July 2011 – The Texas Skill Standards Board (TSSB) recognized the following five workforce education programs at four community and technical colleges as being integrated with TSSB-recognized skill standards: 

• Process Technology-Petroleum Specialty Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree at Kilgore College,
   integrated with the Oil and Gas Production Technician Skill Standards;

• Process Operating Technology AAS Degree at Lamar State College-Orange and Process Technology AAS
   Degree at Victoria College, integrated with the Chemical/Refining Process Technician Skill Standards;

• 3D Animation and Game Production AAS Degrees at Northwest Vista College in the Alamo Community
   College District, integrated with the Electronic Game Content Development Skill Standards.

The skill standards enhanced programs, which were endorsed by the programs’ industry advisory committees, will benefit both employers and graduates.  Graduates will gain the work competencies—skills and knowledge—that employers have agreed are required for success in the occupational area.  Employers in turn will gain a more qualified workforce. 

The following college faculty provided leadership at their college in integrating the skill standards into the curriculum and applying for TSSB program recognition:

• Dewey Greer, Process Technology and Petroleum Specialty Instructor at Kilgore College;

• Edgar Burns, Program Director, Industrial/Process Technology at Lamar State College-Orange;

• Qi Wang, 3D Animation Program Coordinator, and Julie Hoshizaki, Game Development Program
   Coordinator, respectively, at Northwest Vista College;

• Anita Brunsting, Process Technology Curriculum Coordinator at Victoria College

All the colleges successfully completed the deliverables to earn a Program Year 2011 Skill Standards Based Curriculum Development Project grant, provided under Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education state leadership funds from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.  The deliverables included integrating skill standards into the curriculum and successfully applying for TSSB program recognition. 

The colleges’ staff took advantage of TSSB resources to facilitate integration of the skill standards.  They followed the TSSB’s recommended six-step process in the guidance document, A User’s Guide: Incorporating Skill Standards into Community and Technical College Curriculum, which is available to download from this site.  They also received technical assistance from TSSB staff, provided on-site at the college. 

Examples of the application materials submitted by these colleges’ staff for program recognition are available at the TSSB Recognized Community and Technical College Programs page. 

For more information, please contact Anne Dorsey at 512/936-8100.