Houston Center for Engineering

November 1, 2012

UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler, HCC Establish Houston Center for Engineering

November 1, 2012

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

November 1, 2012

The University of Texas at Tyler, in partnership with Houston Community College, has established the new UT Tyler Houston Center for Engineering to help Houston area students earn a four-year degree, Dr. Alisa White, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, announced.

Beginning fall 2013, students in the Houston area will have the convenience of taking HCC and UT Tyler courses at the center, located on the HCC Alief Campus.

This collaboration will also save students nearly 50 percent in tuition costs. Through the Houston Center for Engineering program, students may obtain both an HCC associate’s degree and UT Tyler bachelor’s degree in either electrical or mechanical engineering for about $20,000.

“We’re excited about the partnership. It’s all about the students and giving them the opportunity to attend two excellent institutions to fulfill their goals,” UT Tyler President Rodney Mabry said. “This is the first time in Texas that a two-plus-two program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology is available to students. Through this program, we have solved a problem, and that’s a national change for students.”

The program offers significant advantages to HCC students when considering transfer to UT Tyler or other engineering schools nationwide. It is also designed to support the engineering field and the businesses that offer highly skilled job opportunities.

“We appreciate UT Tyler’s commitment to work with HCC,” said Dr. Mary Spangler, HCC Chancellor. “This is a terrific opportunity for our students; it provides them with a seamless transition into the baccalaureate program and a direct line into good paying jobs with employers who need workers with this level of training and expertise.”

Composed of six colleges serving the Greater Houston area, HCC offers associate degrees, certificates, workforce training and lifelong learning opportunities for 75,000 students each semester.

UT Tyler has an enrollment of almost 7,000 students and offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as two doctoral programs.