The Texas Skill Standards Board has recognized and approved the Logistics Management and Visual Communication-Multimedia associate’s degree programs at Lone Star College.
In order to qualify for the TSSB recognition, college officials must go through a rigorous application process with its curriculum. In the case of LSCS and these two degree programs, the review process lasted for a year, said Karen Palmer, grant projects director.
The TSSB is a clearinghouse of sorts, of industry standards and specifications, which provides guidelines by which colleges can align curriculum with industry-recognized standards. A student who completes a specified TSSB-recognized degree plan can have confidence that he or she will be prepared to enter the workforce of that particular industry having been taught the right skills.
TSSB includes representatives from industry as well as education who work together to set these standards.
“This is an exciting accomplishment for this team,” said Palmer. “Not many programs across the state have this distinction.”
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded each of the programs $5,000 in grant funds as well – the logistics program at LSC-CyFair and the visual communication programs at LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood and LSC-North Harris. These funds will be used to pay the staff who incorporated the TSSB standards into the curriculum. The awards came from a funding pool tied to a Perkins Leadership grant.
When students graduate from each of these programs, their diplomas are marked with a gold seal from TSSB signifying that the degree is TSSB-certified. The students also receive a letter for prospective employers that explain the significance of the recognition and what the TSSB standards mean in the workplace. These industry standards learned are in conjunction with the overall associate’s degree accomplishment itself.
Based on state legislative mandates the TSSB is charged with the development of a statewide system of industry-defined and industry-recognized skill standards for major skilled, sub-baccalaureate occupations with strong employment and earnings opportunities. Consistent with the mandate and objectives of the TSSB, the purpose of a Texas system of voluntary skill standards is to strengthen the ability of Texas’ industry to be competitive in the global economy.
Lone Star College System consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Center, LSC-University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. With more than 58,000 students in credit classes this fall, LSCS is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and third largest community college system in Texas. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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