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Upcoming Events
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Student Concert
COM Recital Hall
Free to the public
Call 409-933-8342.
COM Woodwind Ensemble
COM Recital Hall
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Dec. 6
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St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church
Free to the public
Call 409-933-8348.
 "I give COM credit for turning me around. Instructor Andrew Gregory inspired me to do well. He's turned into a friend now that I have graduated."
Read COM drafting graduate Tim Gaude's story.
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Armed with GED and workforce skills, COM program grads enter workforce
 | COM GED graduates walk at the 2013 graduation ceremony.
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Sometimes help arrives just in time. Newly single mother Tina Hancock, of Texas City, faced a predicament: As a former stay-at-home mom, she needed to re-enter the workforce quickly. However, without a GED certificate or high school diploma she struggled to find a job with a salary that would support her two daughters and herself.
"We needed help," she said. "I have experience in billing and sales, but if you don't have a GED, you can't get a job."
She called College of the Mainland and discovered a new grant-funded program at COM designed for students just like her. The program would allow her to earn a GED and workforce skills in welding, HVAC or medical coding and billing courses simultaneously, accelerating her path to a new career.
She eagerly signed up. Ten months later, she is ready for a new career as an HVAC technician thanks to the program's instructors and staff.
"My teachers kept me motivated. They make it so easy. It's your fault if you don't go," she said. Read more or call 409-933-8294 or email jhayes@com.edu. |
Online classes surge in popularity
 | | Student Chelsea Murray shows off the Blackboard app she's programmed to send reminders of online assignments to her phone. |
Enrollment is up at College of the Mainland, but fewer students are jostling in the halls this fall. This year COM has seen a 20 percent increase in enrollment in online versus face-to-face classes.
"It's better for my schedule," said Samantha Brooks, a COM student taking Career Explorations online in addition to working part-time.
She's not alone in looking for a way to juggle a job and school. COM student Viridiana Smith is taking her first online class this semester, the nursing prerequisite Medical Terminology. She has found the segue from the classroom to the keyboard - or smart phone - a smooth one.
"What you need to do is very clear," she said. "The instructor answers emails the same day if you have questions."
Read more.
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COM launches physical therapy aide, patient care technician programs
COM is now offering two new programs to train workers for rapidly growing branches of the medical field.
The new one-semester, physical therapy aide program will prepare students to work closely with physical therapists to assist patients with exercises and treatment, observe patients and document their progress.
The patient care technician program trains students for in-demand positions in hospitals and long-term care facilities. The program is designed for those who already have phlebotomy, certified nurse assistant and ECG technician certificates. Students successfully completing the program will be prepared to take the national Patient Care Technician Exam.
"Employers know that patient care technicians are coming in with more skills. It gives them more job opportunities," said Schoppe.
Contact Vera Schoppe at 409-933-8512 or vschoppe@com.edu for more information, or view the continuing education schedule online at www.com.edu/ce.
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34th in the nation
 | A COM fire technology student extinguishes a fire during training. COM's program was named 34 in the nation for return on investment.
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A solid education shouldn't cost a fortune. With that in mind, not-for-profit Fire Science Online has compiled a list of fire science programs offering the highest return on investment and named College of the Mainland as number 34 on the list of the top 90 (roughly 10 percent) programs in the nation.
"I moved here just for this program," said COM Fire Technology graduate Rashad Burton, who originally hails from Las Vegas. "Not only does it teach you the basics of being a firefighter, it also prepares you for life."
Nearly 900 colleges in the U.S. offer fire science programs at varying tuitions, according to Fire Science Online. Schools included on the organization's highest-return-on-investment list are fully accredited, offer an annual tuition less than $10,000 and are located in an area with an average expected annual salary greater than $50,000.
Graduates of the COM Fire Technology Program excel on state exams and have had a 98.4 pass rate for all certification exams for the last three years.
The COM Fire Technology Program offers a one-semester fire academy to prepare students for careers as first responders and a two-year degree in fire technology for those who want to advance their careers and skills.
For more information, call 409-933-8378 or visit www.com.edu/fire-technology.
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Marathon donates $18,500  | |
From left, Mary Ann Amelang, COM Vice President for Institutional Advancement; Ruth Rendon, of Marathon; and Sandi Belcher, principal of COM Collegiate High School.
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This month Marathon Petroleum Corp. donated $18,500 to support the COM Collegiate High School and the COM Process Technology Program. Since 2004 the company has generously assisted the Collegiate High School, which allows high school students to graduate with an associate degree and high school diploma simultaneously.
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"Do today what it will take to get where you want to be in the future. You're never too old."
COM graduate Appolonia Landrum graduated from UHCL in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in health care administration.
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