LSCS has added 30,000 students in the past five years and now has 78,000 students enrolled in credit classes, and a total of 90,000 students including non-credit and continuing education.
In addition to preparing students for specific careers, LSCS also helps grow the local economy by contributing $1.1 billion annually through higher earnings of its students and increased workforce productivity, and by training area workers in a number of high-demand industries.
Studies reveal that by2016, 63 percent of all jobs will require education or training beyond high school training, and LSCS is working to keep up with the demand by students to get training and education that lead to jobs.
Currently, LSCS helps more than 7,500 high school students enrolled in dual credit at Lone Star College each year earn both simultaneous high school and college credits.
And more than one in four students graduating from the 52 area high schools attends Lone Star College.
Because of this kind of demand, members of the LSCS Board of Trustees responded to a committee of citizen leaders in February and voted unanimously to put a $497.7 million bond referendum in front of area voters for approval on May 11.
The citizens’ committee, representing area business, education, government and civic sectors, had recommended to the board that the college system build new learning facilities and infrastructure to accommodate the system’s historical growth.
The projects included in the bond referendum will enable LSCS to keep up with the student demand and growth.
“Our growth has been unprecedented,” said Dr. Richard Carpenter, LSCS chancellor.
In addition to preparing students for specific careers, LSCS plays a key role in training the workforce of tomorrow.
Industries like the health care industry turn to LSC to train the next generation of nurses and others – in fact more than 60 percent of all nurses and health care workers are trained at two-year colleges like LSC. And community colleges like LSC also train 84 percent of all first responders like EMT technicians, firefighters and police officers.
Lone Star Corporate College, located on the LSC-University Park campus, works closely with a large number of area companies to develop customized curriculum to help train new employees and help current employees get up-to-date training.
Lone Star Corporate College has a number of high-profile partners, especially in the energy, computer technology and advanced manufacturing sectors. Partners include Anadarko, Baker Hughes, FMC Technologies, GE Oil & Gas, Halliburton, Hewlett Packard, National Oilwell Varco, Farouk Systems, Oracle, Toshiba and more.
“We are filling a huge need for these global companies based in Houston which in turn helps keeps jobs in the region and helps boost the local economy,” said Linda Head, associate vice chancellor for workforce education and corporate partnerships.
On May 11, voters in the LSCS service area will be asked to vote on a $497.7 bond referendum. Early voting is April 29 – May 7. Details about voting locations and more may be found at LoneStar.edu/Bond2013.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 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 the nation. 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 , Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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