(MARSHALL, Texas) – Texas State Technical College is expanding the number of programs that will offer night classes this fall.
Nathan Cleveland, TSTC’s associate provost, said the goal is to attract more nontraditional students to the campus to study in programs that can help them update their skills or learn new ones. He said potential students can still work full time and take care of their families while getting an education.
Night classes in Diesel Equipment Technology and Welding Technology will be offered at the Marshall campus for the first time. The Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization and Precision Machining Technology programs will continue with evening classes.
“We are looking to expand into the nontraditional student market,” said Russell Hutcherson, an instructor in the Welding Technology program. “They can work during the day and look to better expand their options by attending TSTC.”
Philip Miller, an instructor in the Welding Technology program, said shifting into the evenings gives students more flexibility.
“It will also help because we only have two labs,unlike Waco and bigger campuses,” he said. “We can effectively multiply our space per day, which of course will help the students.”
The Welding Technology program will add a Structural and Pipe Welding certificate this fall for both day and night students.
The Industrial Systems – Electrical Specialization program offered its first night cohort in January. First-semester students will continue with the program’s schedule of meeting after 5 p.m. and on Saturdays while taking academic courses online.
“We recognize that we have current and potential students that are trying to build a better future for themselves and for their families,” said Edward Chaney, the program’s lead instructor. “Many of our students and potential students need to work in order to support their families while taking classes. By setting our schedules up in this manner, we offer students the opportunity to take classes and still be able to work a full schedule.”
The first night-class cohort of Precision Machining Technology program students will graduate this summer and fall, said Danny Nixon, a program instructor. He said 11 students are scheduled to earn the program’s certificate and associate degree this year.
“It has been very successful with the first group,” Nixon said. “And, we hope to continue that with the new cohort.”
Registration continues for the summer and fall at TSTC.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.
