree program included only classes that were transferrable.
“There’s been some problems with some students graduating from TCC and other schools and getting into UNT,” he said. “Will this degree help in that regard? Has it been designed so that all courses would apply?”

NE music associate professor Jerry Ringe gave details about the new music degree to The Collegian in September.

“All we’ve really done is look at what the state allows us to do and built a degree that more closely mirrors what students get from universities in their first years,” Ringe said.

NW health and physical education associate professor Joshua Tarbay also told The Collegian in September that the kinesiology degree was designed to give students an overall education in the field by replacing electives with designated kinesiology and nutrition courses.
Until the state board approves the new degree programs, they cannot be officially offered by TCC.

TCC’s board of trustees also approved TCC Connect as a stand-alone campus. The college ultimately hopes the campus can receive accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

“The next initial step is to get the same such approval from the THECB,” communications and external affairs vice chancellor Reginald Gates said. “Following that, we would apply for campus status from SACS.”