| Laredo Community College | |
|---|---|
| Established | September 28, 1947 |
| Type | Community College |
| Budget | $48.3 million (2011-2012) |
| President | Juan L. Maldonado |
| Academic staff |
210 Full-time (Fall 2010) |
| Students |
10,029 (Fall 2010) |
| Location | Laredo, Texas, United States |
| Campus | Main: 300 acres (1.2 km²) South |
| Mascot | Palominos |
| Website | Laredo Community College |
The Laredo Community College, or LCC, was established as Laredo Junior College on September 28, 1947, by the Laredo Independent School District in Laredo, the seat of Webb County in south Texas. It adopted its present name in 1993.
Throughout a period of time the Main Campus (located at historic Fort McIntosh) also housed both the former Laredo State University and Texas A&I University at Laredo, which later relocated as Texas A&M International University to its new campus off the Bob Bullock Loop in northeast Laredo. The district since expanded in 2004 to include two campuses—the Main Campus and the South Campus.
As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of LCC includes the municipality of Laredo and all of Webb, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties.[1]
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The LCC budget for 2010-2011, as approved by the nine-member board of trustees, was $49.73 million; more than $9 million of that amount came from student tuition. The college property tax rate is $0.2365 per $100 of assessed valuation. Enrollment for the fall of 2010 is 10,029, an increase of 8.25 percent from the fall of 2009. The institution has 210 faculty and 300 classified staff.[2]
LCC President Juan L. Maldonado announced on January 25, 2011, that recent projected budget shortfalls by the State of Texas will compel LCC to freeze some vacant positions, contracted services, and equipment purchases. The college could face a 7 percent cut in funds derived from the state and other monies as well used to fund employee health insurance.[3]Maldonado noted that LCC services must expand over the coming decade because of an anticipated 60,000 to 70,000 new jobs created regionally through the Eagle Ford shale exploration project.[4]
The 2011-2012 LCC budget is $48.3 million, or a decrease of 1.43 million from the preceding year. The state reduced its funding to LCC from $17 million in 2010 to $13.5 million in 2011 in appropriations, health insurance, and retirement benefits. The $3.5 million reduction represents a nearly 21 percent decrease in state funding for the college. State funds are disbursed according to student enrollment. Because of the decline in state revenues, the LCC board increased the property tax rate by 1.51 cents per $100 of assessed value. Three LCC trustees also proposed a one-time $300 bonus for faculty and staff, but the recommendation failed on a tie vote, with three other trustees absent or not voting. Hence salaries were frozen for 2011-2011 for the first time in many years.[5]
Work is underway at LCC on a $110 million master facilities plan first unveiled in 2008. Funding for the master plan is unrelated to the $48.3 million operating budget but is a separate capital outlay account. The initial phase is the construction of the $14.7 million Taylor Academic Building at the site of the former Killam dormitories. The three-story, 111,045-square-foot (10,316.4 m2) facility will offer new classrooms, computer labs, and faculty offices. Groundbreaking for the academic building was held on September 15, 2010, in what LCC President Juan Maldonado called "the beginning of a journey."[6]
The renovation plan is divided into four phases, including $15,000 worth of work to the President's Home and an $11.3 million visual and performing arts building, later trimmed to $9.6 million. The initial plan did not propose a new academic building because of the costs, but the LCC trustees decided instead in 2009 to build a new permanent facility instead of less expensive but temporary piecemeal renovations. Maldonado said the trustees "took a pre-calculated risk . . . and made a decision to move forward."[6] Former trustees president Pete Saenz, a Laredo attorney, said at the groundbreaking, "We can't depend on anyone else," a reference to declining state funds for community colleges.[6]
On March 2, 2011, LCC launched construction on the Visual and Performing Arts Center located on the north end of the campus near Fort McIntosh Park. The 47,000-square-foot (4,400 m2) structure will house studios and lecture labs for ceramics, art metals, drawing, painting and digital art. There will also be instructional rooms for the study of dance and percussion music.[4]
The main campus, also called the Fort McIntosh Campus because of its location on historic Fort McIntosh, is situated at the west end of Washington Street in downtown Laredo. The campus has many of the original U.S. Army buildings from the old fort along with modern buildings from the 1940s to the 1980s, which now house studios, classrooms, and home to the President of the College. The campus is situated on a small hill on the bend above the Rio Grande. The campus has nearly thirty buildings.
Main landmarks are:
Memorial Hall (previously University Hall) houses main administrative offices, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Assessment Center, Bursar's Office, Advising, and classrooms.
Kazen College Center (popularly called "The Kazen") is located on the Main Mall. The building is named for the late U.S. Representative Abraham Kazen, Jr., of Laredo. The student center provides a central place for student activities. The first floor houses the Cafeteria, Student Activities Office, Dining Rooms, Television lounges, Meeting rooms, Viewing rooms and the Bookstore. The second floor houses the Job Readiness Center, Game Room, Student Galleries, and Health Services office. The center of the building has a two-story atrium equipped with seating and tables for students to study, dine, and hang out. The Atrium is also equipped with a stage, lights, and speakers for performances.
Harold Yeary Library, named for Laredo businessman, school board member, and civic leader Harold R. Yeary (1908–1969), houses books, periodicals, references, computer labs, and study rooms for student uses. There are about 138,050 articles in literature and about 538 current periodicals and 63 online subscriptions. The library also houses the Fort McIntosh Gallery which features a gallery of photos and paintings of the old fort. The library has a seating capacity of 580. Both Harold Yeary and his son, Amber Milton Yeary, II (born 1938), also of Laredo, served as past presidents of the Texas School Boards Association.
Maravillo Gymnasium - Named for the first Laredoan to die in the line of duty in World War II, Corporal Quintin Maravillo, the gym is located at the end of the main mall atop a small hill. The building was dedicated to the memory of LCC students who have died in war. The gymnasium and classroom building supports the LCC Kinesiology, Athletics, and Intramural Sports programs.
Martinez Performing Fine Arts Center - Completed in 2003, this facility is the hub of instructional activity for the LCC Music, Dance and Visual Arts programs. It contains sculpture and photography laboratories, state of the art music laboratories and a 500-seat auditorium for performance arts. It is named for the late philanthropists Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez, whose family foundation provided financial support for constructing and equipping the facility. On April 17, 2011, the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, under conductor Brendan Townsend, completed its 31st season at the Martinez Center.[7]
Dr. Joaquin G. Cigarroa, Jr., Science Laboratory Building, a new facility, houses laboratories for the Science Department. It is named for a Laredo physician long active in the promotion of medical education. The building is named for a long-time Laredo physician who in his eighties still practices.
Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center, named for a deceased Laredo philanthropist, this facility is a living laboratory for students of all ages to study mathematics, science and other related disciplines. The center contains representations of the Rio Grande ecosystem and live specimens of plant and animal life. Local school children take part in the center's eco-curriculum through instructional tours scheduled on weekdays throughout the school year.
Arechiga Hall, primarily an historic building used for faculty offices, is a restoration of the officers' quarters at the previous Fort McIntosh. It is named for LCC President Domingo Arechiga (1926–1987).
Lerma-Pena Learning Center has a large computer-based learning laboratory on the ground floor and classrooms on the second level. It is located behind the LCC entrance sign. The building is named for two Laredo firefighters who perished in a fire on campus in January 1974.
Fort McIntosh Park - This recreation complex has an unheated swimming pool, baseball field, softball field, batting cages, H.E. Butt Tennis Courts, and concession facilities for student athletics and recreational programs. The LCC tennis team in May 2009 won its fifth consecutive national title and was honored by the Laredo City Council.
Crispin "Doc" Sanchez Baseball Field - Within Fort McIntosh Park, the baseball field is named for the college's former athletic director, dean of student services, and promoter of Hispanic educational opportunities, Crispin Sanchez.
The Laredo Community College South Campus, located at 5500 South Zapata Highway (U.S. Highway 83) at coordinates: , was established to extend the college's mission to the growing residential area of south Laredo. More than 80 percent of voters approved a $50 million bond issue to construct the second campus, which was completed in the spring of 2004. The 60-acre (240,000 m2) campus contains seven buildings and will be expanded in the future to develop athletic and recreational fields and courts. The campus sits on a small valley near the bank of the Rio Grande. The campus was created to give opportunity to the citizens in the southern areas and suburbs of Laredo.
Academic and Advanced Technology Center - Computer and science laboratories, lecture halls, classrooms and faculty offices fill the Academic and Advanced Technology Center. The building's first floor contains offices for the Child Development Department and the LCC Community Education Department. The second floor contains offices for the LCC Computer Electronics Department, language laboratories for the study of English and foreign languages, and distance education classrooms.
Hall Student Center - Named for the late State Representative William N. "Billy" Hall, Jr., this two-story facility is designed to become the hub of student life, including: Meeting and Conference Rooms, Bursar's Office, Financial Aid Office, Counseling Center, Admissions Office, Bookstore, Cafeteria, TV Room, Assessment Center, Mailroom, Print Services, Student Computer Resource Room, Student Employment Services, Campus Nurse, and administrative offices.
Raquel Gonzalez Automotive Technology Center -- Named for former LCC trustee Raquel Gonzalez, the center trains future mechanics in the latest techniques in automotive repair and maintenance.
Prada Child Development Center - The new LCC Child Development Laboratory is a model teaching area for LCC students who are taking early childhood development courses in preparation for education careers in the community's child care centers. It contains six classrooms for 2, 3 and 4 year-olds, a kitchen and two outdoor playgrounds. This facility is named for Camilo Prada, whose family developed the residential neighborhoods around the LCC South campus and provided student support through scholarships and other gifts.
Treviño Fitness Center - Named for the late LCC trustee J.C. Trevino, Jr., this Classroom and Fitness Center contains 13,600 square feet (1,260 m2) of space that will serve all students attending classes at LCC South with a gymnasium, fitness rooms, locker rooms and a therapy room with sauna. These facilities will also be used by the Regional Police Academy for its physical training component.
Senator Judith Zaffirini Library - The Zaffirini Library named for State Senator Judith Zaffirini is located on the LCC South campus in Building B. It is equipped with a Circulation desk, Reference Desk, a Media Center, a copy room, and a computer lab where bibliographic instruction is offered. Interlibrary loan services are available online and through the Circulation Desk, and bibliographic instruction sessions can be scheduled through the Reference Desk. The library has the capacity to house 18,000 volumes. Online and Internet services are readily available throughout the building.
In the summer of 2007, Juan Maldonado (born 1948), who holds a Ph.D. from Texas Woman's University in Denton, formerly the executive vice president of student development, succeeded Ramon H. Dovalina as the LCC president. Dovalina, a graduate of the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at Austin, had served in the top position since 1995. In September 2010, Maldonado received a contract extension, salary increase, performance bonus, and a $5,000 contribution to his tax-sheltered annuity retirement fund. His pay through August 2013 was set at $163,211 per year.[8]
Former LCC faculty member Jesse Porras is the newest trustee, having run unopposed in the election held on November 2, 2010. The current trustee president is Cynthia Mares, who in the 1980s had been the secretary to former LCC president Roger L. Worsley, now of Camden, Arkansas.
On September 28, 2007, the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of LCC, Dovalina and his predecessor as LCC president, Roger Worsley, were bestowed president-emeritus status. At the ceremony, Trustee Carlos Carranco, Jr., of Laredo, himself a former LJC student, told the Laredo Morning Times that the institution "from very humble beginnings has evolved to serve the needs of the community."
Jose C. "Pepe" Trevino, Jr. (May 31, 1930—March 27, 2007), was a prominent Laredo businessman, who served thirty-two years on the LCC board of trustees. He was particularly known for his promotion of youth activities but discouraged attention to his philanthropic endeavors, such as support for the Sacred Heart Children's Home orphanage and the Boys Club and Girls Club of Laredo. His hometown newspaper, the Laredo Morning Times, named him "Laredoan of the Year" for 2007.
Trevino was appointed to the LCC board by his future colleagues effective January 15, 1975, to fill the Position 4 seat vacated by Carlos H. Mata. He was then elected to five six-year terms, beginning on April 3, 1976. His last election was in May 2006, when he faced a stronger-than-usual opponent in former trustee Sabas Zapata, III, for a term of which Trevino completed less than one year. His last term would have extended until 2012. He was the board vice-president in 1986, 1990, and from 1992-1994. On the board, he was particularly known for his attention to details and was a constant advocate to keep down taxes and tuition.
Trevino established his Southern Enterprises beverage company in 1957 and was heavily involved in business ventures in both the United States and Mexico. He had been a director of the Laredo National Bank since 1975.
Trevino was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, across the Rio Grande from Laredo to Jose C. Trevino, Sr., and the former Victoria Salinas (1902–1981). He was a brother of Olga Trevino Barnes and Bebe Zuniga, who made a strong race for mayor of Laredo in 1990, and brother-in-law of Carlos Zuniga (1927-2011), a former member of the Laredo City Council. He graduated from Martin High School in 1947. That same year he married the former Rose Ella Tarver. The couple reared six children: Laredo attorney J.C. "Pepe" Trevino, III (born 1949), and wife Adrienne, Diana T. Garcia and husband Ricardo, Roberto Trevino and wife Prissy, Anna Laura Trevino, Guillermo Trevino and wife Tammy, and Carlos F. Trevino and wife Pauline. There were also fourteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Trevino died of cancer. Services were held at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral in Laredo. He was interred at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo. Monsignor Thomas A. Davis described his friend Trevino as a man of "deep faith", prayer, and courage. We always turned to Pepe for help. Most people will never know the good work he was doing because he did not seek notice or recognition."
The Trevino Fitness Center on the South Campus of Laredo Community Center is named in Trevino's honor. Trevino was succeeded on the board by Edward C. Sherwood, named in 2010 as board vice president.
Trevino references:
Kirsten Crow, "Farewell to Pepe: Family and friends pay final respects", Laredo Morning Times, April 1, 2007
Trevino obituary, Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, Laredo, Texas, March 30, 2007
"Death of J.C. "Pepe" Trevino, Jr.", Laredo Community College Public Information Office, March 27, 2007
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