09.21.2009
Concordia University Texas Joins East Williamson County Higher Education Center
Concordia University Texas has joined the East Williamson County Higher Education Center (EWCHEC), a new multi-institutional teaching center to serve the East Williamson County area, as an educational partner.
“Williamson County is booming and with that growth comes the need to expand our education horizons,” U.S. Rep. John R. Carter (R – Round Rock) commented. “The East Williamson County Higher Education Center and its institutional partners will help meet these goals by providing the educated workforce needed to keep our region growing and competitive now and in the future.”
Concordia University Texas will join Temple College, lead institution, Texas State Technical College and Texas Tech as another higher education partner slated to bring expanded new college and workforce training programs to the area. Other educational partners include the Taylor and Hutto Independent School Districts and the Legacy Early College High School, which allows students an opportunity to complete a high school diploma and earn 30 to 60 college credit hours while still in high school.
“Temple College is pleased to be the lead institution for the East Williamson County Higher Education Center and welcomes Concordia University Texas to the partnership,” Dr. Glenda Barron, Temple College president, said. “The East Williamson County Higher Education Center is an integral part of Temple College, and we are pleased to be able to work with all of the partnering institutions to bring excellent educational opportunities to East Williamson County.”
Initial plans call for Concordia University Texas to do an assessment of potential programs to bring to East Williamson County.
“Concordia is pleased to help support the higher education needs of the Taylor and Hutto communities,” Dr. Tom Cedel, Concordia University Texas president, said. “We are blessed to be able to bring higher education and our mission of developing Christian leaders to a larger audience.”
“Williamson County is booming and with that growth comes the need to expand our education horizons,” U.S. Representative John R. Carter (R – Round Rock) commented. “The East Williamson County Higher Education Center and its institutional partners will help meet these goals by providing the educated workforce needed to keep our region growing and competitive now and in the future.”
Created just over two years ago by the Texas Legislature, EWCHEC is a visionary partnership of local school districts, community leaders and higher education partners. An outgrowth of Temple College’s Taylor Center, new educational programs have already begun with the implementation of the Legacy Early College High School and workforce and technical training programs offered through Texas State Technical College.
"Higher education is the cornerstone for success in our communities and throughout our state, and I believe the collaboration between EWCHEC and Concordia University will be a great benefit to the students and businesses in East Williamson County," State Representative Diana Maldonado (HD-52) said. "This partnership highlights the dedication of our higher education institutions towards preparing a new generation of professionals to ensure America continues to compete in the global marketplace."
EWCHEC will expand to its own campus on a 70-acre site at Hwy 79 and FM 973 in Taylor.
About East Williamson County Higher Education Center
The East Williamson Higher Education Center is an extension of the educational successes of Temple College at Taylor and provides a portfolio of educational and workforce opportunities for the citizens of rural East Williamson County. Part of the goal for the Center is to create quick and flexible responses to employer needs. An additional goal of the Center is to create strategic partnerships with area school districts, the Texas Bioscience Institute, Temple College, a state technical college, and various major universities. The Center's collaborative technology training model will allow it to leverage the strengths and successes of member partners while providing it the autonomy that is required to build a truly unique regional educational center for the 21st century.
About Concordia University Texas
Concordia University Texas is an award-winning institution of higher education, with satellite centers in Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. A privately-owned, accredited, liberal arts university, Concordia is owned and operated by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. It is a member of the highly respected Concordia University System in which more than 19,000 students are enrolled nationwide. Fall 2008 showed the highest enrollment at Concordia with more than 2,200 students. The Austin Business Journal named Concordia University Texas to a recent list of “Best Places to Work.” U.S. News & World Report named Concordia University Texas to its 2007 list of “America’s Best Colleges.”
For more information, please visit www.concordia.edu
