Article by Jessie Chrobocinski

Del Mar College (DMC) has received a five-year, $3 million federal grant to strengthen teaching and digital learning and help prepare students for a workforce increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

The Del Mar College: Classroom to Career (DMC C2C) project begins Oct. 1, 2026, and is funded through the Title III Part A Strengthening Institutions Program administered through the U.S. Department of Labor.

At the center of the project is the creation of a new Center for Educational Advancement within DMC’s Learning Resources Division. The Center will provide faculty with support and training in teaching, course design and instructional technology, helping them adapt as new tools and technologies change teaching and learning.

Artificial intelligence will be one part of the larger Classroom to Career project. Faculty will have opportunities to learn how AI and other emerging technologies can be used responsibly in teaching and incorporated into coursework where appropriate. The project also will strengthen DMC’s online and hybrid courses and the support available to faculty who teach them.

“This grant aligns with Del Mar College’s vision to expand faculty knowledge and effective use of artificial intelligence while strengthening our e-learning capabilities,” said Dr. Jonda Halcomb, vice president and chief academic officer. “By identifying the need for a faculty learning center that provides dedicated resources, professional development and ongoing support for the integration of emerging technologies, the College can advance AI-related initiatives supporting teaching excellence and student success in both traditional and online learning environments.”

DMC also will incorporate responsible AI use into selected high-demand programs identified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The specific programs will be selected as the project moves forward. Faculty will work with project staff and industry partners to identify appropriate AI tools and develop learning activities that align with course outcomes and changing workforce expectations.

The project also includes plans to support students as they learn to use AI and other digital tools responsibly. The goal is to help students understand how emerging technologies can be used as part of their education and future careers. Specific student resources and activities will be developed as the project moves forward.

“Artificial intelligence is changing quickly, and part of our responsibility is helping our College community understand how to use these tools thoughtfully and responsibly,” said Ali Kolahdouz, DMC’s vice president and chief information officer. “This project gives us an opportunity to build AI literacy alongside the broader digital skills our faculty and students need, while being intentional about how those technologies are incorporated into teaching and learning.”

Through Classroom to Career, Del Mar College will use the five-year investment to strengthen the connection between teaching, technology and the skills students will need as they move from college into the workforce.

Each post “spotlights” a different author sharing – in their own words – how these advancements shape their work and benefit our Viking community.

PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE: DR. PHILLIP DAVIS
 

Professor of Computer Science
Department of Computer Science, Engineering, Architecture and Advanced Technology 

Q: How are advancements in technology and platforms changing how your area delivers services or instruction?

A: The Computer Science Program sees more changes annually than any other on campus.  I’ve been teaching at Del Mar College for 43 years (since 1983), and the program has offered more than 100 new courses during that time. The only course that is the same today as in 1983 is the internship! Imagine having to continuously train semester by semester just to stay relevant in today’s technological workforce. Our Information Technology (IT) graduates require the latest and greatest technology expertise to be qualified to secure and keep meaningful careers.

Q: What is the most impactful innovation you’ve implemented, and what problem did it solve?

A: Well, there have been many; so, I’ll demonstrate with two examples:

In 2000, the “dot com” boom was red hot with companies like Amazon just beginning to use the Internet, which was brand new at the time. Building the Internet infrastructure was in full bloom around the world. In Corpus Christi, the first fiber optic cabling was installed across the city, and the college’s East Campus (now called Heritage Campus) was trenched and the fiber optic cable installed. New networking equipment by Cisco Networks became the industry standard, and DMC joined the Cisco Networking Academy to offer our students the opportunity to train with industry-led curriculum and certification. The college’s Computer Science Program doubled in size and trained hundreds of students during the first five years. We still offer the Cisco Academy and produce several certified technicians annually.

More recently, the program participated in a $20 million National Science Foundation grant to create state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) curriculum. When we started offering that curriculum in 2020, DMC was the only two-year college in Texas providing AI as an option.  Since then, the college has matriculated dozens of graduates from our AI Institute, many who transferred to our partnering school––Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. These graduates have produced many academic papers and presentations as well as work in the field of AI and Machine Learning.


Q: How has this innovation improved student success?

A:  Both the Cisco Academy and AI Institute allow Del Mar College’s graduates to become the best trained technicians in the Coastal Bend. They’re highly sought by universities and by employers seeking workers with their in-demand knowledge and skills in this field.


Q: How has technology helped you build or strengthen partnerships with employers, schools, or other organizations, and how do these connections support the region’s workforce and economic growth? 

A: Local industry and government employers look to Del Mar College and the Computer Science Program for quality technicians who are trained in the latest software and hardware  The local workforce depends on DMC to provide graduates with the latest skills and knowledge to implement and maintain their information technology infrastructure. Our graduates in Programming, Networking, CyberSecurity and Geospatial Information Systems are found throughout the Coastal Bend’s industry and government workforce.


 Q: Looking ahead, what advancements do you foresee impacting your area, and what new skills will DMC graduates need?

A: Boy, that’s a difficult question to answer! The past four decades have demonstrated how computers, networks and all things IT have radically changed. In 1983, 1993, 2003 or even 2013, no way could I have predicted what AI and 2023 would look like! I think we are just beginning to experience how AI and Machine Learning will impact our workforce, and some experts warn of a collapse in technology employment among the workforce due to displacement caused by AI.  Other experts predict a radically better and rewarding workforce because of AI. I think the future will bring the workforce somewhere between these two predictions. There have always been losers and winners with change. What makes this AI revolution so different is how FAST things are changing.


Q: If talking to a prospective student, what are the top benefits or opportunities you’d highlight about your program or service?

A: First, Computer Science will always be an in-demand skill and career path. The IT industry is not going away … AI or not. Taking a career path in this field is lucrative and rewarding.  I would also emphasize that not only is DMC’s Computer Science Program excellent, but also the college itself is a highly competent institution offering all the necessary wrap-around resources that students need to succeed. 

The college has expanded its resources in comparison to 20 years ago, and I’m always amazed how much help DMC students can access beginning with their first class all the way to graduation.

Additional Information:

Program Location: Venters Business Building, Del Mar College Heritage Campus,101 Baldwin Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Web link: www.delmar.edu/offices/cseat/index.html 
Phone: 361-698-1299 (department)
             361-698-1112 (Dr. Phillip Davis)
Email:  pdavis@delmar.edu