College Profile:
Tarrant County College

Tarrant County College, a comprehensive two-year public college, is among the 10 largest colleges and universities in Texas. Four campuses, strategically located in Tarrant County, serve the North Texas county's 1.44 million residents: two campuses in Fort Worth, the county's largest city; one in Arlington, the second largest; and one in Hurst. Tarrant County College remains just as vigorous and dedicated as when we opened those doors of opportunity in 1965.

Academics

TCC's more than 30 academic areas and 50-plus career programs enroll more than 40,000 credit students annually. More than 30,000 additional people are served each year through "Community Campus," which offers non-credit, continuing education at multiple locations.

Day, evening, weekend, one-day-a-week, short-term, Internet, and instructional television courses are offered. The Associate of Arts degree prepares students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Students transferring from TCC frequently outperform all other transfers and students who start their education at the four-year schools.

The Associate of Applied Science degree and Certificate of Completion programs prepare students in one to two years for careers in fields such as aviation, automotive, and information technology; nursing and allied health; police and fire safety; hospitality and dietetics; and semiconductor manufacturing and railroad operations.

For the advanced student, TCC offers the Cornerstone Program, a humanities-based, academically challenging, honors curriculum designed for high-ability students whose goals are bachelor's degrees. The curriculum, leading to the Associate in Arts degree, features four Cornerstone Courses, one to be taught in each semester. Cornerstone Courses are team-taught and interdisciplinary. Course content is based on readings in the humanities and emphasizes critical thinking in both written and oral forms.

TCC is committed to providing a quality education through outstanding faculty members. The total number of faculty is 1,245 (468 full-time). More than 80 percent of credit faculty holds advanced degrees in their respective fields. The student-faculty ratio is 22:1.

Student Life

Fall 2001 enrollment was 28,852: 43 percent male, 57 percent female. Ethnic distribution is 67 percent white, 12 percent African American, 14 percent Hispanic, six percent Asian; and one percent other.

Although no on-campus housing is available, most students live in Tarrant or surrounding counties, which offer numerous housing options.

Student activities enhance the instructional program of TCC and support students in achieving their educational goals. The College has more than 100 student clubs and organizations, including Phi Theta Kappa honor society and student government, offering a variety of social, intellectual, cultural, and recreational opportunities for personal growth and development. The Student Activities Program promotes lectures, films, forums, multicultural events, and many other social activities. TCC also offers a variety of intramural sports and wellness activities. Intramurals provide organized team and individual activities on campus for all students, and facilities are made available for leisure time pursuits.

In addition to campus activities, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex provides world-class art and entertainment.

Facilities

Each campus has its own library. Combined, the libraries contain 162,331 volumes and 120 computer workstations, with additional ones being added. All campuses have well-equipped labs, classrooms, cafeterias, and exercise facilities. Parking is abundant and provides easy access to campus buildings.

Services

TCC provides special assistance for students with unique personal and/or academic needs. Various campus offices, in coordination with instructional and student support services, provide assistance for all students, including first-time college students and students identified as "at-risk," to improve their opportunities for academic success. These services include counseling, mentoring, tutoring, advisement, study skill assistance, and workshops.

The Center for Academic Success on South Campus and Campus Learning Centers on Northwest and Southeast Campuses provide special assistance in computerized tutorial programs and assessment instruments. Northeast Campus offers special services through the Counseling Center.

Retention programs are available on all campuses and are administered to help students successfully acclimate to the college environment.

Disability Support Services offers accommodations to students with disabilities. Services may include note takers, readers, tutors, arranged testing accommodations, closed circuit television, tape recorders, adaptive computers, and interpreters for the hearing impaired.

Financial Aid and Scholarship

TCC awards more than $9 million each year in financial aid and scholarships. Financial assistance is available to help students enrolled as regular students meet costs related to coursework at TCC.

Various scholarships are available throughout the academic year. Approximately 14 percent of students receive need-based financial aid.

The Texas Rehabilitation Commission offers assistance with tuition and nonrefundable fees to students who have certain disabling conditions. Through this state agency, other rehabilitation services are available to assist persons with a disability to become employable.

TCC provides lower tuition—from one-third to one-half the cost of tuition and fees at a public university and about one-twelfth the cost of a private university—making an education within financial reach and helping with assistance when it is not.

Provided by Pamela Smith, TCC Public Relations and Marketing.