SWTJC Board extends president’s contract, receive enrollment update
Uvalde, TX, January 18, 2019– SWTJC President Hector Gonzales got a one‑year extension on his contract at the Jan. 17 meeting of the Southwest Texas Junior College board of trustees.
Following an executive session, SWTJC Board President Rodolfo R. Flores entertained a motion to extend Gonzales’ contract. The vote to extend the contract was unanimous.
With the extension, Gonzales’ three‑year contract runs through July 31, 2022.
In other matters, vice president of student services Margot Mata updated board members on the status of spring enrollment.
According to Mata, spring numbers are up in comparison to the enrollment totals in the spring of 2018.
“Currently we sit at 6,400 students enrolled, and we are utilizing every means of communication to get the word out to our students about spring registration,” Mata said. “Based on the students enrolled and the average of students coming in daily to register, we should exceed our 2018 enrollment.”
In his president’s report, Gonzales informed the board on a multitude of topics including on a Jobs and Education for Texans grant of $297,000, which was awarded to the college by the Texas Workforce Commission.
The grant is to enhance the equipment in the auto tech program. In addition, the college was awarded $37,000 from Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education program.
Gonzales also reported on working with school districts to enhance current science offerings to students taking dual credit courses as part of the Title V STEM grant initiative.
During his report, Gonzales talked about the 86th Texas Legislative Session in Austin.
According to Gonzales, the focus for this legislative session appears to be school finance reform and property tax reform.
Trustees were given a list of the college’s priorities going into this year’s legislative session.
Issues include funding for community colleges, improving dual credit processes, expanding and funding for workforce education, employee benefits, unfunded mandates, and addressing the obstacles of transferring from community college to a university.
In other business board members approved updated policies by the Texas Association of School Boards and the financial statement as of Dec. 31, 2018.
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About Southwest Texas Junior College
Founded almost 70 years ago, Southwest Texas Junior College is a comprehensive, public college serving eleven counties in Southwest Texas. The College provides accessible, affordable, high-quality education that prepares students to successfully transfer to senior colleges and universities; enter the job market; pursue their professional and personal goals; and contribute to the economic growth of the region. For more information, please visit www.swtjc.edu
