NCTC–How This Community College Leverages Education to Equip Families, Homes, and Businesses in North Texas
Where is the strength of a community found?
Through wealth? Through infrastructure? Through job opportunities?
Yes, these things are important and vital contributors to a thriving community, but there's a strength that lies deeper.
The true strength of a community is found within the people–a group of distinct individuals each doing his or her part to contribute to the overall success of the community.
The value of any community is that it’s made up of a diverse group of people who each bring something different to the table. With varying skill sets, unique visions are cast, opportunities flourish, and the impossible becomes possible.
Benjamin Franklin knew the power of harnessing your own abilities for the betterment of others. He famously said, “Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What use is a sundial in the shade?”
After all, when talents and passions of unique individuals are left unused, the strength of community fails with it.
This is why personalized education, especially on a community level, is critical.
Community-focused education builds vitality
The Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Marian Wright Edelman, says “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community better than you found it.”
And she couldn’t be more right.
Education is meant to equip each individual to be the best version of themselves and ultimately make a stronger community in the process.
What drives you? How are you investing in your own skills and passions?
North Central Texas College, NCTC, is building up the community one person at a time. With 6 campuses from Denton, Corinth, Flower Mound, Gainesville and up to Bowie and Graham, they are dedicated to getting people the necessary training and education needed to enter the workforce as soon as possible. Serving both rural and urban communities, they have one goal at their foundation.
“It’s about finding out who you are and how you can contribute to the community and what will make your life better. Our goal is to give people access to the training they need to help them have the careers they are passionate about,” NCTC Senior Director, Tracey Fleniken states.
Community education is more than just public education. Rather, it focuses on building relationships with the people it serves, offering a more intentional and tailored education for each individual, family, and student they serve.
The major academic areas NCTC offers instruction in include:
Arts and Social Sciences
Math and Sciences
Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Health Sciences
Dual Credit
Adult and Continuing Education (ACE)
Student Success
Interested in phlebotomy, real estate, nursing, or business? These are just a few of the 4-8 week non-credit instructional courses NCTC offers.
Maybe you’re looking to get certified in web design, cyber security, welding, fire science, or machining. These, among many others, can all be attained through the programs NCTC offers. Only taking about a year and a half to complete, these programs provide new opportunities and lead to reputable and well paying jobs.
The best part is, you don’t have to wait until you receive your bachelor’s degree to get a job in the field you’re actually interested in. Certifications NCTC provides, grant you the credentials you need to start working in the field, with all their programs transferable to earning bachelor degrees.
But how do you know if NCTC is right for you?
NCTC is calling–Come one, come all
The word “college” means different things to different people.
To some it may mean an opportunity to grow, while for others it may mean a ship that’s already sailed.
NCTC is passionate about providing access to higher education to every individual no matter their gender, skin color, work history, financial status, or age. Whether you’re a high school student seeking dual credit, a recent high school graduate, someone who’s never attended college, or someone who is changing careers later in life, NCTC is there for you.
At any age or any stage, NCTC can offer what you need.
Built upon genuine relationships between staff and students, they are committed to cultivating an environment that embraces diversity and ensures equity.
The NCTC experience is not what you'll find at a large state university. You’ll be a part of a tight knit educational community that offers small class sizes to ensure you are seen, heard, and validated as a vital contributor to the learning. And more than just knowing the names of your fellow classmates and professors, they will know yours.
Different from the goal of a university, it’s the goal of NCTC to develop individuals on a human level, not just academically. Yes, you are a student. But you’re a parent, a friend, an employee, first.
With something for everyone, they provide the opportunity to improve you, wherever you find yourself in life.
The staff of NCTC recognizes that you are there working to better your life, which is why it is part of their vision to create a caring atmosphere.
“We want to help take care of each student holistically-mentally, emotionally, and physically. We have to attend to the wellness and wellbeing of the individuals we are serving in order to help them balance and utilize the resources available to them as they seek to change their lives” Fleniken continues.
They’re in the boat right next to you. NCTC employees take courses and classes as well to help them see things from the students’ perspective and experience what students experience.
And if that weren’t enough, you don’t even have to be a student to receive help from NCTC. They offer career services that are available to anyone searching for available jobs or wanting to explore new careers.
Through the investment of each individual they serve, a deeper investment into the community is made.
Community education that’s actually community led
It's no surprise that community education begins at the community level.
Local businesses that invest in community education help build bridges between individuals and the workplace. This partnership provides numerous networking opportunities, creates jobs, and returns the revenue made back into the community itself.
But how is that actually achieved?
NCTC does this through 3 ways:
Local business collaboration
Driven by the local businesses themselves, together they focus on what and how industries are growing, what training and equipping is needed to keep up with the demand, and how NCTC can provide the learning opportunities to fulfill the needed workforce.
As a result, NCTC has added programs to accommodate the influx of students. Dedicated to the community as a whole, they continually accommodate the community demand to ensure people get the training they need. Many businesses will pay for their employees to attend NCTC programs to acquire certain skills, in addition to NCTC’s ACE program for on-site training for their employees.
Advisory boards with local industry leaders
NCTC collaborates with local North Texas businesses to ensure they are keeping a pulse on where each industry is heading, and how students can be set up for success.
Technology careers and health science programs have specific advisory boards composed of local business partners and industry leaders who meet regularly to talk through curriculum, skill sets, and skills to ensure students are equipped with the quality training needed to be successful and competitive in their field.
This ensures that NCTC’s education and training remains relevant.
Job placement
Many leaders in the community promote higher education and numerous local organizations offer scholarships for students to attend NCTC.
If that weren’t enough, businesses also collaborate with NCTC to provide placements for co-ops, internships, clinicals, and practicals. Not only does this provide applicable hands-on experience, but the relationships made between the students and local leaders gives you an added advantage of securing a job before you even complete your certification or degree.
And if all that still isn’t enough to convince you…
NCTC makes affordable education accessible to you
The fact that a lot of careers don’t require bachelors’ degrees and can be obtained through an associates degree or with a certificate entices many people.
But the biggest hindrance keeping people from pursuing their educational dreams boils down to one thing: affordability.
You think to yourself, “Sure, that sounds great. But how much is that actually going to cost me? How much will that set me back in debt?”
But at NCTC, it’s not too good to be true.
Another benefit of attending a community college is that tuition is about ⅓ to ½ of the cost of most universities, giving you and your wallet a little extra breathing room.
And you don’t necessarily have to pay for everything yourself.
NCTC makes affordable education accessible to you by:
Offering hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year
Ensuring all programs are eligible for federal student aid
Connecting you with local financial aid support
Helping you qualify for needs-based grants
Scholarships and grants provide money that you don’t have to pay back. Subsidized or unsubsidized loans through federal aid do have to be paid back. But either way, with NCTC tuition so low, many times students don’t have to pay anything out of pocket.
Additionally, students can receive multiple forms of financial assistance that can even help with books and living expenses.
The resources are there to help you achieve your goal, take advantage of the resources available to you.
Don’t let money be the obstacle that talks you out of a more fulfilling life.
Educate now, influence later
NCTC truly does have something for everyone. Education and training requires work and effort and it does take time to figure out. But it’s a temporary commitment that will make your life (and community) better in the long run.
Don’t talk yourself out of a better life, and don’t let your talents be wasted. You have a specific role that only you can play. How are you equipping yourself?
Take your next steps with NCTC to build a stronger and more influential you.
Your community is waiting.