By Jamil Oakford/ editor-in-chief
Bogdan Sierra Miranda/The Collegian
TCC’s board of trustees approved contracts at its March 24 meeting needed to repair damages from a storm that hit NW Campus March 8.
NW president Elva LeBlanc was happy with the quick turnaround for the storm cleanup so classes could resume.
The campus is also working on updating emergency plans for inclement weather.
“Every time we think we’ve covered all the bases and made a solid plan, something like this happens, and we’re shown where we need to improve,” LeBlanc said.
The campus is also working toward finding a way to help teachers communicate with students despite campus closings.
A $1.6 million renovation to the locker rooms in the Health and Physical Education Building on NW was also approved.
According to an assessment done by facilities personnel, the locker rooms are not up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The campus plans to start these renovations over the summer.
According to LeBlanc and real estate and facilities vice chancellor Nina Petty, NW has already planned course scheduling around the summer renovations.
The board also heard about the current marketing campaign to target more students.
TCC’s executive director of public relations and marketing Suzanne Cottraux said this effort will help potential students who feel as though factors are keeping them from enrolling at TCC.
The campaign — “What’s stopping you?” — includes three commercials shot for three different groups of potential students. They feature Jose Hernandez, a first-time college student; Sara Ferris, who’s a mother and “family CEO,” and Brandon Brown, who left the military and is looking for his next career path.
These commercials feature current TCC students and can be viewed on several TV channels such as MTV, Comedy Central, TNT and others as well as in movie theaters. This effort also includes radio versions of the commercials.
The meeting also highlighted South Campus’ massage therapy certificate program. Launched in 2010, the program has seen a 93 percent graduation rate, and from those who graduate, 92 percent of them pass the exam to become licensed.
“The national average is 70 percent,” lead instructor Roberta Wolff said. “You can tell how happy I am about that.”
She also pointed out to the board that average tuition cost for a massage therapy program in the area is around $8,000 while TCC students pay $2,900.
“Could you get a better deal than that?” Wolff said.
