Texas College Receives $631,000 In State Grants
By BETTY WATERS
Staff Writer

Texas College in Tyler is one of five predominantly black private higher education institutions receiving increased state grants for teacher education programs appropriated by the last session of the state Legislature.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which is responsible for administering the grants, and Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund A. Paredes recently distributed $631,148 to each institution, an increase of about $115,000 over previous years, for teacher education for fiscal 2007.

The funding for the five private United Negro College Fund schools in Texas was allocated by a bill sponsored by several legislators, including senators Royce West of Dallas and Kevin Eltife of Tyler and Rep. Leo Berman of Tyler.

Other institutions receiving the funds are Wiley College, Jarvis College, Huston-Tillson and Paul Quinn - all members of a consortium, called the Texas Association of Developing Colleges, that focuses on training teachers.

The institutions are connected to conduct teacher education courses in distance education classes, rotate hosting courses and train minority students to become teachers.

The funding is aimed at addressing the shortage of teachers in the state and increasing the number of minority teachers, particularly African American teachers, in high-need areas such as science and math.

The other unique aspect of the initiative is that it provides state funds for private institutions, noted TC President Dr. Billy C. Hawkins.

"I can't give enough praise to senators West, Eltife, Rep. Berman and other (legislators) who have supported this program over the years," Hawkins said. "It's important for our institutions; it's important for the state of Texas that we continue to support this special initiative that has been a great asset for the four UNCF colleges and university."

The teacher education thrust of the five institutions is a collaborative effort that is working very well, Hawkins said.

"The four colleges and university have diverse programs in teacher education," said Dr. Harlee Wright, director of TC's teacher education center. "However, you will find that this past year, we have over 500 students in the teacher education program (at the five institutions). A lot of those are graduates coming back (to college) to get certified to teach in local school systems."

TC will use its grant for student scholarships, to support its center for teacher education and to improve technology in the center, said Wright.

Source: www.tylerpaper.com