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OCTOBER 18 | 2012 | DEFENDER
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Higher Ed Choosing a college that’s
right for you
By ELESKA AUBESPIN Defender
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ot everyone gets to attend two high schools on the opposite racial makeup spectrum. But Kodi Maxey did. Through his junior year, Maxey attended the mostly white Sterling High School in Baytown, but graduated from the mostly Black Wheatley High in Houston. Given that Maxey had both Black and white classmates, diversity was a factor when choosing a college.
“I didn’t want to go to a college that was all Black, Hispanic or white,” Maxey said. “Once you get into the real world, you are in a diverse world and I wanted my college campus to reflect that.” Maxey, a senior at Sam Houston State, also wanted a college close to home and one that had affordable tuition. “Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both,” advises Maxey, who graduates in December with a degree in criminal justice, a career that tipped the scale toward enrollment at Sam Houston. “Think about proximity to home, what’s best for your major and even
the organizations you might be involved in.” According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are more than 4,000 degree-granting institutions of higher education in the United States. Nearly 3 million Black students, or 13.8 percent of all students, are enrolled in higher education. But Blacks did not always have access to universities, so schools were built specifically to educate them. Today, those HBCUs still exist and Blacks are faced with the dilemma of whether to attend a majority white institution versus the historically black college or university.
INSIDE
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UH Downtown Preparing students Publisher’s message Prairie View A&M
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Higher Ed dollars & sense Managing student debt Things to know about SAT Houston Community College
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Tips on picking a college 9B Texas Southern University 10B Technical Careers 12B University of Texas 12B
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 18 | 2012
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Higher Ed Discover UHD A major opportunity
for students
The University of Houston Downtown offers educational opportunities to students from a variety of backgrounds.
T
he University of Houston-Downtown was founded in 1974 in the heart of Houston’s central business district, near major freeways, the rail and bus lines, and in close proximity to the heart of downtown’s corporate center and multiple Fortune 500 headquarters. UHD is an urban university, with its campus growing vertically rather than the traditional sprawling, horizontal layout of most American university campuses. The university serves student populations that match the rich ethnic and multi-cultural diversity that defines Houston. The student population is 39 percent Hispanic, 29 percent AfricanAmerican, 20 percent white, 9 percent Asian, 3 percent international or other ethnicity, with a total enrollment of about 14,000 in graduate and undergraduate studies. University-wide, approximately 2,000 students graduate each year. UHD prides itself on exceptional faculty and facilities, with students finding a unique opportunity to participate
in research with faculty, build personal relationships with faculty mentors, and gain an enriched educational experience through small class sizes with one-onone interactions. The faculty has earned an impressive reputation for caring about the success of their students. They build relationships that benefit both students and faculty well beyond conferring a degree, through networking and providing students with the resource-rich faculty contacts that graduates can continue to tap into beyond their education. To facilitate ease of access, UHD also offers classes at various campuses of the Lone Star College District. UHD continues to explore ways to be responsive to the needs of students and offers dual credit and dual enrollment options through area community college partners, a variety of distance education options through classes online, and a “hybrid” class configuration, blending online with classroom instruction. As one of the four distinct and separate components of the University of Houston System, UHD offers educational opportunities and access to students from a variety of backgrounds.
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OCTOBER 18 | 2012 | DEFENDER
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Higher Ed
Preparing students for
college, careers
By TIFFANY L. WILLIAMS Defender
A
large number of the nation’s high school students are not college- or career-ready, ac cording to reports released this year by the College Board and ACT, Inc. The College Board, which administers the college readiness SAT exam, showed only 43 percent of the 1.66 million students tested were ready for post-secondary education. For African-American students that number drops to 15 percent. Preceding that report was recent ACT data, which revealed 60 percent of the 1.67 million students tested missed at least two of the four benchmarks it set for math, English, science, and reading. Among AfricanAmerican students only 5 percent met all four benchmarks. In Houston, several school districts are working with area students to alter the bleak picture many students across the country are facing. In the Houston Independent School District, which serves a 92 percent minority population and is the state’s largest district, an initiative was introduced in 2011 that waives SAT fees for all juniors and lets them test during the school day. “This initiative is a great advantage to students because they don’t have to wake up on a Saturday, travel to another school or worry about trying to find a ride,” said College Readiness School Improvement Officer Esti Arriaga. Over the last two years, the overall number of HISD students tak-
Students attend Alief ISD’s annual College and Career Fair.
ing the SAT increased by 93 percent, while the number of graduates scoring at college-ready levels hit record highs. African-American students scoring 500 or better jumped 33 percent in reading, 55 percent in math and 35 percent in writing. In addition to increased focus on SATs, HISD also offers online prep, more access to Advanced Placement courses, and tuition-free college-level courses at six of its area high schools. Still, some feel more needs to be done. Former Jones High School teacher Jamar Johnson said he doesn’t feel students are being adequately prepared for post-secondary education, especially for the more rigorous colleges and universities. “Students have come back and told me about their experience in college and how they didn’t feel
A Taylor High School student works with her coach, Dr. Alicia Kerr, during a Superintendent’s Academically Talented Scholars session.
prepared,” Johnson said. “The majority of students had to take at least one if not multiple remediation classes before they were able to take even the basic introductory courses.” Johnson, who now teaches at
Yes Prep Academy, taught senior physics for two years at Jones, a school that frequents the state’s underperforming lists. Maintaining rigorous college prep curriculum was challenging, Johnson said.
“When you have kids at the AP physics level in class with kids who are struggling with 9th and 10th grade math, a lot of students’ needs don’t get met in the process,” he said. Alief Independent School District, another large district comprised of mostly minorities, is working to meet students’ needs through collegereadiness programs that target students as early as elementary school. In addition, to gain more insight, the district addressed colleges and universities directly to find out what high school graduates were lacking. “Problems colleges see are the level of remediation students entering need as well as their inability to navigate the system,” said Alief ISD Counseling Coordinator Tyra Walker. She also said when serving their minority population certain considerations are taken. “Life happens with our students,” Walker said. “You have some who move a lot, others who have been out of school for a while and some that are much older.” In another effort to prepare students for life after high school, Alief recently held its annual College and Career Fair hosted by the district’s Counseling Department. Representatives from more than 120 post-secondary institutions attended the event, and shared information with students and their parents. Walker said it’s important that students are aware of the opportunities that exist. “A lot of our students will be first-generation college students, so we must show them early on that college is an option,” she said.
Message from the Publisher
Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
The value of a college degree is worth the cost of college. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, workers with a college degree earned twice as much as those without it. Today choosing the right college and finding the money to pay for that education is priority one and two and not necessarily in that order. In an effort to help students and parents, the Defender staff along with our university and college partners has assembled a special edition to assist you in addressing the two top priorities.
Our Higher Ed partners are: Houston Community College, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View A&M College of Business, Texas Southern University, University of Houston Central, the University of Houston Downtown and the University of Texas. To help you deal with the financial challenges are the articles about creative ways to pay for college and the reality of student debt, which is approached from the pre-planning to the post strategy. Other articles on the SAT test, tips on picking
a college and looking at how others have decided between a Black or white university gives you some insight into how others have approached the subject. Then there is the opportunity to choose a major, which is a serious decision, and if your passion is in science, math or technology, the hot technical careers could pay you big money. College is a big step for both students and parents, and the more you know the more successful you will be. So get started on your plans as you begin this new journey in life.
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 18 | 2012
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Higher Ed
PVAMU Building on a rich tradition
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rairie View A&M University enjoys an established reputation for producing engineers, corporate leaders, nurses and educators. Through its eight colleges and schools it boasts more than 50 degree programs including engineering, natural sciences, architecture, business, nursing, criminal and juvenile justice. The newest doctoral degree program is slated to come from the noted School of Nursing which is housed in the center of Houston’s world-renowned Texas Medical Center. The graduate degree program will address the nursing shortage by creating a host of nursing educators to prepare future nurses. Created in 1876 by the 15th Legislature of the State of Texas, PVAMU is focused on the future and preparing its students to be global competitors. The institution is introducing a number of initiatives designed to broaden students’ horizons. Foreign language offerings have been expanded to welcome the addition of classes in Arabic and Mandarin Chinese. The classes, as well as the addition of an international affairs coordinator, support the university’s goal of building the next generation of global leaders through classroom instruction, cultural training, the arts and service-learning projects. PVAMU has also expanded its curriculum with the addition of the Executive Masters of Business Administration. The two-year program is designed for managers and executives and features a study immersion trip to China. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business International. As time moves on, the university with such a storied history is making a number of improvements. As you approach the campus via University Drive, a major change is enhancing the scenery of the main location. New gates have been installed and are the first visible signs of the campus master plan coming into fruition. The construction of the gates creates an official marked entrance to the campus. Nearby, a new retention pond sits in the open area just beyond the flag poles. The 10-year campus master plan, developed by the university and approved by the Texas A&M University Board of Regents last spring, will add a few modern touches to the look of the campus and address the needs that accompany student growth. Also, in the campus master plan is a new retail center and housing for upperclassman students, both to be completed in 2013. A new academic building housing the College of Agriculture and the College of Business, a recreation facility and a new athletic stadium will also be coming to the campus. In the Office of Development, a new initiative has kicked this fall that is allowing students to give back to Prairie View. The inaugural Student Giving Campaign allows students to give back to the University through monetary donations. The campaign is the third component of Office of Development’s approach to grow the annual fund while creating a “culture of philanthropy” throughout the university. The office also conducts the Faculty and Staff Campaign and the Phon-A-Thon geared toward alumni.
With scenery all around, PVAMU students take advantage of nice weather. The landscape of the campus is changing according to the 10-year master plan.
The Northwest Houston Center is the newest addition to PVAMU, and is a full extension of the University’s main campus.
During PVAMU’s 135-year history, more than 53,500 academic degrees have been awarded.
PVAMU’s dedication to excellence extends past its majestic campus into nearby Houston. In northwest Houston, students enjoy the convenience of centralized offerings in education, nursing and community development at the new Northwest Houston Center. The center is a full extension of the university’s main campus. Excellence is everywhere, even outside the classroom. The overall success of the PVAMU athletics department, including Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships by the baseball, women’s basketball and bowling teams, led to Prairie View sweeping the season
ending awards for 2011-12. The Panthers captured the Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award, the C.D. Henry Award, and the James Frank Award which were presented at the spring meetings en route to claiming the overall Commissioner’s Cup. Artistically, PVAMU talent is being recognized nationally. A. Jan Taylor, conductor of PVAMU’s University Concert Chorale, was selected a national conductor for the 105 Voices of History HBCU National Concert Choir. Taylor served as one of the choir’s three conductors as they traveled throughout the country for a number of prestigious performances, including an appearance in Washington, D.C. during the Congressional Black Caucus Week.
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OCTOBER 18 | 2012 | DEFENDER
Our tradition. P R A I R I E V I E W A &M U N I V E R S I T Y 249 290
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| OCTOBER 18OCTOBER | 2012 11 | 2012 | defendernetwork.com DEFENDER | WEEK OF 6B DEFENDER
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Dollars & Sense for College Students Creative ways to pay for college
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By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender
aying for a college can be a major issue – and expense – for students and their parents. There are ways, however, to be creative while using common-sense strategies. One local financial aid professional said regardless of the method a student uses to pay for college, there is one thing they should always remember. “Start early,” said Marisol Garza, assistant director for outreach and customer service at the University of Houston Downtown.” Garza added that there are various creative ways to help finance a college education.
Take dual credit classes
Courses offered for dual credit allow high school junior or seniors to enroll in a college course and simultaneously earn college credit and high school credit for the course. “Many high schools work with community colleges to offer these classes, and they offer them either free or at very low cost,” Garza said. “So students can graduate high school with a year’s worth of college credit classes under their belt.” According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, studies show that dual credit courses increase the likelihood that a student will complete high school and enroll in college. In addition, new graduates enter the workforce earlier and begin to earn wages.
Get a paid internship
Paid summer internships let students earn money while learning new skills and building their resumes. “I tell students they can start applying for internships even in their senior year in high school,” Garza said. “For example, if they’re enrolled in a technical program in their high school for engineering, they can start looking for engineering internships their senior year.”
Consider public service
AmeriCorps is an example of a program that helps college students pay for their education. Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Full-time members who complete their service earn an education award to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. During their service, members receive
health coverage, training, and student loan deferment. About half the members also receive a modest annual living allowance.
Check out TEXAS Grant
Garza encourages eligible students to look into the Toward Excellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant program. The state legislature established the program in 1999 to provide funds to academically prepared high school graduates with financial need. “TEXAS Grant is available to high school students who choose to graduate on a distinguished or recommended plan, which is basically a more challenging graduation requirement plan,” Garza said. The grant can be used at any public institution of higher education in Texas. The maximum award amount is equal to the statewide average of a student’s tuition and required fees.
Apply for a Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on the student’s expected family contribution, the cost of attendance, the student’s enrollment status and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less.
Go where you’re wanted
Finding a college or university that’s dying to have you as a student could lower your education costs. It has been said that every student is a star at the right college, and star students could get discounts for their education. A college that really wants you might find the scholarships and financial aid to keep you.
Students in need of college money can be creative.
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gher Ed Planning helps manage student debt Family Features
In an increasingly competitive global market, education is becoming more important. But many families find the cost of education to be outside their grasp. According to a study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education, from the 2001-02 to the 2010-11 academic year, the cost of attending a four-year undergraduate in-state school rose by 47.3 percent. With ever-increasing education expenses, many families are accumulating significant debt, putting students further behind. However, with planning and financial management, students can control their finances. Here are some tips for parents of soon-tobe college students. Start the conversation. Talk with other parents, teachers and guidance counselors about the cost of education. Make contact with the student financial aid offices of the colleges on your child’s list and get an accurate estimate of the cost of each institute. Most importantly, talk with your child. It is imperative your child learns the budgeting process as they will soon be managing their finances away from home. Set a budget and stick to it. Once you have a set budget, add wiggle room for other unforeseeable expenses. Make sure you set this budget realistically. Calculating the cost of pens and pencils may seem ludicrous, but if you’re on a tight budget, every expense counts. Get connected. Tracking your financial spending is easier than ever. From smart phone apps to free financial planning software, you can get an accurate financial report at any time. Research banks to determine which ones offer services to help you stay on top of your budget. Also, consider linking your banking account with your child’s, to easily transfer funds online. Make a plan. When taking on debt, it is important to have a plan for paying it off. Calculate the monthly payments and time it will take your child to pay off the debt. Research salary ranges for the field in which your child plans to pursue a career to understand the debt they can realistically carry. Find more information and calculators to help determine payment schedules and interest rates at www.direct. ed.gov. Do your research. Before taking out a student loan, look to other options, such as financial aid and scholarships. While some scholarships are awarded on academic merit, others are given based upon both academic performance and community service.
Students in need of college money can be creative.
Helping students handle money Family Features
Money management is one skill that can be difficult for young adults to master as they head off on their own. But no matter what stage of life – whether they’re entering college or the workforce – every young adult should learn how to handle his or her money.
Make a budget
Sit down with your student and map out all monthly expenses. Include room and board or rent, books, supplies, food, personal care and medications, transportation, gas, entertainment (including dining out, movies and walking around money, etc.), and payment for phone, mobile devices, cable and Internet access. Then, figure out income. This can include money from a job, financial aid, student loans and any support from you. Income and expenses need to balance. There are plenty of online tools you can use to figure out a budget. Some, such as www.mint.com or some bank websites, can help students manage their budgets, making it easy for them to take care of it themselves. There are also budgeting tips and
worksheets at websites such as www. smartaboutmoney.org. Also determine needs vs. wants. It might seem like a latte every morning is a necessity to jump-start the day, but those kinds of little expenses can add up quickly. A recent study by Westwood College found that 40 percent of the average student’s budget is being spent on “discretionary” spending. Included is entertainment (6.5 percent), apparel and services (6.7 percent), travel and vacation (4.7 percent). Have your student do the math on how much some of their “necessities” will cost them, and then talk about how to weigh purchase decisions.
Plan ahead
A little planning can also help young adults spend less and get more value for their dollar. • Cellphone – Consider an unlimited plan to avoid overage charges. • Food – Coupons and digital deals can cut the costs of dining out. Look into the college meal plan – and use it. Save on snacks by stocking up at the grocery store instead of buying from a vending machine or convenience store.
• Clothing – Thrift stores, consignment shops and yard sales are affordable ways to find something fun to wear. • Entertainment – Encourage them to take advantage of free activities on campus with their student ID. Advise your student to decide how much he or she can spend when going out with friends, and then only take that much money with them. In addition, students must be smart about credit cards. Many students sign up for a credit card right away, and before they know it, they are thousands of dollars in debt. Make sure they understand the impact of interest rates. Also, discuss setting limitations on using a credit card to avoid non-academic debt, such as using it only for emergencies, travel or school expenses, or only charging what they can pay back on time the next month (including interest). Equipping your student with some basic financial skills will help them make wise money choices now and for the rest of their lives.
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Higher Ed
Things to know about the SAT By ASWAD WALKER Defender
What is the SAT? The SAT is a highly reliable standardized measure of college readiness used in the admission process at nearly all fouryear, not-for-profit undergraduate colleges and universities in the United States. Studies regularly demonstrate that the best predictor of college success is the combination of SAT scores and high school grades. What does scoring entail? The highest possible SAT score is 800 in critical reading, 800 in mathematics and 800 in writing, making the highest possible score 2400. Why was the SAT created? The SAT was created in 1926 by the College Board’s membership of educators to democratize access to college for all students. What does the SAT measure? The SAT tests the reading, mathematics and writing skills and knowledge students acquire as part of a rigorous high school curriculum. The SAT also measures how well students can apply their knowledge, a
factor that educators and researchers agree is critical to success in college. How many students take the SAT? Nearly 3 million students take the SAT each academic year at nearly 7,000 test centers in more than 170 countries. More than 1.66 million students in the high school class of 2012 took the SAT at least once during high school. How many times should a student take the SAT? The vast majority of students take the SAT once or twice, and the College Board does not recommend that students take the SAT more than twice. There is no evidence to support the idea that taking the SAT more than twice results in significant score gains. When should students take the SAT? For most students, the optimal testing schedule is to take the SAT once during the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of their senior year. How much does it cost to take the test? The registration fee during the 2012-13 school year is $50. Source: The College Board
HCC keeps Houston working Houston Community College is working to align education with industry standards that allow students to transition easily from the classroom to the workforce, while meeting the needs of business and industry. HCC is helping the local, state and national economy by successfully responding to the region’s workforce and business development needs. The college continues to prepare the emerging workforce by providing students with greater access to career options; serving employers through flexible and customized training; and, offering portable skills and credentials to incumbent, displaced workers, or those seeking a career change. Focused on Houston’s high growth, high demand industries (energy, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and global supply & logistics, information technology, personal services and business), HCC produces a pipeline of highly qualified professionals to enter the workforce or transfer to universities and pursue further studies. Today’s students are attending HCC because they know they can get the education and training they need for a very competitive work environment. They choose HCC for its accessibility, quality of education and affordability. Many of today’s students are workers who are returning to college in search of a more stable career and a better life. Houston Community College understands that it is crucial to provide them with educational opportunities that look towards the future and are essential for their own and our region’s success. A record number of students graduated from HCC this year. More than 4,600 students completed their associate degrees or certificates of completion. HCC is not only providing education and relevant training, it is changing people’s lives. Houston Community College keeps Houston working.
We keep Houston working. enroll today at hccs.edu
The reasons people choose HCC are as diverse as the Houstonians we serve. And no institution does more to get students where they’re going faster than HCC. We keep Houston working with affordable tuition, innovative courses, and convenient locations.
We keep houston working 4.79 x 6.5.indd 1
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Higher Ed
Tips on picking the right college Selecting a college is one of the biggest decisions a young person will make. The College Board has some tips on picking an institution of higher learning that’s right for you. Decide what you want in a college. Ask yourself what’s important to you, where you want to be and who you want to become. Then you can figure out what types of colleges will allow you to reach your goals. Consider certain aspects. They include size of the college, cost, location, campus atmosphere, distance from home, makeup of the student body, available classes and majors, extracurricular activities. Also, what you want to accomplish in college? Do you want to train for a specific job or get a wide-ranging education? Keep an open mind. Stay open to all the possibilities at the beginning of your search. Also, challenge your assumptions about what will work for you. For example, don’t think that a large university isn’t right for you because you attended a small high school. Talk to people who know you. Tell parents, teachers, relatives, family friends and your school counselor about your goals, and ask if they can suggest colleges that may be a good fit for you. Do your homework. Once you have a list of possible schools, check out college guidebooks and websites. Get answers to questions you might have by talking to your school counselor or teachers, contacting college admission officials and visiting campuses.
Choosing...Continued from page 1B ....
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Each choice has pros and cons. The larger, wealthier Ivy Leagues give more scholarships to those with limited funds. However, HBCUs offer cheaper tuitions overall. Also, some employers might perceive a degree from a large, predominantly white degree more legitimate than a degree from a smaller or minority college. Yet many HBCUs can match any degree program in areas ranging from medicine to business to education. In addition, HBCUs offer shelter from racial tensions that can surface at mostly white campuses. With either choice, family tradition might play a role. Karen Thomas attended historically black Alcorn State in Mississippi after she was offered a full scholarship for track. “Lamar University in Beaumont also offered me a track scholarship but I turned that down,” said Thomas of the mostly white campus. “It was only a partial scholarship and my mom couldn’t afford to send me to school, so I went to Alcorn because it was paid for.” Thomas, 35, now teaches math and science at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Crosby. Born in McNair, a predominately Black community near Baytown,
Thomas attended integrated schools. It was difficult to blend in and nearly impossible to be a Black homecoming queen or cheerleader. When Thomas’ daughter, Madison, 3, becomes a high school graduate, she will be exposed to HBCUs and mainstream colleges. “I will encourage Madison to attend a HBCU because she needs that cultural experience,” Thomas said. “But if she is offered a scholarship to attend a mostly white college then that’s where she will go.” Alesha Richard, 21, chose to attend Lamar University because of strong emotional ties to the Beaumont school. Richard, who will earn a biology degree in December 2013, wanted to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, Ashley, who was killed in an auto accident. At the time, Ashley was attending Lamar to become a pharmacist. “I decided to go to Lamar to pick up where she left off and accomplish not only my goals, but hers as well,” Richard said. “This is in memory of my sister.” Richard said that it all comes down to what is best for a student. “It is important for the Black race to expand our education,” Richard said. “But we are individuals who can now make our own decisions and do what we feel is more comfortable for us.”
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Higher Ed
TSU marks 85 years of excellence For 85 years Texas Southern University has created legends and leaders. With cutting-edge programs designed to meet the needs of the 21st century job market housed within a thriving urban campus, our graduates are prepared to blaze trails in their chosen fields. The undergraduate experience at Texas Southern combines the advantages of living in the country’s fourth largest city – home of the world renowned Texas Medical Center and Port of Houston –with the benefits of a caring, family environment that offers a wide array of student support services to guide you from admission to graduation. Once the “best kept secret in higher education,” Texas Southern University is now on everyone’s radar thanks in large part to the Renaissance of Excellence taking place on campus, which is located in Houston’s historic Third Ward. The university’s Urban Academic Village and Student Academic Enhancement Services office provides first and second-year students with the 24/7, holistic support needed to achieve your educational goals. TSU is fast attracting the nation’s best students by offering them a diverse, challenging and cutting-edge curriculum through our Thomas F. Freeman Honors College. Our venerated Department of Transportation Studies offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in its flagship program – the Maritime Transportation Management and Security program launched two years ago through $2 million partnership with the Houston Port Authority. If education is your passion, Texas Southern has produced graduates that represent one of the largest percentages of administrators and teachers in HISD. But just as impressive, 27 percent of all African-American pharmacists in the country graduate from TSU. Moreover, TSU is the second largest producer of pharmacists in Texas. TSU’s environmental health program is the only National Environmental Health Sciences and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) accredited program in Texas. The environmental health program prepares graduates to enter the workforce in air and water quality control, solid and hazardous waste management, occupational health, industrial hygiene, and safety control. Recognizing that inequalities in access to health services and the unequal burden of disease are at the forefront of problems in healthcare, TSU’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has incorporated health disparities courses into the curricula. These are just a few examples of the many programs preparing students to become legends and leaders in today’s and tomorrow’s workforce. TSU offers a degree in Entertainment and the
The TSU campus is a landmark in historic Third Ward.
Students at graduation exemplify TSU’s diversity.
For 85 years Texas Southern University has symbolized excellence in education.
Recording Industry Management, enhanced by hands-on experience gained at the award-winning, KTSU-FM radio station or our state-of-the-art cable television broadcast studio. Or, with a degree earned from the Barbara Jordan -Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs buttressed by fluency in Mandarin Chinese gained through the prestigious Confucius Institute, you are well on your way to becoming the change you want to see in the world. And this change can take place on our historic campus, or in the comfort of your own home, as TSU offers multiple online education options. TSU offers two unique executive MBAs, one for general business and one with a specialization in energy finance, a good field for those who intend to become executives in energy companies. Both programs emphasize virtual teamwork and skills in leadership, strategy, decision-making and accountability.
TSU’s online Executive MBA Program (eMBA) offers a curriculum uniquely designed to meet the growing demand for mid-career professionals in the public sector who wish to pursue an executive master of business administration degree. This program was recently ranked No. 5 in a ranking of the Top 10 Best Online Executive MBA Programs by B-MBA Magazine. Moreover, Texas Southern’s College of Education offers an online Master of Education, further promoting the convenience of the virtual classroom. TSU has also expanded its academic programs to the highest growth areas of Houston, partnering with Lone Star College to provide students with a Northwest Campus. So, whether online or on campus, you can be part of a legacy that is 85 years young and growing – the legacy of legends and leaders produced by Texas Southern University.
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“TSU has given me countless ways to grow, both academically and personally. It’s a place that lets me explore my full potential.”
To find out how you can be a part of TSU Now, visit
www.tsu.edu.
F OCTOBER 18 | 2012 | DEFENDER
I’sis Green ’13
Honors Scholar Classification: Senior Major: Early Childhood Bilingual Education
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Higher Ed
Today’s hot technical careers By ASWAD WALKER Defender
Jobs requiring a certain level of technical proficiency are among the hottest in the nation in terms of recent new hires. According to Christopher Akil Lee, a technical change analyst at NorthgateArinso, Inc. in Florida, engineering has been and remains the foundational “hot” tech career. “It’s always better to be in the position of creating something rather than using or configuring what someone else created; that’s where engineering comes in,” said Lee. “There would be no high tech careers without engineers.” Lee noted that engineering has not been hit as hard by the recession. “Engineers with good communication and business skills often become company leaders because they have the vision and expertise to move the company forward,” added Lee, who after earning his bachelor’s and
master’s electrical engineering degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) has worked in the field for over 28 years. Along with engineering, Lee added systems analyst (average salary, $76,000), IT support staff ($69,000), IT graphic design ($62,000) and computer programmer ($77,000) as jobs in high demand today. For systems analysts, many expect this career to show tremendous growth throughout this current decade. To qualify for this position, a minimum bachelor’s degree in computer science, management information systems or information science is a prerequisite. Support staff is responsible for troubleshooting, and are paid high salaries because of the range of problems they are expected to diagnose and solve. An associate degree or
simple technical training would suffice initially, but for career advancement, constant upgrade of skills is necessary. Most graphic designers are self-taught, but a bachelor’s degree in visual arts, graphic design or another related discipline is recommended. Computers and hardware require software to run and code for this software needs to be written. This need allows computer programmers to remain in high demand. To qualify, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree is sufficient for an entry-level job, but
skills need to be continually updated to keep up with the fast-paced computer industry. “The HCC Coleman College offers several levels of electronic medical records training, from data entry specialist to health information management,” said Brian Waddle, public relations director of HCC’s John B. Coleman, M.D. College for Health Sciences. “By 2015, and as part of the Affordable Care Act, all Americans are required to have an electronic medical record (EMR), which replaces traditional paper documents, saving millions of tax-payer dollars in Medicare and Medicaid costs. There are thousands of openings around the nation in EMRs and hundreds in Houston alone.” Waddle says individuals in these careers can expect to earn anywhere between $30,000 and $120,000 an-
nually depending on their educational level. “If a student has a background in either health care or IT, they will quality for the Hi-Tech Program, which is offered as continuing education (at HCC). Otherwise a student can choose one of the programs in the Health Information Technology department,” he added. Lee believes community colleges can provide a springboard to most of today’s hot tech careers, but suggests pre-college students enroll in dual enrollment (high school / college credit earning) programs where available; join robotics, math, and programming clubs; and engage free online tutorials and open courseware from colleges and universities like MIT to learn programming, video game design, and other technical subjects. “Starting early in technology is important because it allows students to develop an ‘I can do this’ attitude,” said Lee. “It’s never been so easy to be a geek!”
“ . . . no amount of purely academic study can substitute for the deep learning that results from human interaction—studying and working within a group of diverse individuals.” — Bill Powers
President, The University of Texas at Austin
www.utexas.edu/diversity/