Community colleges awarded millions

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Across the state this fall, 54 community colleges and public technical colleges will receive a total of $2.5 million from the state for student scholarships this school year.

The JET (Jobs and Education for Texans) Career and Technical Scholarship Fund, run by the Texas Comptroller's Office, provides tuition grants to students enrolled in training programs for several "high-demand" occupations, such as:

Engineering technology

Welding

Precision production

Computer support

Mechanical and repair technology

Construction

Health professions

Other degree plans where a certificate or an associate degree is a basic prerequisite.

“Community colleges are facing tight budgets, so our grant awards are an obvious boon to both the schools and their students,” said Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. “Texas has a critical need for trained workers in technical jobs that pay above-average salaries. We’re meeting this challenge and helping create a positive, long-term career outlook for thousands of Texans.”

Sixty percent of the scholarship funds are allocated to students enrolled in certificate programs, while the remaining 40 percent covers associate degree plans.

“I could not be more pleased with the commitment to workforce education that Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has shown through her support of the JET Scholarship Program,” said Steven F. Horton, dean of technical education at San Jacinto College in Pasadena. “Due to the financial assistance that the program has provided, 148 students at San Jacinto College have enrolled in 14 technical education programs, majoring in 24 different degree and certificate options.”

From a news release issued Thursday:

In October 2009, the JET Advisory Board awarded the first round of tuition grants from the scholarship fund, also totaling $2.5 million, to 54 Texas community and technical colleges. In turn, these schools awarded scholarships to 2,028 students. By June 2010, the program disbursed about $1.5 million of that $2.5 million available for scholarships. The recipients, 72 percent of whom were above traditional college age, received an average of $740 each to help build new and better lives.

Dr. John Bethscheider, provost of Alvin Community College, said the scholarship funds clearly provide the financial assistance some students need to continue their college education.

“The JET Scholarship award comes at a very opportune time for our technical students,” Bethscheider said. “With the high unemployment rate and difficulty in finding jobs, the scholarship award will allow our students to train for jobs that are in demand.”

The JET Career and Technical Scholarship Fund is part of the Comptroller’s Every Chance Funds, a $25 million initiative providing grants and scholarships over the biennium for career and technical education. The program also includes the $10 million Launchpad Fund, which supports and expands existing nonprofit programs with a proven track record of good performance, and the $10 million Job Building Fund, which helps finance equipment purchases for new career and technical education programs that support high-growth industries.

Click here information about Every Chance Funds .