| Midland College is a public, comprehensive community college founded in 1972. The college is located in Midland, Texas, in the heart of West Texas and the Permian Basin Oil Patch. The last 18 years have brought significant change to Midland College along with a 74 percent increase in enrollment. Greater numbers of nontraditional students--older, racially/ethnically diverse, dislocated oil workers, adult women in transition, low-income, academically underprepared, and part-time students--have enrolled at Midland College. The total student population was almost 4,800 in early 2000. These numbers are expected to increase, with Hispanic students projected to comprise 32 percent of the student body by 2005. The college offers certificates, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees in 41 areas.
Scattered with tumbleweeds and mesquite, the rural counties that comprise Midland College's service area are sparsely populated with approximately three people per square mile. The landscape of West Texas is barren, desolate, and very arid. The oil industry has been the main economic force in the area, but the last decade has brought hard times. With the up and down price swings of crude oil, economic stability is short-lived. This has led to record unemployment, poverty, and a continual decline in educational attainment.
To combat these trends, Midland College is establishing an Advanced Technology Center. Recognizing the need for skilled high-technology workers, Midland College will provide curriculum specifically designed for at-risk students that is concurrent with today's technology.
|
