Laredo College (LC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The history of Laredo Community College (LCC) is closely tied to World War II, as the institution was created specifically to offer training to soldiers returning from the war. It was founded in 1947 and was then known as the Laredo Junior College.

Starting with a single campus in Fort McIntosh (previously known as Camp Crawford), the college has grown over the years by increasing the number of students it admits each year. While only 13 students were enrolled at the college at its inception, today it admits more than 12,000 students each year. In addition to the original Fort McIntosh campus, LCC established an additional campus, the South Campus, in 2004.

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Information Summary

Ranks 72nd in Texas and 1633rd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	70.7
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$5,100
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	15 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	68% / 50%
Enrollment Total (all students)	10,181

Academics

LCC runs several degree and certificate programs. It offers Associate in Arts and Science Degrees as well as certificates. The Associate in Science (AS) or Associate in Arts (AA) degree courses offered by LCC are meant to enable the student to transfer to a four-year college or to prepare them for direct employment.

The number of courses available at the college is enormous enabling applicants a huge range of career choices. The college offers degrees in diverse fields such as Agriculture, Fine Arts, Biological Sciences, Computer Sciences and Business. Students enrolled into the college’s Business Department study for degrees and certificates in Business Administration, Accounting, Marketing, Management and Banking and Finance.

Engineering programs cover areas such as Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering. Various Social Science Programs are also available including degrees in History, Economics, Geography, Social Work, Psychology and Political Science.

Students seeking an Associate in Applied Science Degree have a wide range of programs to choose from and they also cover diverse areas such as Applied Accounting, Computer Drafting and Design Technology, Computer Electronics Technology and Medical Laboratory Technology among many others.

The range of the college’s vocational programs is also wide and its programs lead to the award of a Certificate of Completion. Areas covered include Accounting, Air-conditioning, Carpentry Technology, Computer Information Systems, Welding and Office Technology. Some of the vocational programs can be completed in one year.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

LCC operates an open-door admissions policy to ensure that qualified applicants are not locked out of the college’s educational programs. While specific programs have specific admission requirements, the basic minimum that an aspiring student must meet is graduation from high school. Applications without a high school diploma will also be considered if they have satisfactory scores in their General Education Development (GED) tests. The college’s Director of Admissions has been granted power to approve for admission applicants who have no high school diploma but who show evidence of their ability to benefit from college education. Such applicants must, however, be at least 18 years old.

Through LCC’s Early Enrollment Program, students attending high school get the opportunity to obtain admission to the college. Early enrollment enables the student to obtain credit for college courses while still in high school. Applicants for the early enrollment program must obtain the approval of their high school principals and must show evidence of good academic performance.

Students transferring to LCC from another college are considered for admission based on their academic records. The college requires that such applicants send academic transcripts from the last institution attended and a student will only be admitted when the transcripts are evaluated by the Admissions Registration Office. Returning students who have not attended the college for a period exceeding one year are required to fill-in the Students Update form which is available online.

Students who have attended a home school program are admitted to LCC through either the Early Enrollment Program or individual approval. To admit such students, the college assesses their ACT or SAT scores.

On admission to LCC, students have to go through placement testing which helps determine the courses that are most ideal for the student as required by the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). The college’s placement examination is known as TCOMP (The ACT COMPASS Placement Examination) and is used to assess the student’s academic preparation in writing, reading, mathematics and English.

In addition to TCOMP, the TSI also approves alternative assessments such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the American College Test (ACT) and the Texas Higher Education Assessment Examination (THEA).

Financial Aid

Students attending LCC have many sources of financial aid and a needy student will most probably obtain needed aid. Grants are the preferred form of financial aid for most students since they do not have to be repaid and at LCC there are several grant programs.

One such program is the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) which is available for students who are resident in Texas. Applicants to this grant have to meet additional conditions such as proving their financial need through their application with FAFSA. Successful applicants who wish to continue benefitting from TEOG are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher and to complete 75% of the hours taken in the preceding academic year.

Similar to TEOG is the Texas Grant which was created in 1999. It is also open only to students who are residents of Texas and applicants are required to show the same satisfactory academic progress as is required under TEOG. Students attending LCC but are not residents of Texas are covered by the On-Campus Texas Public Education Grant (OCTPEG) which offers grants to cover various educational expenses.

A host of federal grant programs are also available to students attending LCC. These include the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) and the Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP).

The Federal Pell Grant has helped students pay through college over the years and it just got better. While previously a student could only apply for a single Pell grant per academic year, beginning 2011, needy students will be able to benefit from two awards within an academic year. For students with financial needs which FAFSA considers exceptional, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) offers up to $1,500 per semester.

There three types of federal loans that a student attending LCC can apply for. The Subsidized William D. Ford Direct Loan Program enables needy students to obtain subsidized loans which are sometimes quite substantial. Similar to the subsidized loan is the Unsubsidized William D. Ford Direct Loan Program which is awarded to students who do not qualify for federal interest subsidies.

Students attending LCC who have physical disabilities are considered for financial assistance through the Texas Rehabilitation Commission which channels such assistance through the Vocational Rehabilitation Division of the State Board for Vocational Education. LCC also provides part-time work opportunities to qualified applicants on both of its campuses as well other non-campus locations.

Talented athletes who study at LCC stand the chance to benefit from one of several scholarships which the college offers to students who excel in baseball, tennis and volleyball.

Student Financial Aid Details

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Students

Apart from academic pursuits, student life at LCC is vibrant and their activities are coordinated by the Student Activities Office. There are many organizations that a student could join and the coordinating office encourages students to create new organizations to handle special interest groups.

Some of the organizations already existing include the Computer Technology Organization Club which was created to enhance the students’ understanding of computer technology. The Culturas Dance Club celebrates and promotes Mexican Folklorico dance while the Music Club helps students pursuing studies that lead to careers in music.

Other clubs and organizations include the Revolutionary Arts and Cultural Empowerment (RACE) club, the Science Venture Club, the Student Nurses’ Association and the Percussion Club. In summary, a student at LCC will find a club or organization catering for most extra-curricular needs.

To deal with student grievances and to help resolve disciplinary incidents, LCC has established the office of Student Affairs. This is a major office that is divided into several departments covering athletics, student support activities, campus health services and the college’s libraries.

LCC provides its students, staff and faculty with adequate recreational facilities. These include the Maravillo Gymnasium which has facilities for basketball, volleyball, weight lifting and racquet ball. Similar and additional facilities are available at the outdoor recreation complex, the Fort McIntosh Park as well as the Rancho La Union Plaza.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

LCC’s athletic teams are known as the Palominos and compete in the Region 14 Athletic Conference. Athletic teams at the college include tennis, volleyball and baseball. A recent addition is the women’s softball team which was created in 2010.

Perhaps the athletic team that stands out from the rest at LCC (for good reasons) is the men’s tennis team. This team has won the Division 1 Junior College Men’s Championships for six times and by 2010 held the NJCAA record for the most consecutive wins. The team won consecutively between 2005 and 2010. Through the years, the team has produced great players who have received a call-up to the ITA All-American Team.

Apart from playing in the competitive teams, students who wish to participate in individual sports are catered for by the college’s intramural athletic program which provides sports such as golf, marathon, weight lifting and table tennis among others.

Bibliography

“About LCC”. Laredo Community College. 8th May 2011. < http://www.laredo.edu/cms/history.aspx>

“Laredo Community College”. Scholarships.com. 8th May 2011 < http://www.scholarships.com/ViewCollege_GeneralInfo.aspx?uid=226134>

“Laredo Community College”. Every Chance, Every Texan. 8th May 2011 < http://www.everychanceeverytexan.org/schools_info/schools/laredocc.php>

Laredo College