Texas A&M University – Central Texas (TAMUCT) and Temple College are forging a groundbreaking partnership that allows students to earn an associate’s and bachelor’s degree from Temple College and TAMUCT while remaining on Temple College’s campus. This initiative strengthens their collaboration and supports Caring Campus Regions, a new effort designed to connect community colleges and universities in Texas to enhance student success.
Funded by the Greater Texas Foundation, this regional approach will foster seamless student transitions between institutions across the state. Texas A&M universities and feeder community colleges in three designated regions – Central, Kingsville, and San Antonio – will support the work.
“This is exactly what should happen between community colleges and universities,” TAMUCT President Dr. Richard Rhodes said. “This partnership will make sure it’s as easy as possible for students to succeed and transition into the workforce.”
Temple College’s new University Center, opening in June, will serve as a hub where TAMUCT staff and faculty will be on-site to assist students with academic advising, enrollment, and in-person instruction.
The partnership builds on past successes between the two institutions, including a joint music bachelor’s degree program, and will launch with a Bachelor of Arts and Applied Science in Engineering Technology with a concentration in Semiconductors, with additional workforce-aligned degrees to follow.
“This new work through Caring Campus is really a game-changer,” Temple College president Dr. Christy Ponce said. “Students will see they can earn an affordable bachelor’s degree without having to leave the region.”
The Caring Campus Regional approach will incorporate data-sharing initiatives to help both institutions track students’ progress and provide targeted interventions to support student success.
“I think success breeds success,” Dr. Rhodes said. “Our goal is to have this relationship we’re developing with Temple College stand as a success model for other community colleges in the region to show what we can achieve together.”
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