Dec 07, 2024  
2017-2018 Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Community & Industry Education


Community & Industry Education is comprised of the offices of Community & Industry Education on each campus and the Districtwide offices of Corporate Solutions and Economic Development, Workforce Services, and the Small Business Development Center. Classes are categorized as Workforce Training & Certifications, Preparatory Education, and Lifelong Learning. These classes may vary in length from one session to a full quarter/semester and, in most cases, are open to interested persons without regard to previous educational background and without formal admission. Traditional college credit is not granted for most of these classes; however, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Certificates of Completion are awarded in selected courses and programs.

The offices of Community & Industry Education, located at each campus, provide a wide range of basic skills, technical, vocational and community service noncredit programs, courses, workshops, forums, professional development, and seminars for working professionals and the general public. These courses and programs offer opportunities for individuals to stay current in new developments in their present occupation or to further their education for new careers or new fields of interest. Each campus offers career programs in a variety of occupational areas. Community & Industry Education programs for Lifelong Learning include the Senior’s College for adults 55 and, older and Youth Programs offered at all campuses. Personal enrichment courses in arts and crafts, dance, physical fitness, and more are also available.

The office of Corporate Solutions & Economic Development located at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Center and the Alliance Corporate Training Center, works with Tarrant County employers to design and deliver contract and customized training programs to continually upgrade the skills of the current and future workforce and keep pace with ever-changing technologies. Grant-funded skills development training programs are available for qualifying businesses.

The office of Workforce Services operates a network of learning centers in the community to assist people in improving their basic reading, math, and ESL skills and High School Equivalency (HSE) test preparation programs at little or no cost to qualified adults. Grant-funded skills development training programs are available for qualifying disadvantaged, unemployed, underemployed and/or disabled adults.

The Small Business Development Center offers consulting services throughout the community for small business owners or potential owners to provide practical assistance and solutions to grow and prosper in today’s business world. The program is part of a nationwide system that links the resources of federal, state and local government to colleges, universities, and the private sector to meet the specialized and complex needs of small businesses.

Community & Industry Education is designed to provide educational opportunities to people wherever they may be located within the TCC service area. Additional information about Community & Industry Education can be found online at www.tccd.edu/CIE or at the CIE office at any campus or off-campus location.

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU)

The Continuing Education Unit is a nationally recognized unit of measurement for successful participation in noncredit continuing education courses and programs.

It is the policy of Tarrant County College to award Continuing Education Units for certain noncredit courses. TCC Community & Industry Education is responsible for assuring that all courses for which CEUs are offered meet criteria established by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

Participants in TCC’s programs that award CEUs have a permanent transcript available on request. This transcript may be used for job promotion, certification, articulation of credit, and other student benefits. One CEU is defined as 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under reasonable sponsorship, capable direction and quality instructors. One unit is awarded for each 10 clock hours of successful instruction participation with decimal units given for fewer than 10 hours. The following criteria are applied for the awarding of CEUs:

  1. The training program is planned to meet the educational needs of the group to be served, and representatives of that group participate in the planning process.
  2. A statement of purpose and goals is prepared before the program starts, including specific objectives.
  3. Qualified instructors are selected to conduct the training.
  4. Regular attendance or participation in the program is a minimum requirement. Alternative criteria for performance may be established.
  5. An evaluation plan is developed and implemented in determining how well the program objectives are accomplished.
  6. All CEUs are recorded in the TCC District computer system. These records are permanent and confidential. Transcripts are available upon request by the participant.

Please contact the Community & Industry Education Office on any TCC campus for more information about CEUs.