For immediate release - Sept. 2, 2005
(Dallas) College
students who are fleeing the ravages of Hurricane Katrina will be
welcomed by the Dallas County Community Colleges to attend classes this
fall.
Students displaced by Hurricane Katrina may enroll at any
of DCCC's campuses. Those locations and phone numbers for admissions
and registration offices are: Brookhaven College (in Carrollton/Farmers
Branch), 972-860-4883; Cedar Valley College (in Lancaster),
972-860-8201; Eastfield College (in Mesquite), 972-860-7100; El Centro
College (in downtown Dallas), 214-860-2618 or 2037; Mountain View
College (in Dallas), 214-860-8600; North Lake College (in Irving),
972-273-3183; Richland College (in Dallas/Richardson), 972-238-6100,
6106 or 6101; and Dallas TeleCollege (DCCC's virtual campus),
972-669-6400.
Dr. Jesus “Jess” Carreon, DCCC chancellor,
announced today that the system is marshalling its resources to support
students from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who have been affected
by Hurricane Katrina. Members of the DCCC board of trustees approved
the in-district tuition rate today during the group’s regular monthly
meeting.
DCCC’s package of support includes:
- in-district tuition;
- financial assistance through the Student Emergency Fund;
- online classes; weekend courses; special sections to meet students’ needs;
- response
teams of DCCC employees who can assist community colleges in affected
states who request help as they rebuild their institutions; and
- community-based efforts organized by DCCC students to help storm victims.
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“These
students need our help, and they need it today. We want to help
displaced students who have suffered through the tragedy of Hurricane
Katrina and who had plans to enroll in or return to college this fall,”
said Carreon. “This system has special ties to the Louisiana community
and technical college system because Dr. Walter Bumphus, who leads that
statewide system, was a former president at Brookhaven College, which is
part of DCCC. We also send our condolences to victims in Mississippi
and Alabama.”
Although fall semester classes started on Mon.,
Aug. 29, displaced students coming from Louisiana, Mississippi or
Alabama can enroll in classes that have a later start date; a
Friday/Saturday schedule; distance learning courses; and, in some
instances, special sections of courses such as English, history,
government or mathematics that may be created at a later date, based on
demand.
Evacuees from the states affected by Hurricane Katrina
who wish to enroll in courses at DCCC and who do not have the funds are
eligible for assistance from the Student Emergency Fund administered by
the DCCC Foundation. Betheny Reid, executive director of the
foundation, is working with area donors to provide additional money for
the DCCC Student Emergency Fund, and the system’s employees and current
students also can make donations directly to the foundation to help
those prospective students seeking refuge in Dallas County.
Area residents interested in donating to the Student Emergency Fund can visit the DCCC Foundation’s website at www.foundation.dcccd.edu,
or they can send a check made payable to “DCCC Foundation Student
Emergency Fund” and mail it to: Dallas County Community Colleges
Foundation, 701 Elm St., Suite 700, Dallas TX 75202.
After
community colleges in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama assess their
needs, DCCC officials and employees may travel to that state as system
support teams to assist with recovery efforts.
For more
information, contact Dr. Andrew Jones, DCCC vice chancellor for
educational affairs, at (214) 860-2129; or Bob Brown, vice chancellor
for business affairs. For details about donations to the DCCC Student
Emergency Fund, contact Reid at (214) 860-2053.
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