Howard College (HC, Howard County Junior College) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Howard College is a community college with its main campus in Big Spring, Texas as well as several branch campuses and learning centers. The Big Spring campus is located on 120 acres. Students at this campus also use a 20 acre rodeo and livestock facility 3 miles east of town.

The Lamesa campus is 45 miles north of Big Spring. It features both academic transfer and workforce education courses. The San Angelo campus is located on Goodfellow Air Force Base and features technical and occupational training, compensatory programs for adult learners, and continuing education courses. In addition to these campuses, this school operates classroom centers at the Eden Detention Center, the Cornell Correctional Centers, and the Big Spring Federal Correctional Institute. These facilities offer vocational courses, Adult Basic Education, and English as a Second Language.

In addition, the board of trustees established the SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf in 1980 and have operated it as a branch of the college ever since. Students at the Institute may select from developmental/preparatory studies, college transfer programs, or vocational training.

Information Summary

Ranks 131st in Texas and 2388th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	58.3
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$11,835
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	10 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	39% / 43%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,485

Academics

Transfer Programs

HC has several articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities to allow their students to move seamlessly from their associate degree to earning their bachelor’s. Popular partnership schools include Angelo State University, Park University, and the University of Texas system.

Online Learning

The distance learning program (known as the WINGS network) offers online classes, interactive video classes, and face-to-face classes at remote locations. This school belongs to a number of educational consortia that help one another to deliver online education, including Regional Electronic Academic Communication Highway (REACH), the Virtual College of Texas, Midland College, Odessa College, Texas Consortium for Education Telecommunication, and the Southwest Consortium for the Advancement of Technological Education (SCATE).

High School Academics

Dual Credit classes allow high school students to earn college credit at reduced prices. Successful completion of the dual credit program can lead to beginning college at the sophomore level. Students may take up to two college classes per semester of their junior and senior year of high school. The program is open to homeschooled students as well as public and private school enrollees. Many students enrolled in dual credit choose to take online classes to best suit their high school schedules, although they may also take classes on campus.

Tech Prep is similar to Dual Credit in many respects, with an emphasis in the following areas of study: Business Administration Accounting, Business Administration Management, Business Administration Marketing, Business Technology, Child Development and Education, Criminal Justice, Drafting, Emergency Medical Services, Graphic Design, Web Design, Health Information Management, Network Systems Technology, and Nursing.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

In keeping with its mission to offer technical education and higher education opportunities to any adult who wishes to pursue them, open admissions is offered. Some health and technical programs may have further requirements, and some have limited registration, so be sure to inquire in the department of your choice prior to enrolling.

Financial Aid

In addition to the wide range of state and federal financial aid options available to college and university students in Texas, Howard offers several of its own need- and merit-based scholarships. These scholarships include:

The Adam Andrews Memorial Scholarship, awarded to a Forsan High School graduate who demonstrates good moral character and outstanding leadership
The ATMOS scholarship, Glasscock, Martin, Scurry, Dawson, Gaines, Terry, Yoakum, Midland, or Ector counties who are pursuing careers in culinary of fine arts, agriculture, geology, engineering, business, or drafting
The Tatia Colvin Memorial Scholarship for a student from Big Spring High School to study theatre; the Howard College Cheerleaders Scholarship, which is based on grades and a cheerleading audition
The Johnny Johansen Memorial Scholarship, awarded to an Agriculture/Plant Science major by the Big Spring Council of Garden Clubs

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6047th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Texas.

Students

Living on Campus

All students on the Big Spring campus are required to live in the residence halls. Exceptions are made for students who are married, live with relatives, are 21 years of age or older, or have completed at least 30 semester hours of post-secondary education.

There are two residence halls on campus. The Men’s Residence Hall accommodates 150 male students, while Turner Hall accomodates 98 residents. All rooms in the Men’s Residence Hall and in the north wing of Turner Hall are double occupancy rooms with suite bathrooms. Rooms in the south wing of Turner Hall are quadruple occupancy with private bathrooms. Each residence offers study rooms, computer labs, laundry facilities, television lounges, and meeting space. Telephone service and cable television are furnished in every room.

Students living in the dormitories purchase a meal plan as part of the housing fee which includes 3 meals a day Monday through Friday and two meals a day on the weekends.

Clubs and Organizations

There are dozens of student organizations on the HC campuses to meet the personal and professional interests of a wide range of students. These groups include the Mexican American Student Association (MASA), Baptist Student Ministries, and several organizations for student cosmetologists. The Student Government Association is the voice of the student body in administrative and other public matters.

Student Testing

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is an assessment testing program mandated by state law for any student entering a public college or university. Approved tests include the Quick THEA, Accuplacer, and Asset. Students for whom English is not a first language are also required to take the Compass Test and the Lindholm Test.

Student Services

The Student Services office offers a wide range of support services to assist students in academic success. These services include academic counselling, career counselling, employment placement services, personal counselling, testing services, and disability services.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

The athletic department is known as the Hawks. The Hawks compete in the NJCAA and the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. Men’s sports include baseball, rodeo, and basketball. Women’s sports include rodeo, basketball, and cheerleading.

Howard College