HOUSTON (May 21, 2012) – Lone Star College System conferred 5,251 students with their associate degrees or certificates during 2012 commencement ceremonies.
Commencement exercises for five colleges were held May 12 and 13 at numerous venues throughout the system. The 5,251 graduates represent the largest graduation class in the history of the college system.
“Lone Star College System’s number one strategic goal is student success,” said Dr. Richard Carpenter, LSCS chancellor. “LSCS works to give our students clear pathways to achieve their goals and become productive citizens in the Houston region.”
Recent success initiatives include the colleges’ participation in Foundations of Excellence, a national program designed to evaluate and revitalize campus services for first-year college students.
This program is only a part of an overall credential completion agenda at LSCS that also includes a Completion by Design grant and the Best Start program. The Completion by Design grant was awarded to LSCS by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to lead a state-wide effort aimed at significantly increasing completion rates of community college students. The Best Start program is part of a quality enhancement plan required for reaccreditation for Lone Star College. The premise of a “Best Start” is that for students to be successful in obtaining credentials, they need to set a goal; make a plan; get connected with faculty, advisors or counselors; and get involved on campus.
And LSC recently launched My Degree Counts with a goal to increase the region's college graduation rate by 1 percent by the year 2013, which translates into a $4.2 billion lift for the Houston regional economy.
Last year, LSCS conferred 4,728 degrees and certificates at the 2011 commencement exercises.
With 75,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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