85R17876 BPG-D
By: Landgraf H.R. No. 1211
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Odessa College has been named the recipient of a
2017 Rising Star award by the Aspen Institute; and
WHEREAS, The Rising Star award recognizes public community
colleges across the country for exceptional achievement, measured
by outcomes in student learning, certificate and degree completion,
employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for
minority and low-income students; the honor brings a monetary prize
of $100,000 to further advance the school's mission; and
WHEREAS, Many positive factors contributed to the selection
of Odessa College; the school increased its annual
graduation-transfer rates from 15 percent to 32 percent in just
four years, and it maintained a course withdrawal rate of only 1.8
percent; five years after graduating, members of the Class of 2010
earned more than double the wages of all other workers in the
region; moreover, OC prides itself on the cultural diversity of its
campus population; and
WHEREAS, Open access and affordability make community
colleges a vital component of higher education, and through its
long-standing commitment to excellence, Odessa College has
distinguished itself as a resource of immeasurable value to West
Texas and beyond; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Odessa College on its receipt of a
Rising Star award from the Aspen Institute and extend to the
administration, faculty, students, and staff sincere best wishes
for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Odessa College as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.