Quick Takes - April 2021

Bill Kelly_BOR District 3 Seat_VN Banner

• The Honorable Sandra L. Watts, Presiding Judge of the 117th District Court in Nueces County, swore-in Del Mar College’s newest Board of Regents member, Regent Bill Kelly, who represents District 3. Judge Watts officiated the formal process in Regent Kelly’s office prior to his officially taking his seat for the virtual April regular meeting. He noted his gratitude for the Board’s confidence in him and selection to serve as a DMC Regent on the College’s Board. Regent Kelly was selected and appointed to the District 3 seat during the Board’s March 19 called meeting. He will complete the current District 3 seat term that runs through 2024. Regent Kelly is an attorney specializing in Family Law litigation and mediation. To read more about him and the appointment, click here. Welcome and Congratulations, Regent Kelly!

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• Kudos go to several DMC faculty and staff with different departments and programs, including the Department of Architecture, Aviation and Automotive and its Diesel Applied Technology Program, the Workforce Programs and Corporate Services Division and the DMC Early College Programs Department for their teamwork and commitment toward the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Foundation’s accreditation of the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technician. (Read the announcement.) The accreditation is only the second in Texas with South Plains College in Levelland holding the first such credential. The Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technician degree and certificate program was initiated over four years ago when local AED members met with DMC officials to address a workforce shortage of technicians in the heavy equipment industry. A Heavy Equipment Advisory Board was formed with DMC division and department representatives and AED and heavy equipment industry members to develop a highly technical and curriculum-rigorous program that addresses both the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and regional and national industry requirements and standards.

Tuloso-Midway ISD Logo

The new program was initially launched at Tuloso-Midway High School through the College’s Dual Credit Program, allowing students to earn 12 credit hours in technical courses along with other core classes upon high school graduation. T-M High School students are then able to continue their studies toward completing the Certificate or AAS degree in Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technician through the DMC Diesel Applied Technology Program. These high school students also are offered paid internships with local heavy equipment dealers with the advisory board during summer break between their junior and senior year. Because of this initiative, Tuloso-Midway High School is the first in Texas to receive recognition by the AED Foundation.

Cody Gregg_DMC Dean of Learning Resources

• The Texas Library Commission appointed Dean of Learning Resources Cody Gregg to serve a second term on the TexShare Advisory Board, which is charged by statute to advise the Commission about matters related to the TexShare Consortium. Board members include representatives from community colleges, private universities, publicly-funded academic institutions, medical libraries and public libraries, along with two representatives from the general public. The TexShare Consortium encompasses Texas libraries sharing print and electronic materials, purchasing online resources and combining staff expertise to serve their users. Members make e-content––such as electronic databases and e-books, reciprocal borrowing of print materials, a courier service and inter-library loan protocols––available to users. The service is invaluable to many Texas libraries, including Del Mar College, that would struggle to pay for these services without TexShare’s assistance. The TexShare Consortium has grown from 53 members in 1988 to almost 700 members today. Gregg has served as a DMC Dean since 2017 and has over 20 years of management and administrative experience. His insight into instructional technologies, open resource labs, library services and active learning spaces enhance the expansion of Del Mar College’s own library and learning support services. Congratulations, Dean Gregg, for serving on the TexShare Advisory Board for a second term!