Midland College (MC) was established as an independent junior college in 1972 and held its first classes on campus in 1975. Since that time, the campus has expanded to a 704,752-square-foot (65,473.6Â m2) main campus on 224 acres (0.91Â km2) in Midland, Texas, United States - a county seat of over 100,000 people in the Permian Basin region of west Texas and southeast New Mexico. The school also has numerous 'off-campus' locations in other parts of Midland, and in Fort Stockton, Texas, the Pecos County seat.
History
Midland College began in September 1969 as the Midland campus of the Permian Junior College system. It was re-created in 1972 with the formation of the Midland College District.
Mission and accreditation
Midland College is a comprehensive community college that is dedicated to excellence, has a commitment to learning, and promotes a lifelong quest for knowledge. The institution supports individual and economic development in its service area and beyond by offering certificates, associate and baccalaureate degrees, workforce and continuing education opportunities, and comprehensive student support services. Midland College also provides a variety of community services, cultural and educational enrichment opportunities to the West Texas region.
As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of Midland College is the following:
- all of Crockett, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, and Terrell counties.
Midland College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award certificates and associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Midland College meets all guidelines and standards as set forth by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Campus
Main campus
Following the formation of the Midland College District in 1972, bonds in the amount of $5,100,000 were issued for the construction of a 115-acre (0.47Â km2) campus. Ground breaking at the new campus was held October 23, 1973.
Opened in the Spring of 1975:
- Pevehouse Administration Building
- Abell-Hanger Science Faculty Building
Opened in the Fall of 1975:
- Murray Fasken Learning Resource Center
- Dorothy and Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Student Center
- Technology Center
- Physical Education Building
Opened in 1978:
- Allison Fine Arts Building
- Al G. Langford Chapparral Center
Opened in the following years:
- Davidson Family Health Sciences Building
- Dolly Neal Chapel
- Dorothy and Todd Aaron Medical Science Building
- F. Marie Hall Academic Building
- Helen L. Greathouse Children's Center
- Jack E. Brown Dining Hall
- Leona G. and John E. Fox Science Building
There are also four residence halls on the Midland College Main campus (see below).
Off-campus facilities
- The Advanced Technology Center, located at 3200 W. Cuthbert in Midland, delivers workforce education programs that support the development of a skilled technical workforce for Midland and the Permian Basin. The facility contains more than 80,000 square feet (7,400Â m2) of instructional space that features high-tech computer classrooms with Internet access and a tiered lecture hall.
- The Aviation Maintenance Technology Facility, located at Midland International Airport, Hangar E, 2405 Windecker, offers students training on actual aircraft as they work towards certification in Airframe Maintenance and Powerplant Maintenance.
- The Bill Pace Cogdell Learning Center, located at 201 W. Florida, provides ABE, ESL and GED courses, and houses the MC Business and Economic Development Center.
- The Petroleum Professional Development Center (PPDC), located at 105 W. Illinois, provides quality continuing education for the Permian Basin energy industries.
- The Williams Regional Technical Training Center (WRTTC), located at 1309 West I-10 in Fort Stockton provides university parallel, occupational/technical certificate and associate degree programs, and courses offered in collaboration with the Fort Stockton Independent School District (FSISD).
Academics
The school offers 100+ degree and certificate programs, as well as a variety of Continuing Education programs. They also offer a bachelor's degree in Organizational Management and provide on-campus access to upper-level degrees offered by their seven University Center partners.
Baccalaureate program
Midland College offers a bachelor's degree in Organizational Management, to broaden career opportunities for students and better their chances for promotion to supervisory positions. The program is designed to provide a career-ladder for students who have already completed an associate degree and who wish to continue their education at the bachelor's level.
University Center
The Midland College University Center offers students multiple options for either beginning or completing their education. Programs and courses are now offered by seven area and online universities: Texas Tech University, Lubbock Christian University, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Sul Ross State University, Angelo State University, Howard Payne University and Western Governors University. A total of 4 master's degrees and 11 bachelor's degrees, plus Midland College's Bachelor of Applied Technology in Organizational Management and two teacher certification programs, are now offered on the Midland College campus.
Early College High School
Early College High School (ECHS) at Midland College is located on the main campus, in the Allison Fine Arts Building. The school welcomed its first freshman class on August 24, 2009. The goal for ECHS is that, by the time "the students receive their high school diploma, they will also have an associate’s degree from Midland College."
Special designations
• In 2010, Midland College became the first institution in West Texas and the fourth community college in the nation to be designated an All-Steinway School.
• In 2013, Midland College became the first community college in the world to be designated a Conn-Selmer School.
Student life
Clubs, intramural sports, cheerleading, student government, and all other student related activities operate through the Student Activities Office.
Residence halls
The main campus has four residence halls for students.
- O'Shaughnessy Hall is a 96-bed facility for women.
- Nadine and Tom Craddick Hall is a 94-bed co-ed facility.
- Men's Residence Hall is a 96-bed facility for men.
- Family Housing Facility was the college's first residential facility.
School spirit
- School colors: The school's official colors are green and yellow.
- Mascot: The school mascot is a Chaparral.
Student publications
- El Paisano - The MC student newspaper is published at five or six times each long semester
- Chaparral - The MC student news/feature magazine is published once each year, during the spring semester
- Tableau - The MC student literary magazine is published once each year during the fall semester
The student publications office at Midland College also maintains its own website (see below, in External Links)
Athletics
The Midland College Chaparrals have won 20 National Championships in sports since 1975, as well as produced 192 All-Americans. A member of the Western Junior College Athletic Conference, Midland College fields teams in:
- Baseball
- Men's Basketball
- Women's Basketball
- Men's Golf
- Softball
- Volleyball
Affiliated institutions
Midland College Foundation
Since 1973, the foundation has served as Midland College's nonprofit fundraising organization.
Notable alumni
- Jerome Beasley, American basketball player
- Mookie Blaylock, American basketball player, NBA All-Star
- Anatoli Boisa, basketball player for the national team of Georgia (country).
- Chad Campbell, American professional golfer
- Kenneth Ferrie, English professional golfer with multiple wins on European PGA Tour
- Andrew Hancock, Professional photographer whose credits include cover of Sports Illustrated
- Ricky Grace, American-Australian basketball player, NBL Hall of Famer (Perth Wildcats)
- Nathan Jawai, Australian basketball player (Galatasaray)
- David LeMaster, American playwright and author, teacher, actor and speaker
- Milt Palacio, American basketball player
- Spud Webb, American basketball player, 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
- Johnathan Simmons, NBA player for San Antonio Spurs
- Darrell Williams (born 1989), basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League
References
External links
- Official Midland College website
- Midland College Foundation website
- Official MC Athletics website
- MC student publications website