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Lamar University’s continued centennial celebration honored a century of leaders during the recent Southeast Texas Counselor Update. For more than a decade, Lamar University has partnered with regional high school counselors to ensure incoming students are educated and equipped to face the demands of the local workforce. Even now, 100 years into serving the community, Lamar University administration continues to realize the ever-changing landscape of America’s workforce needs – and works to pan accordingly.
“Our workforce needs are changing in our communities, across the state, and around the nation. More jobs require employees to have specific skills they can only get by earning certificates, degrees, and other credentials beyond their high school diplomas,” Senior Chairman Woody Hunt with the Commission on Community College Finance advised when addressing the 88th Texas Legislature regarding funding for higher ed.
Tasked with making recommendations for consideration by the 88th Texas Legislature to establish a state funding formula and funding levels sufficient for sustaining viable community college education and offerings throughout the state, the Commission on Community College Finance reported the need for a strategic and deliberately aligned funding model to fit emerging workforce needs “that fosters a strong partnership between local community colleges and the state,” such as those offered in Southeast Texas by way of LSCO and LSCPA. The same model is also in use for larger institutions, such as LU, as well.
More than 40 area high school counselors representing 37 Southeast Texas high schools gathered to learn about Lamar University’s degree programs, scholarship and financial aid opportunities, as well as resources available to prepare students for higher education. With the common goal of meeting the changing needs of the workforce, this annual collaboration ensures the university is prepared to meet the needs of incoming students, in addition to the educators charged with preparing the next generation of leaders for the next level of education.
In honor of the university’s centennial celebration, President Dr. Jaime Taylor delivered a special presentation to attendees complete with a birthday gift from the university exclusively to attending counselors.
“Every counselor in attendance was given at least one $1,000 scholarship to take back to their school and award to the graduating senior of their choice,” said Assistant Vice President of Admissions and Aid Deidra Mayer. “We had a phenomenal reaction complete with tear-filled eyes and lots of gratitude!”
With more than two-thirds of the incoming class stemming from Southeast Texas high schools, Mayer said the university prioritizes being able to support those students.
“We had $100,000 to give out, and the special element of the scholarships is that there are not any requirements to qualify, which allows each counselor to choose the student of their choosing to receive automatic admission and a $1,000 scholarship,” said Mayer.
A Port Arthur native, LU graduate, and 15-year employee of the university, Mayer serves as a reminder of how the university’s work comes full-circle for so many Southeast Texas residents starting with a single investment, followed by a quality education, and finally adding LU graduates to the pool of qualified leaders the area’s workforce relies upon.
A record number of students enrolled at Texas State University System campuses this fall, with a reported enrollment increase of 3% across the system.
“As colleges and universities across Texas and the nation struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m proud that enrollment is up – in some cases, dramatically – across the Texas State University System,” said Chancellor Brian McCall. “This enrollment growth is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our campus leadership, faculty and staff, who have developed new academic programs and support services to help more students enroll and succeed.”
McCall also lauded the Texas Legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott for their ongoing commitment to TSUS institutions through the state budget. Increased state funding in recent years has allowed TSUS to maintain or reduce tuition at all TSUS institutions. At Lamar University, which has grown from South Park Junior College with an enrollment of 125 students in its first fall semester, to now taking on the education of thousands annually, the plan is to continue the trajectory of advancement.
“Over the course of our rich 100-year history, the education we provide is far more versatile, firmly grounded in the humanities and sciences, but with a continued emphasis on practical applications,” LU presents to the community it serves. “The result provides a sharp advantage to our graduates as they develop skills for lifelong learning and prepare for the jobs they will have throughout their careers.
“As we look toward our second century, now is the time to tap into our strengths and find ways to multiply their impact for the future. With each new strategic investment in research, academic programs, internships and cooperative education, we extend the influence of Southeast Texas across the entire state and nation. We will need to think creatively about emerging economies to ensure our graduates are the trailblazers of the next century.”