During the turmoil and triumphs of the 1960s that enthralled a nation, Dallas-area leaders envisioned a city, community and county of well-educated, productive citizens who would lead the metroplex into the next century. They knew that progress, profit, culture and expansion would depend on an educated work force, and their top priority was access: schools close to all residents; educational opportunities that would take students from where they were to where they wanted to go in their careers; and links to additional education, employment, workforce development and lifelong learning.

More than 1.5 million students later, DCCCD serves people of all ages from all walks of life who simply want to succeed both personally and professionally. DCCCD—formerly the Dallas County Junior College District—celebrated its 40th anniversary throughout 2006-2007; the district continues to enrich lives and build community.

We are DCCCD
From the kid next door to a submariner on the other side of the world, students who attend DCCCD are friends, neighbors and strangers who all have something in common: education. They are seeking an associate's degree, a certificate program, workforce education, job retraining or classes that will improve their lives and aid them in lifelong learning.

In fall 2006, more than 64,000 credit students and 25,000 continuing education students filled the district's campuses: Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland colleges, as well as the Dallas TeleCollege, a division of the R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications, and the Bill J. Priest campus of El Centro College. Administered by district offices in downtown Dallas and Mesquite (the District Service Center), DCCCD serves a diverse student population; employs faculty, staff and administrators from Dallas County and beyond; and serves as a conscientious steward of taxpayers' dollars.

Students are the district's business, and they are important members of its education family. In 2005, for example, almost 3,000 students earned associate's degrees and approximately 1,500 received certificates in occupational and technical programs. The percentage of degrees awarded also increased for several ethnic groups, up for Hispanic, African-American and Asian students by 17 percent, 14 percent and 13 percent, respectively; the number of degrees awarded to Anglo students increased by 10 percent. Currently, DCCCD enrolls 11 to 13 percent of all community college students in Texas.

Diversity is key
The faces, ages and backgrounds of DCCCD students accurately reflect the communities within Dallas County. In fall 2006, enrollment reflected the diversity of the student body, which comprised the following ethnic groups: 38.7 percent Anglo; 24.1 percent African American; 25.5 percent Hispanic; 8.5 percent Asian/Pacific Islander; and 0.5 percent Native American. DCCCD colleges also welcomed international students from more than 70 countries, who comprised 2.6 percent of the total student population. Emeritus programs for lifelong learners, as well as courses that meet the needs of English as a second language students, reflect the diverse nature of the district and its students, too.

Additionally, DCCCD employed approximately 700 full-time faculty members in fall 2005; two-thirds of that number held at least a master's degree plus 24 additional graduate credit hours; 30 percent have earned their doctoral degrees. In addition to full-time faculty positions, almost 2,500 adjunct faculty members brought their work experiences into their classroom lectures. And salaries for DCCCD faculty ranked second in the state of Texas in 2005, according to the Texas Community College Teachers Association.

Taking care of business
While lifelong learning for seniors may mean enrolling in senior adult programs at DCCCD colleges, thousands of other students (at least 25,000 for both the fall and spring semesters in 2005-2006) sign up to learn and earn moreƒor just to improve their lives and enhance their leisure time.

Hundreds of area companies and employees know the value of providing a continuing education to their employees through DCCCD as well. In 2005-2006, the district enrolled more than 58,000 continuing education students, totaling 3.6 million contact hours; most of those students were enrolled in workforce education classes. Compared to credit-hour students pursuing associate's degrees or program certificates, DCCCD's continuing education students in 2006 were older (average age: 37); more often women (51.6 percent); and most likely to be either Anglo or Hispanic (37 and 26 percent, respectively).

Workforce development, economic development and opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses are key areas that DCCCD also addresses.

For more information, visit the DCCCD Web site at www.dcccd.edu.

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