JULY 2011


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The Mark Minute:  
Critical Mission Accomplished!

President Mark Escamilla
President Mark Escamilla, Ph.D.

I am delighted to share the good news I received regarding the College's reaffirmation of our accreditation.  Del Mar College's accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

has been reaffirmed for the next decade with NO recommendations for follow-up.

I anticipate written confirmation soon.

 

Throughout the reaffirmation process the College conducted the assessment with integrity and accuracy.  Our reaccreditation process was an honest, straightforward representation of our institution, which included its strengths and weaknesses.  We have much to be proud of. All who played a role in reaching this milestone of academic excellence have my sincere appreciation.

Legislative Results

When the first state funding estimates for Del Mar College emerged from the 82nd Legislature, College officials braced to make tough choices. Following the close of the Legislative session, Del Mar is developing a budget for the 2012 fiscal year without $4.6 million of its previous state funding.

 

In fiscal year 2010-2011, Del Mar received $24 million from the state. For the 2011-2012 year, that support will drop to $19.5 million. We also anticipate a drop in local tax values that could cost the College another $1.3 million next year.

 

The Board of Regents established several priorities for this Legislative Session in addition to maintaining current funding levels. Texas community colleges achieved only modest success on those priorities.
  • Texas community colleges will not receive funding for the 20% average enrollment growth seen statewide.  
  • Community colleges did maintain partial funding for employee health insurance and retirement payments.
  • Community colleges are not required to allow concealed handgun licensees to carry weapons on campus.
DMC Legislative Update Archive
Budget Development

Del Mar College continues to provide access to excellence for our students and the community despite confirmation the College will lose about 20% of our state funding for each of the next two years. While other Texas colleges are capping enrollment or eliminating developmental instruction to deal with the funding cuts, Del Mar is maintaining our commitment to quality classroom instruction.

 

Workable solutions are emerging as a result of sacrifice and commitment from all units of the College.

 

  • in preparation for the economic downturn, the College has provided no salary increases for any employees since 2008,
  • the Board of Regents approved a modest increase in student charges for the upcoming academic year,
  • non-classroom programs and services are combining job duties and eliminating some positions, and
  • with one upcoming retirement, the Executive Team will shrink from six to five members this year while increasing the number of strategic initiatives in our program of work.

Throughout these adjustments, the College is maintaining momentum to meet community educational needs. The Northwest Center served several hundred students last semester and will add GED instructional options next year. This additional facility is the result of a generous donation of space from Corpus Christi Medical Center and renovations funded through the City's Type A Board, at no cost to the College.

 

Work continues on the Fine Arts facilities addition using revenue bond funds pledged in 2008 before the current economic situation emerged. Those funds are restricted for that construction project and couldn't be reallocated... even if the need for additional fine arts instruction space wasn't critical.

 

The College is also managing renovation of an under-utilized hangar at Corpus Christi International Airport to expand instructional space for our booming Aviation Maintenance program. Students from this program have great career opportunities through the Corpus Christi Army Depot and commercial firms in the region. This addition to our instructional space is being financed by public funds, not the College budget. Innovative solutions to our continued growing instructional demand in the face of shrinking resources have become the "new normal" at Del Mar College.

 

DMC Budget Frequently Asked Questions 

75th Anniversary Commencement

More than 750 students earned 921 degrees and certificates during the 75th Anniversary Spring Commencement. Since opening our doors in 1935, Del Mar College has awarded more than 50,000 degrees and certificates to successful students.

 

Our grateful appreciation goes to Joseph C. "Jay" Wise, chair of the DMC Alumni Association, for providing an inspirational keynote address. Wise agreed to address the graduates only days before the ceremony when the original speaker was unable to travel.

 

View the 75th Anniversary Commemorative Program Book 

Watch video of the ceremony 

BoldFuture for the Coastal Bend

Del Mar College has held a leadership role in the community visioning initiative BoldFuture for the Coastal Bend since its inception. One year after the launch of the Vision Action Plan, the first BoldFuture Community Progress Report announced that 64% of the projects outlined in the plan are either complete or underway. More than 60 projects have been implemented and more than 100 long-term projects have been launched one year into a five-year reporting cycle.

 

The College's specific actions included expanding degree programs, such as the Mexican-American Studies program, wind and other alternative energy technologies, and online GED instruction.   

 

BoldFuture Web Site 

Facebook 


What's Next
  • TABPHE free screening of "A War for Your Soul" by filmmaker Reginald Bullock- July 16 Details 
  • TACHE Sabor de Tejas Wine Tasting Event - July 29 Details 
  • Summer Commencement - August 19

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101 Baldwin Blvd.

Corpus Christi, Texas 78404-3897 

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� 2011 Del Mar College. All Rights Reserved.

Del Mar College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.