Dallas College
 | This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. (December 2023) |
 | |
| Motto | Education That Works. |
|---|---|
| Type | Public community college |
| Established | 1965 |
Academic affiliations | CONAHEC |
| Chancellor | Justin Lonon |
Academic staff | 885 full-time and 1,453 part-time (fall 2022)[1] |
Administrative staff | 3,996 (fall 2015) |
| Undergraduates | 64,156 (fall 2023)[1] |
| Location | , , United States |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | www.dallascollege.edu |
Dallas College is a public community college with seven campuses in Dallas County, Texas.[2] It serves more than 70,000 students annually in degree-granting, continuing education, and adult education programs.
Dallas College offers associate degree and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study[3] as well as a bachelor's degree in education.[4] It is one of the largest community college systems in Texas.
History
[edit]Dallas College was founded as the Dallas County Junior College District in 1965, and became known as the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) in 1972. The first campus, El Centro College, was established in 1966 in downtown Dallas. Bill J. Priest served as the founding chancellor from 1965 until his retirement in 1981.[5]
Consolidation
[edit]In February 2020, the Dallas County Community College District announced a plan to consolidate its seven constituent institutions, which at the time were separately accredited, into one accredited institution with multiple campuses. The move was primarily aimed at simplifying the enrollment process and graduation requirements. Students originally needed to complete at least 25% of credits at one campus; the merger removed this requirement.[6]
The merger was approved by accreditor SACSCOC on June 12, 2020.[7] In tandem, the district changed its name to Dallas College, repositioning its former constituent institutions as campuses (e.g., Brookhaven College became Dallas College Brookhaven Campus).[8]
The merger was controversial among faculty, as it resulted in layoffs, changes to campus culture,[9] and a more centralized governance structure. In particular, the college eliminated its rolling three-year faculty contracts in favor of one-year contracts, which substantially weakened job security for full-time faculty.[10] In October 2021, roughly a year after the consolidation, full-time faculty passed a resolution of no confidence against then-chancellor Dr. Joe May.[11]
Service area
[edit]As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of Dallas College consists of Dallas County and the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, a portion of which is in adjacent Denton County.[12]
Dallas College maintains an "open-door" admissions policy regarding new students, allowing many people to attend college who otherwise might not be able to do so.
Campuses
[edit]
Dallas College has seven primary campuses. Prior to the 2020 consolidation, each of these institutions were separately accredited.
| # | Campus | Opened | City/Neighborhood | Mascot | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookhaven | 1978 | Farmers Branch | Bears | |
| 2 | Cedar Valley | 1977 | Lancaster | Suns | |
| 3 | Eastfield | 1970 | Mesquite | Harvester Bees | |
| 4 | El Centro | 1966 | Downtown Dallas | Eagles | |
| 5 | Mountain View | 1970 | Oak Cliff, Dallas | Lions | |
| 6 | North Lake | 1977 | Las Colinas, Irving | Blazers | |
| 7 | Richland | 1972 | Lake Highlands, Dallas | Thunderducks |
Centers
[edit]In addition to the seven campuses, Dallas College has Centers which either serve surrounding communities or are used for specific purposes.[13] Prior to the 2020 consolidation, each center was associated with a specific campus.
| Center | City/Neighborhood |
|---|---|
| Bill J. Priest | Deep Ellum, Dallas |
| Cedar Hill | Cedar Hill |
| Coppell | Coppell |
| Culinary, Pastry and Hospitality | Northwest Dallas |
| Downtown Design | Downtown Dallas |
| Downtown Health Sciences | Downtown Dallas |
| Garland | Garland |
| Irving | Irving |
| Lancaster Workplace Development | Oak Cliff, Dallas |
| Pleasant Grove | Pleasant Grove, Dallas |
| South Dallas Training | South Dallas |
| West Dallas | West Dallas |
| Workforce | Redbird, Dallas |
Administration
[edit]The Dallas College board of trustees consists of seven members who are entrusted with governing the district. The board defines the vision of the district, serves as a liaison between the district and the community, approves annual budgets and sets policies, among other responsibilities. Board members are elected officials who serve six-year terms without compensation.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Maps and Locations". Dallas College.
- ^ "Degrees, Certificates and Classes for Credit". Dallas College. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
- ^ "Dallas College launches a 4-year bachelor of education program". KERA News. 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "History of Dallas College". Dallas College. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
- ^ Avala, Eva-Marie (2020-02-03). "DCCCD wants to make college degrees easier for students by uniting campuses". The Dallas Morning News. DallasNews Corporation. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Accreditation Actions taken by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees" (PDF). Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 2020-06-12. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Wallis, Jay (2020-03-04). "'Dallas College' approved as new name for community college district". WFAA. Tegna, Inc. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Forney, Fiona; Duff, Ryan (2021-12-01). "Dallas College merger: gains and growing pains". Richland Student Media. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Carter, Simone (2022-04-20). "McCollege: As Dallas College Consolidates Its Campuses, Some See Crisis". The Dallas Observer. Voice Media Group. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Carter, Simone (2021-10-05). "As Battle Heats Up at Dallas College, Faculty Vote 'No Confidence' in School Chancellor". The Dallas Observer. Voice Media Group. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Texas Education Code, Section 130.176, "Dallas County Community College District Service Area".
- ^ "College Locations". Dallas College. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Board of Trustees". Dallas College. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
