TAMIU One of Five Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 2018 Star Award Finalists
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is one of five finalists for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) 2018 Star Awards for making exceptional contributions toward meeting one or more of the goals of the Texas higher education strategic plan, known as 60x30TX.
TAMIU was selected based on its project, “Service-Learning at Home and Abroad.” Other finalists include Palo Alto College, Houston Community College, Teach Denton Integrated Collaborative, and the University of Texas at Tyler.
The Star Award recognizes exceptional contributions toward meeting one or more of the goals of 60x30TX. These include: increasing the postsecondary educational attainment level of the State’s 25- to 34-year-old population; increasing the number of students completing a certificate, associate, bachelor’s or master’s from an institution of higher education in Texas; increasing the number of programs with identified marketable skills at Texas public institutions of higher education; and implementing programs or cost efficiencies that help to ensure that undergraduate student loan debt will not exceed 60 percent of first-year wages.
“TAMIU has embraced service-learning by making it an integral part of the University’s mission,” said Dr. Marcela Uribe, learning resources coordinator for the TAMIU Service Learning Center, “One of the most successful service-learning programs is a study abroad course in the Communication Sciences and Disorders taught in Belize by Dr. Melissa García, clinical associate professor from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.”
The course provides students with numerous academic, clinical and cultural experience students need to be successful in their future careers, Uribe said.
“As part of the program, students perform 50 hours or more of service during the study abroad experience, which helps them develop a unique perspective and professional skill set,” she said, “Through this international service-learning program, TAMIU achieves the second and third goals of the 60x30TX plan, which are completion of a four-year degree and development of marketable skills, respectively, that provide an educated and skilled workforce.”
García explained that the students in the course collaborate with teachers of the Stella Maris School for the Deaf in Belize to develop language-based lessons for children who have language development issues.
Uribe said students who have participated in the course have had a 100 percent graduation rate.
“This service-learning study abroad course exemplifies our mission and our commitment to ‘Going Beyond,’ ” she said, “Students go beyond their own culture, language and community. They apply their professional skills beyond the classroom in a collaborative relationship with teachers in Belize,” Uribe said.
She continued, “When they come back, they are motivated and ready to be the professionals they are meant to be. We are very proud of this program and excited for this nomination, it means our efforts are in the right place.”
Star Award finalists will be recognized during the Annual Star Awards Luncheon and Ceremony that will be held in conjunction with the 2018 Texas Higher Education Leadership Conference Nov. 29 - 30 in Austin.
The annual leadership conference brings together regents, trustees, chancellors, presidents, and other higher education leaders to discuss critical higher education issues such as the 60x30TX strategic plan.
For more information, please contact Uribe at 956.326.3133, email marcela.uribe@tamiu.edu or visit the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, room 223C.
University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.