A.3.01 - System Purpose

LSCS is a publicly-supported, two-year, comprehensive community college, which offers postsecondary educational opportunities in northern metropolitan Houston in Harris, Montgomery, and San Jacinto Counties.

A.3.02 - System Program Offerings

As authorized by Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.003(e), the System provides:

1. Technical programs, leading to associate degrees of certificates, designed to develop marketable skills and support economic development.
2. Academic courses in the arts and sciences to transfer to senior institutions.
3. Continuing adult programs for academic, professional, occupational, and cultural enhancement.
4. Developmental education programs designed to improve the basic skills of students.
5. A program of counseling and guidance designed to assist students in achieving their individual educational and occupational goals.
6. Workforce development programs designed to meet local and statewide needs.
7. Adult literacy and other basic skills programs for adults.
8. Other purposes as may be prescribed by the Coordinating Board, or the System’s Board, including economic development.

A.3.03 - Statement of Mission

The System, as a Texas public community college, involves individuals, businesses and the community in quality educational programs for the successful development of knowledge, skills and attitudes in a changing world.

A.3.04 - Value Statements

1. Learning Communities - We believe that LSCS colleges will be dynamic learning communities, distinguished by excellence in teaching, allowing citizens to develop to the full extent of their ability, succeed in a competitive work environment, and be effective life-long learners.
2. Access with Quality - We believe that LSCS colleges must meet the ongoing challenges of student diversity and rapid growth by continuously improving programs and student access.
3. Building Communities and Partnerships - We believe that LSCS Colleges are catalysts for promoting a seamless educational journey and for nurturing the intellectual and cultural life of the community.
4. Economic and Workforce Development - We believe that LSCS serves as the critical link for economic and workforce development to improve the prosperity of our region through partnerships with business, government, and community organizations.
5. Human Resources - We believe that the most important resources of LSCS are the individual faculty and staff members, who are entitled to a supportive collegial work environment which rewards excellence, provides opportunities for professional development, encourages meaningful involvement in the decision-making process, and provides excellent compensation.
6. Technology - We believe that students achieve their learning goals best as LSCS colleges provide up-to-date learning resources, tools, and technologies.
7. Information - We believe that the inclusive nature of LSCS requires that every citizen be informed of the wealth of opportunities available through its colleges.
8. Leadership - We believe that LSCS colleges, building on a solid foundation of growth and service, are emerging leaders in the community college movement, making important contributions to the profession through innovation, scholarship, and creative services.
9. Stewardship - LSCS is committed to rigorous stewardship of the resources entrusted to its care to assure maximum benefit for the community.
10. Evaluation - We believe that it is essential that LSCS colleges - working separately for local effectiveness, and working together as a single district for efficiency - must regularly assess the impact and outcomes of our efforts for continuous improvement.

A.3.05 - Biennial Review

The Board shall review and, if necessary, revise the Statement of Mission and Value Statements on a biennial basis to ensure that they represent accurately the role and scope of a comprehensive public community college district and are responsive to the changing needs of the System's constituencies.

A.3.06 - Multi-cultural Education

The System acknowledges and recognizes the increasingly diverse, multi-cultural nature of society consisting of age, racial, gender, ethnic, and religious groups whose cultures, values, beliefs, and lifestyles are viable elements of a democratic society. To encourage full implementation of the System's value statements, which support dynamic and diverse learning communities and access with quality, the Board declares the following guiding principles of the System:

1. The System fully recognizes the rights of individual persons in all the Colleges to learn within the framework of multi-cultural experiences which maximize the development of their human potential.
2. The System will promote and support the Colleges in their efforts to design and implement instructional experiences and support services that will lead to a more humane and democratic, multi-cultural society.
3. The System will foster an instructional and student life environment to provide community college students a basis for understanding and appreciating the contribution of all individuals in our society.

A.3.07 - Multi-College Operating Philosophy

1. The System and its member colleges will seek to serve the best interests of students.
2. The System office is established to assist the colleges in providing services and programs to students and the community.
3. Matters of curriculum, financial planning, capital investments and binding financial agreements including contractual appointments shall be coordinated System-wide.
4. The Colleges shall operate independently within parameters established by Board policy and System procedures, approved by the Chancellor, in order to meet the mission and goals of the System.
5. College Presidents shall be full participants in the establishment of System-wide priorities.
6. College Presidents shall be line officers responsible to the Chancellor for the performance of their duties.
7. For accreditation and all legal purposes, the System shall be considered the sole entity.
8. Decisions shall be made as close as possible to the point where they will be carried out.
9. Employees of the System shall have the responsibility and authority necessary to fulfill their duties as contained in their position descriptions.
10. The Colleges and System office shall establish goals and objectives consistent with, and supportive of, System-wide values and goals, as well as action plans to accomplish the goals and objectives.
11. Colleges shall be responsible for establishing and cultivating positive community relations within their service area.
12. Resources shall be allocated, in such a manner to guarantee optimal levels of quality for all programs at all of the colleges.

 

LSCS Policy Manual Section adopted by the Board of Trustees on August 7, 2008