Northwest Vista College has recently received approval for level change with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This means Vista is now approved to offer bachelor degrees, in addition to offering associate degrees and certificates.
In 2017, the 85th Legislature in Texas passed Texas Senate Bill 2118 that made it possible for qualified community colleges and programs to offer technical bachelor degrees in high demand careers. Last year, Northwest Vista College applied to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and received approval for the Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree in Cloud Computing. One of the reasons we chose this program is because it offers significant growth potential and sustainable wages with median salaries in the computer and Information Technology at 104,420 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Vista has a successful track record in cloud computing at the associate level with numerous partnerships that offer micro credentials to students. The program has been ranked one of the top in the U.S. among community colleges by CollegeRank.
We are working across departments and the district to develop the program in a way that expands Vista’s market reach beyond the traditional in-person modality. We want to reach people on the margins who are working, have family responsibilities or multiple jobs, and cannot attend college during the daytime.
We designed the BAT program for flexibility with classes 100% online and with multiple starts: August, October, January, and March. We created an accelerated schedule that can be completed in less than 18 months. The program has hybrid sections for those students who need an in-person component such as veterans whose benefits require some face-to-face modality. NVC will award credit for prior learning in the field, including coursework, certification, and job experience.
We are currently working with our partners to market the program and enroll students. This is a collaboration between Academic Success, NVC’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Team, Student Success as well as our District partners in Communications and AlamoOnline.
As part of marketing and communication, we’re conducting Lunch & Learn Information Sessions and advertising on Google, social media, AdPages, San Antonio Business Journal, San Antonio Report, and through local TV stations.
Thank you to Dr. Russ Frohardt and Ms. Teri Dimas for promoting the BAT program on Daytime/KABB and on SA Living/WOAI. While at the stations, they had a chance to connect with our graduates who spoke highly of Vista, as well as producers who expressed interest in teaching for us. To view the segments, please click on the links below.
I appreciate the collaboration and enthusiasm across the college to support this program and provide social mobility for our students and community. Thank you for being part of that process.
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Russ Frohardt