BC, school districts create position in support of dual credit programs

Brazosport College and four local independent school districts — Angleton ISD, Brazosport ISD, Columbia-Brazoria ISD and Sweeny ISD — recently collaborated and created a new position, Dean of School and College Partnerships-Academic and Student Affairs. The position will oversee and promote the dual credit program. Pictured are, from left, Brazoria-Columbia ISD Superintendent Steven Galloway, Sweeny ISD Superintendent Dr. Tory Hill, Brazosport College President Dr. Millicent Valek, Brazosport ISD Superintendent Danny Massey and Angleton ISD Superintendent Phil Edwards.

Brazosport College and four local school districts — Angleton ISD, Brazosport ISD, Columbia-Brazoria ISD and Sweeny ISD — recently approved the addition of a new shared position, Dean of School and College Partnerships.

The new position, which will be a collaborative effort between the College and school districts, will promote BC’s dual credit program.

“Students who take college classes for dual credit comprise 25 percent of our college’s population,” said Dr. Lynda Villanueva, Brazosport College Provost and Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs. “This new position is a critical strategy to support the development of a college-going culture, increased college readiness and degree completion.”

The Dean of School and College Partnerships will oversee and promote the dual credit program, which includes the new Catalyst program, by collaborating across institutions to ensure efficient and effective educational pathways. The dean will lead recruitment, retention and completion efforts for dual credit programming, promote the values of a college-going culture and career readiness, and develop and implement professional development focusing on dual credit programs, among other duties.

The dean, who will work closely with all entities, will report to the Brazosport College Provost and Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs, and appropriate supervisory personnel at Angleton ISD, Brazosport ISD, Columbia-Brazoria ISD and Sweeny ISD.

The new position comes after the creation of the Catalyst program, which is a partnership between BC and the four school districts that will allow students to take a structured path toward the completion of an associate degree in Process Operations or Instrumentation Technology within one year of high school graduation or an applied baccalaureate degree in Industrial Management within three years of high school graduation.

To learn more about Brazosport College’s dual credit program, the Catalyst program or the new Dean of School and College Partnerships, call (979) 230-3422.