College Day set for 2009
Community college students given a chance to lobby lawmakers.
Michael Hinton
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: News
Community College Student Day in which students travel to Austin to meet with the Texas Legislature about issues concerning Texas community colleges will not take place this year because the Texas Legislature is not in session.
The Texas Legislature meets January through May of odd numbered years.
Last February, more than 30 San Jacinto College students from the Student Government Association traveled to Austin and met with lawmakers from the San Jacinto District. There they joined 1500 other community college students gathered for the state-wide event.
Community College Student Day will take place again in the spring of 2009, and San Jacinto College has planned to participate again.
"Community College Student Day is an opportunity for community college students to lobby their lawmakers about the importance of state funding for community colleges," SGA sponsor Ben Fraser said.
Students get to meet directly with lawmakers from their district and discuss any concerns they have about community colleges.
According to the Texas Community College Teachers Association, for every dollar a student invests in community college education, they will receive $9.05 in higher future earnings over the next 30 years. Seventy-six percent of minority freshmen and sophomores attending public institutions of higher education are attending Texas public community colleges.
Community college students almost exactly mirror the ethnic diversity of Texas, making these schools crucial to the success of the "Closing the Gaps" initiative. A study done by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board confirms that transfer students from community colleges are as successful as those who begin their studies at universities.
These are all possible arguments that could be stressed by students to legislators in the 2009 session. Participating in Community College Student Day is not limited to students involved in the SGA; all San Jacinto students are allowed to attend.
"Usually members from the SGA attend, but all students are welcome and encouraged to attend," SGA sponsor Amy Brandon said.
Students who are interested in attending the event in 2009 should contact Fraser at Central or Brandon at North.
The Texas Legislature meets January through May of odd numbered years.
Last February, more than 30 San Jacinto College students from the Student Government Association traveled to Austin and met with lawmakers from the San Jacinto District. There they joined 1500 other community college students gathered for the state-wide event.
Community College Student Day will take place again in the spring of 2009, and San Jacinto College has planned to participate again.
"Community College Student Day is an opportunity for community college students to lobby their lawmakers about the importance of state funding for community colleges," SGA sponsor Ben Fraser said.
Students get to meet directly with lawmakers from their district and discuss any concerns they have about community colleges.
According to the Texas Community College Teachers Association, for every dollar a student invests in community college education, they will receive $9.05 in higher future earnings over the next 30 years. Seventy-six percent of minority freshmen and sophomores attending public institutions of higher education are attending Texas public community colleges.
Community college students almost exactly mirror the ethnic diversity of Texas, making these schools crucial to the success of the "Closing the Gaps" initiative. A study done by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board confirms that transfer students from community colleges are as successful as those who begin their studies at universities.
These are all possible arguments that could be stressed by students to legislators in the 2009 session. Participating in Community College Student Day is not limited to students involved in the SGA; all San Jacinto students are allowed to attend.
"Usually members from the SGA attend, but all students are welcome and encouraged to attend," SGA sponsor Amy Brandon said.
Students who are interested in attending the event in 2009 should contact Fraser at Central or Brandon at North.
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