Lone Star College System
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Lone Star College System (LSCS) is a publicly funded, two-year, United States community college system serving the northern portions of the Greater Houston, Texas, area.
With 49,250 students, it is the largest college system in the Houston area, and third largest community college district in Texas.
As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of LSCS includes territory within the following school districts:[1]
(*)district included in service area by state law, but is not part of the tax base.
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[edit] History and Name Changes
The voters of the Aldine, Spring, and Humble school districts created North Harris County College in 1972 and opened the college for classes in 1973.
The district expanded in 1991 to cover neighboring Montgomery County and adopted the new name of North Harris Montgomery Community College District.
As the district expanded to include areas outside north Harris and Montgomery Counties, the Board of Trustees decided the District's current name did not adequately define the service area, plus it was hard to remember and was quite lengthy. During the first semester of the 2007 - 2008 school year, trustees initiated a name-change process using an online voting system [1]; among the options was the name Lone Star College System which was offered as 1) two of the colleges (Lone Star College-North Harris and Lone Star College-Montgomery) already included the name and 2) the 75th Texas Legislature adopted HR1123, recognizing Montgomery County as the birthplace of Flag of Texas, known for its single star which serves as the state motto.
The name Lone Star College System was selected by those voting, and on November 1, 2007, the Board of Trustees officially approved Lone Star College System as the District's new name.
[edit] Website redesign
Lone Star College is in the process of updating their website. A new website is expected by January, 2009 with the help of the community including the 11 Independent School Districts that are part of the College System. More information about LSCS website redesign can be found along with a web survey at Lone Star College
[edit] Campuses
- Lone Star College-Cy-Fair (uninc. Harris County)
- Lone Star College-CyFair, opened 2003, serves more than 11,000 students with unique programs in fire science technology, logistics management and sonography. The library is a joint project between LSCS and the Harris County Public Library.
- Satellite Campus: Fairbanks Center.
- Lone Star College-Kingwood (Houston)
- Kingwood College, opened 1984, serves more than 7,200 students and has distinct offerings in interior design, respiratory care and dental hygiene.
- Satellite Campus: EMCID Center | High School Campuses: Cleveland High School and Atascocita High School.
- Lone Star College-Montgomery (uninc. Montgomery County)
- Montgomery College, opened 1992, serves more than 8,000 students and is the only Lone Star College System campus to offer biotechnology and physical therapist assistant degrees.
- Satellite Campus: Conroe Center
- Lone Star College-North Harris (uninc. Harris County)
- North Harris College, opened 1973, serves more than 11,000 students and is the district’s only source for automotive technology, health information technology, child development and family studies, paralegal studies,and pharmacy technology programs.
- Satellite Campuses: Greenspoint Center and Carver Center. | High School Campus: MacArthur High School (Fall 2008) [2]
- Lone Star College-Tomball (Tomball)
- Tomball College, opened 1988, serves more than 7,800 students and is home to the district’s only veterinary technology and wireless telecommunications tech prep programs. The Tomball College and Community Library is a joint project between LSCS and the Harris County Public Library.
- Satellite Campus: Willow Chase Center | High School Campuses: Klein Oak High School and Magnolia West High School.
- Lone Star College-University Center (The Woodlands, uninc. Montgomery County)
- The University Center is a partnership between LSCS and six Texas universities through which district students can pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as well as post-baccalaureate teacher certifications.
[edit] Bond Election
On March 7, 2008 LSCS calls and approves $420 million bond election for May 10. The board upheld its promise not to increase property taxes by cutting $41.7 million from the original bond proposal, which totaled more than $460 million. The system plans to concentrate on health and science facilities due to a critical shortage of healthcare workers and emergency medical technicians, most of whom are trained at community colleges, prompting the inclusion of a new health professions building at Lone Star College-North Harris and a science and health building at the Montgomery campus. LSCS last attempt to pass more than $200 million in the bond election of November 2006 failed. [3] [4]
May 10, 2008 Bond Election Results: [5]
| Proposition | Total Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| For | 13,574 | 62.25% |
| Against | 8,232 | 37.75% |
| TOTAL | 21,806 | 100.0% |
[edit] By the numbers
- $263.4 million: Instructional facilities
- $44.2 million: Student services facilities
- $38.3 million: Traffic and safety
- $25.9 million: Technology infrastructure
- $20.1 million: Five percent bond costs/inflation/contingencies
- $15.3 million: Academic support facilities
- $8.7 million: Plant system replacements
- $4.1 million: Administrative support facilities
[edit] References
- ^ Texas Education Code, Section 130.191, "North Harris Montgomery Community College System District Service Area".
- ^ LSC-Greenspoint Center Announces Credit Classes Offered at MacArthur High School Beginning Fall 2008
- ^ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5600785.html Chron.com - $420 million bond election
- ^ http://www.lonestar.edu/133100/ LSCS Bond Proposal
- ^ Election Results
