College and University Leadership Celebrate Success of Viking Islander Program

Valdar the Viking_Beth Lewis DMC_Mark Escamilla Del Mar College_Kelly Quintanilla TAMUCC_Clarenda Phillips TAMUCC_Izzy the Islander_Viking Islander Program Luncheon 2-15-2019_1

Del Mar College (DMC) and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) administrators, mascots, students and other guests celebrated the success of the collaborative co-enrollment Viking Islander Program, known as VIP, during a luncheon on Feb. 15 at the College to recognize the higher than anticipated enrollment and retention of participants from fall 2018 to spring 2019. Pictured from left are Valdar the Viking; Beth Lewis, Ph.D., DMC executive vice president and chief academic officer; Mark Escamilla, Ph.D., DMC president and chief executive officer (CEO); Kelly Quintanilla, Ph.D., TAMU-CC president and CEO; Clarenda Phillips, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs; and Izzy the Islander. (Photo Credit: DMC College Relations Office)

Article by: Melinda Eddleman

Del Mar College and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi leadership anticipated about 40 students would participate with the Viking Islander Program, or VIP, when presidents and CEOs Mark Escamilla and Kelly Quintanilla signed the Memorandum of Agreement early last May. The VIP, a program designed to provide students with additional tools and support to succeed their first two semesters of college, has exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Initial VIP participation reached 127 students last fall with 117 continuing with the program this spring.

Today, Feb. 15, institutional leadership, VIP coordinators and students and other guests celebrated the collaborative co-enrollment program’s success. The event was held on the College’s East Campus.

Valdar the Viking_Izzy the Islander_Viking Islander Luncheon_2-15-2019_2

Valdar the Viking and Izzy the Islander joined forces to celebrate the collaborative co-enrollment Viking Islander Program (VIP) that is designed to give students access to and support from both Del Mar College and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for ensured success. Both institutions celebrated program success during a Feb. 15 luncheon at the College to recognize program’s first-year success with 127 students enrolling in the VIP for fall 2018 and 117 retained for spring 2019. (Photo Credit: DMC College Relations Office)

Kathryn Buiton(L)_Lori Shearin(R)_VIking Islander Program Luncheon_2-15-2019

Viking Islander Program (VIP) participants Kathryn Buiton (left) and Lori Shearin attended the Feb. 15 celebratory luncheon held at Del Mar College to recognize the success of the VIP collaborative cp-enrollment initiative between the College and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Both students are “Vikings” and “Islanders” who are among the 117students continuing their studies as VIP participants during the spring 2019 semester. (Photo Credit: DMC College Relations Office)

“Our priority is ensuring students succeed,” said Beth Lewis, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief academic officer at Del Mar College. “The Viking Islander Program provides participants with quality education and resources while they earn credits at both Del Mar and the university, making this collaboration a winning combination of access and support that impacts individuals seeking their degrees here in the Coastal Bend.”

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, Clarenda Phillips, Ph.D., added, “We are very excited about this partnership with Del Mar College. It creates opportunities for more students from our region to complete a college education, and it is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together and focus on the needs of students.”

Although VIP students take the majority of their classes at Del Mar for the first two semesters, A&M-Corpus Christi serves as the “parent institution” and provides financial aid based on the cost to attend both schools.

For more information about the program, visit the university’s website at admissions.tamucc.edu/VIP.

View highlights of remarks from both institutional presidents/CEOs Dr. Kelly Quintanilla and Dr. Mark Escamilla by clicking on the video clip below:

About Del Mar College

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.