2020 FutureFocus

BUILDING YOUR RESUME

THE IT TEAM

STUDENT STORIES

COSMETOLOGY EXPANSION

Tech Geeks Rule The Digital Age

ART TO PART

Machinists make the magic happen

FRINGE BENEFITS

Clinical Rotations Put Nurses On The Job

TRANSFERRING IN PLACE WITH MSU’S BAAS PROGRAM

DEGREES & CERTIFICATES EXPLAINED For some clarity on various certifications and degrees you can pursue at North Central Texas College, here’s a breakdown.

Occupational Skills Award (OSA) Entails 9 to 14 credit hours in a technical field.

Prepares you for immediate employment or increases your marketability. Usually completed in one semester and is Texas Success Initiative (TSI) exempt.

Level 1 Certificate Ranges from 15 to 42 credit hours of industry-validated courses, normally spans a year or less of studies and is TSI exempt.

Associate Degrees Completed in four semesters, typically, and requires 60 credit hours, which then transfer to a bachelor program at a four-year college or university.

North Central Texas College offers four types of degrees: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) – career and technical programs Associate of Arts Degree (AA) – liberal arts foundation; doesn’t require a declared major Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) – specific to studies in teacher education Associate of Science (AS) – foundational for science and engineering disciplines; includes a declared major

North Central Texas College has a variety of pathway partnership programs with regional universities, allowing students an almost seamless transfer of core basic credit hours from NCTC to bachelor studies.

One of its strongest partnerships is with Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, which innovatively shares its DFW campus with NCTC’s Flower Mound location on Parker Square Road. MSU Texas – Flower Mound offers a particularly sweet deal to NCTC vocational students enrolled in concentrations ranging from Accounting and Computer Information Systems & Technology to HVAC and Welding.

Through its Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) program, the university honors NCTC’s in-state tuition and fee rate when students transfer to MSU, and students attend online and hybrid classes at the Flower Mound location. (The lower tuition structure also applies to transfer students from the NCTC teacher preparation programs.)

“It’s both convenient and cost-effective,’ says Randy Canivel, director of MSU’s Flower Mound campus. “The BAAS Program’s tuition savings are pretty dramatic. Instead of paying about $300 and up per semester hour, students in these vocational programs will pay about $190 per credit hour so they can graduate with less student debt, and by taking classes here, they can keep working while pursuing their degrees.”

Midwestern’s BAAS Program applies to NCTC associate degrees in the following areas: Accounting Business Management Computer Information Systems & Technology Computer Network Systems Criminal Justice Cyber Security Database Management Engineering Technology Gaming Application Programming Human Resources

(not offered at NCTC, but a bachelor’s in HR aligns with associate degrees in Computer Information Systems & Technology or Database Management)

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Industrial Mechanics Machining Technology Welding Technology

For questions about North Central Texas College programs, courses and services described in this publication, please call (940) 668-7731 or visit our website at nctc.edu.

North Central Texas College Board of Regents Karla Metzler, Chair Dick Haayen, Vice Chair Christy Morris, Secretary Jon Grime, Member Jerry Don Henderson, Member Erica Sullivan, Member Dillon Ott, Member North Central Texas College Chancellor Dr. G. Brent Wallace Our Mission North Central Texas College is dedicated to student success and institutional excellence.

Our Values -- Affordable, Quality Education -- Stimulating Learning Environments -- Integrity -- Encouragement -- Innovation -- Cohesive Relationships North Central Texas College (“NCTC”) is an equal opportunity employer. NCTC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetics, equal pay, or any other legally protected characteristic. NCTC prohibits harassment on the basis of a legally protected characteristic and/or retaliation for reporting a complaint.

FutureFocus is published periodically by North Central Texas College, 1525 West California Street, Gainesville,TX 76240. © 2020 North Central Texas College

4 ON THE HORIZON

New programs include a Child Development program and a Logistics certificate

5 SNAPSHOTS OF SUCCESS Students & alumni share stories of burgeoning and rebooted careers

6-7 ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

Healthcare students make the rounds with clinical rotations

8-9 HEROES IN HELMETS

Emergency Services trains a new generation of first responders

10-11 PEOPLE TALK Community feedback helps determine new programs and next steps

12-13 TITANS OF TECHNOLOGY

Bright futures await tomorrow’s networking know-it-alls

14 PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Jumpstart your job prospects with Career Services’ coaching & support

15 DEVELOPING DREAMS

Vocational training has a way of morphing into endless possibilities

16 YOUNG MINDS; SKILLED HANDS This Career & Technical Education and Workforce product was funded by the U.S. Department of Education 2019-20 Carl D. Perkins Grant awarded to North Central Texas College.

Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram

Mastering the art-to-part precision of modern machining

17 TURNING HEADS

Cosmetology adds an associate degree & Barbering has a boom

18-19 START SMARTER

Explore NCTC’s array of academic certificates, degrees and pathways

WHAT’S NEW CHILD DEVELOPMENT

A new Child Development program is opening its doors at NCTC this fall, with both a Level I Workforce Certificate and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree for students interested in careers in daycare or preschool education as well as for those interested in continuing on to bachelor studies in the field. Under the auspices of the Teacher Education department, the Child Development program focuses on the requirements and responsibilities of caring for children aged 0-8 years, and studies will also prepare students to test for the competency standards of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which is an industry standard.

LOGISTICS A new vocational training program in development at NCTC bears the title Certified Logistics Technician (CLT). With a curriculum designed to follow requirements of the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC), the CLT training is a nationally recognized non-credit certificate offered through NCTC’s Adult & Continuing Education program that prepares students for employment in important industries like warehousing, transportation, shipping and receiving. ACE vocational coordinator Scott LeDane says NCTC is introducing this certificate to provide students with essential technical skills needed for employment in local warehousing jobs.

BECOME BFFS WITH FAFSA FAFSA funds go a long way toward making higher education more affordable for American families, yet as many as 37 percent of college students do not fill out the paperwork – online at www.fafsa.gov – that would give them “free money” from the Department of Education.

The FAFSA acronym stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and through this program, the Department of Education doles out more than $120 billion in federal grants, loans and work-study awards to more than 13 million students for tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies and other school-related costs.

Rosemary Pena, left, and Marlyn Gomez

Aid is most commonly distributed in the form of a Federal Pell Grant, and for the 2018-19 school year, the average Pell Grant was $3,908, with a maximum allowable award for the year set at $6,095. FAFSA has no income cap, so you can apply no matter how high your family income. For more information about FAFSA, contact NCTC’s Office of Financial Aid at (940) 668-4242 or (940) 498-6294.

Start your FAFSA today at www.fafsa.gov.

FUTUREFOCUS 2020

4

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Most of the students enrolled in NCTC’s dual credit welding program at Gainesville High School are male, but that may be changing.

Two juniors well-acquainted with the masks and safety gear are Rosemary Pena and Marlyn Gomez, and these young welders have ambitious and surprising goals. Pena has always been artistic and felt that welding and the craftsmanship intrinsic to the field can only enhance her natural talents. She is looking to take some of her core basics at NCTC after graduation, with a goal of pursuing an associate degree in Studio Arts. Another activity she’s passionate about in high school is Power Lifting, and Pena says her ultimate academic goal is a master’s degree in Psychology. Gomez, in contrast, is a devoted animal lover and amateur photographer who wants to become a veterinarian.

She attributes her passion for welding to familiarity. “My uncle, dad, brothers and cousins all weld,” she says. “So, I was excited when we got the welding program at our high school.” Anticipating that her welding skills may lead to higher-paying employment opportunities than what she might find otherwise, she labels welding “a good way to make money until I’m ready for school.”

Ibrahim Yillah, 53, earned valedictorian honors when he completed his licensed vocational nurse training at NCTC in August 2019, and now works as a LVN in a critical/intensive care unit with Wise Health System in Decatur. As a young man, Yillah was interested in training as a pharmacist in his home country of Sierra Leone in West Africa, but says a violent civil war there in the 1990s interfered with his life on all fronts.

He tells harrowing tales of fleeing his country and spending a decade in a refugee camp in Gambia while working in a nearby village to support his young family. Eventually, he was allowed to migrate to Pennsylvania in 2002, followed four years later by his wife, and then, after another four years, his eldest son. The family retains the heartbreak of separation, with three of his children not able to come to America yet, but Yillah puts an emphasis on the positive, noting that his first son’s academic successes earned him a math scholarship to Texas Tech University, which brought Yillah and his wife to North Texas as well. Yillah has a long history of working hard to support his family in Africa, and that didn’t change when he enrolled in the LVN program and worked nights, driving for Uber.

He speaks with gratitude of his NCTC experience and the mentoring and financial aid he received through Catholic Charities’ vocational program. “Basically, NCTC became my family,” he says. “So many people supported me every step of the way.”

For all the hardships in his past, Yillah says he is excited about his new vocation and optimistic about more successes coming his way.

NCTC has more than 200 scholarship opportunities available to NCTC students and the application deadline for Spring 2021 is October 15.

Filling out the important form is easy: students just log in to Onelogin with their NCTC username and password, then click on the myScholarships app.

To streamline the application process, NCTC uses an AutoMatch system that digitally matches scholarships to students who meet certain criteria – things such as residency, major, GPA, financial need, enrollment status, etc. Students merely need to complete a General Scholarship Application online.

The school also tracks external scholarship opportunities, and last fall, 320 scholarships from outside donors went to specific students.

View these opportunities here: nctc.academicworks.com/opportunities/external

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After spending close to two decades working in advertising in Dallas, NCTC alumna Lesley Brooks says she was “fed up and burnt out” – and “then the stars opened up.”

While visiting her parents who have a home in Gainesville, she says she often drove past the NCTC campus, and once she found out about its horticulture program, she quickly formulated a plan. “I gave up my apartment, downsized and moved back in with my parents, and signed up for classes,” she says.

“It just all came together.” Citing a dream of being self-employed and running her own green business, Brooks earned her associate degree in Horticulture Management in May 2019, then opened up her own sustainable horticulture business, Flourish Plant & Land (flourishplants. com). She runs her business from her home in Valley View and says every day is different, with new opportunities and new people, and endless fun with plants – doing garden rejuvenation projects, planting scheme design, vegetable bed construction, and more. A 1995 graduate of Coppell High School, Brooks earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech and also holds a master’s degree from UNT, but her NCTC studies allowed new dreams to take root. On the path to her associate degree, she earned a Landscape Design Occupational Skills Award and certifications in Horticulture Management and Sustainable Horticulture.

SCHOLARSHIPS.NCTC.EDU DEADLINES

Summer & Fall APRIL 15TH Spring OCTOBER 15TH FUTUREFOCUS 2020

HEALTH SCIENCE

ALLIED HEALTH

WHAT’S OFFERED

ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING RN ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$60,500 - $72,892

LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSING (LVN) LVN ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$39,003 - $46,992

RADIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY

When you’re interested in a potential career in the healthcare industry but don’t know exactly what that might look like, an Allied Health professional certificate program is often the very best place to start.

NCTC’s Health Sciences department has twelve of these one-semester offerings, all of which provide students with training to qualify for higher-wage jobs along with externship exposure in real-life medical settings that help them clarify which fields they feel most suited to and interested in.

• • • • • •

RADIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$36,510 - $43,998

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

SURGICAL TECHNICIAN ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS PHLEBOTOMIST ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

In 2019, Health Sciences’ Surgical Technician department relocated from the Corinth campus to “central headquarters” at the Gainesville campus.

The program started in Corinth, but administrators recently decided to move classes to Gainesville and its large Leo & Mabel Scott Health Science Center.

NCTC Nursing programs continue to be spread out, with classes offered at the Corinth, Graham and Bowie campuses as well as at Gainesville.

*According to texascareercheck.com

PATHWAY Everyone’s career path is different and can start in different places. A student entering into a Health Sciences program can begin with an Allied Health certificate, LVN training or one of NCTC’s three healthcare program associate degrees.

ALLIED HEALTH Noncredit State or National Certificates 6 Weeks - 1 Semester

COMING THIS SUMMER The popular Certified Nurse Aide program at NCTC has a traditional 10-week schedule, but this summer, the program will offer a fast-tracked class that will have students trained, CNA certified and ready to seek employment in half that time.

LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSING (LVN) Level 1 Certificate 1 Year

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY AAS 2 Years

BACHELORS

MASTERS

FUTUREFOCUS 2020

Medical Administrative Assistant Medical Billing and Coding Pharmacy Technician Phlebotomy Technician Physical Therapy Aide Sterile Processing Technician

MAKING MOVES

$27,390 - $33,000

ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING AAS 2 Years

• • • • • •

In addition to the semester of training, the Clinical Medical Assistant certification requires a 160-hour externship which takes about 60 days to complete.

$41,010 - $49,410

RADIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY AAS 2 Years

Certified Nurse Aide Clinical Medical Assistant Dental Assistant EKG/Telemetry Technician Electronic Health Records IV Therapy Basics

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Healthy Partnerships

CLINICAL ROTATIONS BLUR THE LINE BETWEEN SKILL-BUILDING AND JOBS On NCTC’s Gainesville campus, the Leo & Mabel Scott Health Science Center is a medically-themed hub of academic activity for the popular Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) as well as the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program and Associate of Applied Science degree programs in Surgical Technology, Radiology Technology, Fire Science and Paramedicine.

After they complete their coursework, however, Health Sciences students in various specialties head off-campus for their all-important “clinical rotations” – gaining hands-on experience in medical settings and learning the ropes under the watchful eyes of skilled nurses and other medical professionals.

Allied Health division chair Maame Darkwa says the medical facilities that become externship and clinical partners with NCTC offer Health Sciences students invaluable, real life experience in the field that goes far beyond what they can learn in in-class training simulation skills labs. NCTC has intentionally widened this web of opportunity by developing strong relationships with a slew of medical centers and facilities located throughout North Texas, allowing students to forge potential employment connections while building their clinical skills.

“Just in the local area alone, our nursing students have opportunities to get clinical experience at about 12 different hospitals,” says Brandon Hernandez, NCTC’s Dean of Health Sciences.

He points to North Texas Medical Center in Gainesville as “a real direct pipeline right here in our backyard,” but says the opportunities are diverse and relatively far-reaching.

For instance, Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Oklahoma is fairly near to the Gainesville campus and remains a strong resource for the nursing program and nursing students. Angela Daniels, a recruiter with the hospital’s Human Resources department, says NCTC is one of a handful of nursing schools the hospital partners with, and students come for rotations and, sometimes, part-time jobs at Mercy. She also recruits about 10 students in their final year of studies for a nine-week summer externship.

“They basically become employees for that time period and really develop their clinical skills,” she explains.

Carolyn Michelle Hess, a 2018 graduate of NCTC’s ADN-RN program who is in the final months of completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing, exemplifies how these type of community relationships benefit students. In 2014, right after high school, she enrolled in the college’s 12-week CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) program, and says it quickly led to a CNA job at a Denton location of Good Samaritan Society, a retirement home.

“That’s where we did our clinicals – every Saturday for three months,” she says. “It seemed like a good way to learn about this field and see if I wanted to pursue nursing as a profession.”

A year and a half later, Hess moved to a CNA post with North Texas Medical Center’s medical surgery department and enrolled in NCTC’s ADN-RN program. She earned her associate degree – honored along the way with a Florence Nightingale Award from her classmates – and continued working as a certified nurse aide until after she passed her boards. Subsequently, she transitioned to a full-time nursing position in the same department and enrolled in Texas Woman’s University BSN program, with plans to graduate this May. “All my TWU classes are online, so it’s really convenient,” Hess explains. “I work three 12-hour shifts a week, and do my coursework on my days off.”

Similarly, NCTC alumna Erin Sheriff credits her Health Sciences training for

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her job as a medical assistant I with Baylor Scott & White Denton Heart Group. Like Hess, Sheriff’s career got its start with her enrollment in the CNA program, then she followed that up with additional NCTC studies, earning her Clinical Medical Assistant certification followed by Phlebotomy Technician and EKG/Telemetry and Electrocardiogram.

“I had been a preschool teacher, but was interested in healthcare, so I did my CNA training, started working, and then went back for more,” she explains. “When I started school, I was interested in pediatrics, but the EKG certification changed me and I fell in love with the heart. It’s just fascinating how the heart works.”

Finishing her NCTC studies in 2018, Sheriff took her job with the Denton Heart Group soon after, and last year, had a giving-back idea regarding the possibility of externships her employer might offer to other NCTC students.

She talked with her boss, they visited with Darkwa in the Allied Health division, and one thing led to another. Now, NCTC has an agreement in place where the Denton Heart Group and several nearby Baylor primary care physicians offer externships to three top CMA students each semester – and Darkwa says the arrangement has led to full-time employment for one of each of the student groups sent.

“Nothing compares to the real life/real world exposure and training students receive during their externships and clinical rotations,” Darkwa concludes. “And, our partners also use this time as an extended interview for our students – and the ones who prove themselves and go above and beyond end up with employment.”

FIRE SCIENCE

WHAT’S OFFERED

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

FIRE FIGHTER ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$51,240 - $55,689

FIRE FIGHTER/PARAMEDIC ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$62,170 - $72,370*

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN

EMT-BASIC ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$30,130 - $36,622*

PARAMEDIC

PARAMEDIC ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$38,195 - $47,689*

*According to survey and webcheck of North Texas Fire Departments, March 2020

PATHWAYS BASIC FIRE ACADEMY Level 1 Certificate 1 Semester

EMT Basic Certificate 1 Semester

FIRE SCIENCE, OR FIRE ADMINISTRATION AAS 2 Years

EMT PARAMEDIC Level 1 Certificate 1 Year

LIFESAVERS IN TRAINING

FIRE SCIENCE

PARAMEDICINE AAS 2 Years

Whether students enrolled in the Fire Science program aim for a Basic Firefighter Certification or a Fire Science Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, they can count on a highly-structured, militaristic program that demands intense physicality and discipline from its students. Academy instructors are career firefighters with various fire departments in the region, and they put their NCTC students through the paces of mastering complex, real-world skills like firehose safety, vehicle extrication, rappelling and fire containment.

“It’s extremely physical,” says Strider Floyd, Emergency Services department chair, “… and there are multiple skills to master within each of those areas of instruction.”

Basic Fire Academy training is offered in day and night settings and the program’s 18 credit hours are completed in one semester. As much as 75 percent of the instruction is hands-on, Floyd adds, with much of it conducted off-site in skills-training sessions at fire stations in Denton, Flower Mound and at DFW Airport — where students learn first-responder protocols and master the intricacies of handling and deploying the equipment safely.

After two semesters, firefighters-in-training take the Texas Commission on Fire Protection’s basic certification exam — called the Basic Structure Fire Suppression Certificate — then they complete their EMT training. Once testing requirements for the EMT certification is complete, they are ready to launch their professional careers — an endeavor often requiring extensive background checks and polygraph tests for “character issues.”

The Fire Science AAS degree requires a fourth semester of studies as students complete the required core of english, math, government and science classes.

EMERGENCY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BAAS | 4 Years New partnership with UNT Dallas Full transfer of credits for both AAS Degrees

FUTUREFOCUS 2020

“Rigorous” is a popular term in academic circles, but it doubles its meaning when applied to North Central Texas College’s Fire Science program. Within the college’s Health Sciences division, NCTC’s Emergency Services department and its Basic Fire Academy is in high gear, continually churning out a new generation of first responders and firefighters for North Texas and beyond.

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ALL IN THE FAMILY As NCTC has grown its roster of dual credit fire academies, it’s also seen an interesting trend develop within the ranks of its future firefighter fraternity: sons and daughters following in their parents’ booted footsteps.

“It’s pretty amazing,” says their proud papa. “In Denton, we call it our ‘homegrown program.’ These kids come out of high school fully employable as firefighters and able to earn high salaries at the age of 18.”

“We’ve got quite a few dads whose kids are coming through our program now,” says Strider Floyd, NCTC’s Emergency Services department chair.

Two others in Denton’s dual credit program have dads who work for the Flower Mound Fire Department: Engineer Robert Sprabary’s son Kyle and Captain Jacob Ventrica’s son Tyler are both juniors. Meanwhile, Arlington firefighter Felipe Alvarado, who used to teach the adult firefighting classes at NCTC, became one of the lead instructors at Lewisville’s dual credit program this year, and his son David, a junior, is one of his students.

Topping the list is Denton Fire Chief, Ken Hedges, someone Floyd calls “a big supporter” of the program’s expansion efforts. In 2017, when NCTC opened its dual credit fire academy at Denton Advanced Technical Center with an initial offering of Emergency Medical Technician training, Hedges’ son Ethan was a member of the first class. After high school, Ethan followed that up with firefighter training and, at the age of 21, is celebrating two years of employment with the Frisco Fire Department. Meanwhile, Hedges’ second son, Caden, as a high school senior, has completed his firefighter training at DATC and will graduate in May with his EMT training completed as well.

Ken Hedges and two sons Ethan and Caden

“It’s pretty neat how it all worked out,” says Alvarado, who commutes from Lewisville to his job with the Arlington Fire Department. “Since he was two years old, I was in the firehouse, so David has grown up around this. He always said he wanted to be in the military, but when he was going into high school, he got interested in fire service in addition to the military. And then the dual credit program opened up, so here we are.”

Felipe Alvarado and son David

In three short years, NCTC’s Emergency Services department has sprinkled six dual credit firefighter programs throughout the region as part of a rapid expansion that mirrors North Texas’ population explosion and the resulting need for emergency personnel. Put another way, Fire Science’s dual credit program is spreading like a wildfire, equipping a growing number of civic-minded teens with the skills and training they need to launch careers as first responders – and all without ever stepping “… our surrounding foot onto a North communities are Central Texas growing so fast, it’s College campus. created a big demand for firefighters and Starting with the emergency medical 2017 opening of a personnel.” fire academy at Lake Dallas High School in Corinth, subsequent programs launched in short order at high schools in Lewisville and Denton (the Denton Advanced Technical Center), followed by Gainesville, Sanger and Little Elm this past fall. These innovative two-year fire academies offer high school juniors and seniors a direct pathway into fire service and the training they need to apply for jobs right out of high school.

“Fire Service is an extremely competitive field,” says Strider Floyd, NCTC’s Emergency Services department chair.

“The training is so specialized and our surrounding communities are growing so fast, it’s created a real shortage and a big demand for firefighters and emergency medical personnel. We’ve really had to bump up our efforts in response.”

DUAL CREDIT IS OFFERED AT Corinth Denton Gainesville Lewisville Little Elm Sanger

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FUTUREFOCUS 2020

COLLEGE & COMMUNITY DIALOGS

NCTC representatives spent much of the fall semester immersed in a marathon effort designed to ensure NCTC’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are firmly aligned with the local labor market and that the college’s wide assortment of career education programs are providing students a strong path to employment and higher wage jobs.

Labeled Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA), the informationgathering campaign involved a series of six community stakeholder meetings, student focus groups, community and student surveys, and numerous labor market data resources. The in-person meet-ups attracted a diverse array of 267 people representing multiple school districts, local businesses and workforce agencies as well as students, parents, faculty and special population advocates. In addition, the surveys garnered more than 300 candid and informative responses.

findings during a CTE Needs Assessment Evaluation Workshop and determine the best path forward. These Career and Technical Education personnel formulated one-to-four year strategic plans, outlining activities and goals to improve student training and workforce prospects.

“The CLNA is a vehicle NCTC used to understand our community needs,” explains Donna Uptergrove, the college’s senior director of grants.

“It’s a perfect way for us to have an ongoing collaboration with our community stakeholders who are spread throughout a four-county area.”

Uptergrove cites a plan to conduct CTE needs assessments every two years in order to gauge program effectiveness, adding: “As the area labor market fluctuates, it’s key for the college to be in a continual state of active listening, and proactively make adjustments to meet student, employer and community needs.

By February, administrators, faculty, and staff came together to review the

FUTUREFOCUS 2020

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CLNA stands for Comprehensive Local Needs Assessments and it’s a big buzzword among the people who plan how NCTC’s multitude of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs will evolve through the years in order to “ensure equitable access and success” for its students so their technical and employability skills directly align with current local workforce needs.

Donna Uptergrove, senior director of grants, says CLNA represented a major data-collection effort the college made in 2019 that was pertinent to that goal, but beyond all the meetings, surveys, acronyms and academic-speak, it boils down to a pretty simple concept: “We wanted to hear from our community, and we received a lot of good, honest information,” she says. “We owe

everyone who participated a great big Thank You — and we heard you!”

LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS need more information about the CTE programs available at NCTC and there should be more outreach and interaction with high school counselors, ISD liasons and others.

Caitrina Herring

Dual credit Cosmetology student and student representative on the CLNA Task Force Team

STUDENTS WANT MORE internship and work education opportunities with local employers as well as access to direct student services like childcare, transportation between campuses, dorm space, and financial assistance.

Joe Gambill

Director of community and economic development for the Nortex Regional Planning Commission

“We are striving for the same goals of providing support for a successful industry workforce. … These connections benefit the entire community and breed success at each level.”

Marcus Bourland

IT IS IMPORTANT to tap into the population with disabilities and share information about local vocational resources and possibilities for achievement in the realm of higher education.

“When Business, Economic Development and Education combine, a winning plan is usually developed.

The CLNA meeting gave voice to economic development needs in the education arena, and NCTC listened.”

“The fact that the staff at NCTC took everything that was said by the students seriously … is encouraging.”

Principal at Advanced Technology Complex (ATC)

“We are excited to see the new opportunities for growth that the CLNA helped to identify for our community.”

“We see tangible results from our input such as a path for LVN to RN and the continued support for our Welding Program.”

Neal Blanton

Mayor of Graham

Alicia McElroy

Director of education and workforce initiatives with the United Way of Denton County

INTEREST IS STRONG in an expansion of CTE programs at NCTC’s Bowie and Graham campuses.

Common suggestions include the LVN to RN bridge, hospitality, electrical, and plumbing.

“... reinforced our commitment to enhance our knowledgesharing with partners such as NCTC … to guide the quality of CTE in our region.”

“SOFT SKILLS” which range from knowing how to act, speak, write and dress professionally in a work environment — and being able to collaborate and interact well with customers and employers — are essential for students enrolled in technical programs and hoping to build a successful career.

David Setzer

Executive director of Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas

“I found these meetings to be both humbling and inspiring; I can’t wait to see how our collaborations will positively impact our community as a whole.”

Susan Svane

Information Technology division chair at NCTC

“NCTC is one of the few, if not the only college in the area that continues to support the trades. … As long as humanity needs power, plumbing, air conditioning, and structure development, an education in the trades will always provide a future career.”

Greg Coward

BCI Mechanical, Inc. in Denton

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

NETWORKING KNOW-IT-ALLS

WHAT’S OFFERED

BECOMING A TITAN OF TECHNOLOGY Knee-deep in the digital age, we’re all addicted to our phones and personal computers, but on a societal scale, the needs are far greater. Few businesses operate anymore without sophisticated technologies and networking systems that keep the wheels of commerce whirring – which means they need savvy workers who know how to manage and maintain the multi-faceted functions of information technology systems.

Fortunately, the Information Technology division at North Central Texas College has several programs committed to the cause, with certificates and associate degrees offered in Computer Information Technology, Computer Network Systems, Cyber Security, Database Management, Gaming Application Programming, and Web Development.

An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Computer Information Systems & Technology prepares students for work in software design and network support positions. Students become familiar with basic computer programming principles and systems engineering, while getting hands-on technical experience through lab-work and internships.

With sufficient expertise in networking technology, students can pursue nationally-recognized certifications through CompTia, Cisco or Microsoft, and AAS graduates are often in a strong position to decide whether they’d rather enter the workforce or use the degree as a stepping stone toward a bachelor’s degree.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), typical jobs for computer network professionals come with titles like network technician, computer troubleshooter, data security specialist, systems administrator and technical support technician – with median salaries upwards of $60,000. The BLS notes that computer and information technology jobs are projected to grow by 12 percent from 2018 to 2028 – much faster than the average for all occupations, and in May 2018, some specialties cited median salaries as high as $86,320 – considerably higher than the $38,640 figure for all occupations.

Projections are steady for those employed in roles like network and computer system administrators (eight percent over the next decade) and computer support specialists (12 percent during the same time frame).

The average salary for the former is $58,443, and $52,160 for the latter.

Surprisingly, a four-year degree isn’t always required for success in various Information Technology fields.

For more information about Information Technology programs at NCTC, contact division chair Susan Svane at (940) 498-6292 or ssvane@nctc.edu.

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$40,756 - $52,253 CYBERSECURITY

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$65,626 - $104,169

DATABASE MANAGEMENT

DATABASE DESIGNER ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$69,693 - $95,470

GAMING APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT GAMING APPLICATION DEVELOPER ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$70,426 - $90,290

NETWORK SYSTEMS

NETWORK SPECIALIST ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$57,285 - $76,441

*According to texascareercheck.com

Tapped In With TechHire

NCTC has a Department of Labor TechHire grant that offers a variety of invaluable resources to students enrolled in Information Technology, Industrial Technology and Engineering Technology programs.

Benefits include a tutoring lab, access to education and employment coaches, an industry certification testing center and assistance with job placement and interview preparation. Additional benefits include vouchers for books and certification testing fees. Find out more about these services by calling (940) 498-6440, or visit the TechHire grant office, located across the street from the Corinth campus at 1400 North Corinth Street.

Left: NCTC Gaming/App instructor Michael McCoy with a student

FUTUREFOCUS 2020

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WEAVING THE WEB Web development students at NCTC study the behind-thescenes code and programming of websites and web-based services, gaining knowledge of interface design and applications such as HTML and CSS. In addition,several graphics-based courses as well as photo-editing and animation courses provide training on developing the graphical user interface for

JOB OUTLOOKS

browsing websites. The endgame is the ability to develop and maintain attractive, functional and user-friendly websites that showcase the products and services any company might offer.

Labor statistics point to an average salary of $66,130 for web designers ($46,600 for early-career professionals with an

Information technology plays a key role in any organization, helping businesses design, utilize and support the computer systems that streamline operations and production processes.

Here’s a rundown of several common jobs students can prepare for in Information Technology:

associate degree and $77,200 for mid-career designers).

Demand for these workers is expected to be quite high given projections of a 27 percent increase in employment rates over the next eight years – a trend driven by a continuing increase in online shopping and the popularity of mobile devices.

NCTC’s Web Development

SECURITY ARCHITECT Designs the next generation of safer and more secure networks for companies.

COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST Examines a company’s computer systems and procedures and design new technologies for maximum efficiency.

COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST Helps employees operate their computer software and equipment, and installs and configures software.

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Certificate offers a predictable pathway to an AAS in Computer Information Systems & Technology, and besides web design work, students pursuing this specialty may find employment in roles such as front-end or back-end developer, software developer, computer programmer, database administrator, digital marketer or Search Engine Optimization specialist.

COMPUTER PROGRAMMER Helps design, test and maintain computer program source codes, and designs graphical user interfaces for non-technical users.

NETWORK & COMPUTER SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR Monitors and adjusts computer systems performance; helps install, repair and support such systems; deals with cybersecurity.

FUTUREFOCUS 2020

SOFT SKILLS & SUPPORT

CAREER SERVICES CENTER

CAREER SERVICES PUTS STUDENTS ON THE ROAD TO EMPLOYMENT As our culture gets more into technology and less into human-to-human contact, employers across all industries are concerned about a widespread trend among potential new hires: awkward handshakes, poor eye contact, inattentiveness and lack of engagement in conversations – in short, a lack of personable, professional behavior or what experts call “soft skills.”

Guiding students through a variety of workplace scenarios, the interactive technology tool allows students to choose the appropriate responses to a wide range of situations. Skills2Succeed is offered to alumni as well as students and is easily accessed online from the comfort of home once students come into a Career Services office to receive their personal access codes.

Fortunately, the experts at the Career Services Center at “It’s a bit like a flight simulator,” “You need NCTC are on the case and says Shannon Solomon, a to be able to engage devoted to the cause of Career Services advisor for professionally, shake coaching students in the the Corinth, Denton and a hand, look someone in type of “artful behavior” Graham campuses. “It lets the eye, speak confidently, some social experts fear you choose which response listen attentively and is on the way out the would be the most appropriate respond appropriately.” door of societal norms. and helps you recognize what the right thing to do is when “You need to be able to engage you’re confronted with similar professionally, shake a hand, look situations in your own life. It’s a fun someone in the eye, speak confidently, way to learn and develop necessary listen attentively and respond professional skills.” appropriately,” says Daphne Riddle, Career Services coordinator.

Career Services advisors offer individualized career coaching appointments, assisting Her department has an entire program – students with interview preparation and and a slew of tools – designed to assist guiding them through the particulars of students in understanding and improving interacting appropriately with bosses, fellow their professional personas, and Riddle employees and customers. Coaching is says no detail is too small. both specific and nuanced, covering everything from career exploration to “We’ll teach you how to enter the room, portfolio development, so that students send a professional email, communicate are well-equipped to function in your skills and abilities, and listen in a professional settings. way that shows someone you are listening and what they say matters,” she explains. “What we do is kind of three-tiered, Solomon says. “We support students Added to the mix is a popular online with job preparation, getting a job and program called Skills2Succeed Academy. also maintaining a job.”

Where to find us NCTC has Career Services Centers on four campuses, and advisors meet with students at Graham’s administration offices and at the Mane Stop at the Denton Exchange by appointment.

To schedule, call (940) 498-6259 or email careerservices@nctc.edu.

Following is a list of the office locations.

Bowie Campus

Student Services Office (940) 872-4002

Corinth Campus Room 192 (940) 498-6259

Flower Mound Campus Room 109 (972) 899-8400

Gainesville Campus Room 114 (940) 668-7731

Best Foot Forward

Resume writing is a critical skill for students looking to segue from the world of academia to the workforce, and it’s also a big component of Career Services’ offerings. The goal is to help students create stellar resumes that get them invited in and inspire positive results.

Here is a short list of tips students can expect to explore with counselors when they come to Career Services for resume-writing assistance: •

The old form of identifying an “objective” at the top of your page is passé.

•

Real estate counts: Prioritize what fits on the first third of your page.

•

Think like a boss.

•

You need a LinkedIn account and it needs to be relevant.

•

Don’t waste space including a snail mail address.

•

Despite the restricted format, your resume should be very personalized and showcase you.

•

Consider making several versions of your resume so that the one you submit is targeted appropriately to the job you’re applying for.

DREAMS IN DEVELOPMENT

ACE CLASSES CHART NEW PATHS TO SUCCESS In the construction trades, a student of training that will help them start a might come to NCTC for basic carpentry career,” says Brian Carnes, NCTC’s ACE construction skills or training in an technology coordinator.

Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship program— offered through Adult & Continuing The more in-depth and industryEducation (ACE) – then expand specific ACE programs can be “Sometimes a dream and decide to pursue pricey but have obvious merits people … want further skills training in in terms of jump-starting the extra expertise for Engineering Technology or careers. Besides the SHRM advancement … . Or, Heating Ventilation & Air course, for instance, ACE they might be looking to Conditioning. Frequently, has a 12-week Introduction do something different the pathway leads to an to Event Planning class that from what they’ve AAS degree or beyond. costs $479 and serves as a done before.” stepping stone for students On the business side of things, interested in a career as an popular ACE programs include the event planner or in hospitality.

Society for Human Resources Manager (SHRM) course, a 12-week offering “Sometimes people who come for that costs about $1,000 and prepares programs like this already have a students for the SHRM certification exam bachelor’s degree,” Carnes explains, -- paving the way to advancement in the “but they want the extra expertise for human resources field. advancement in the hospitality industry.

Or, they might be looking to do “We offer a variety of courses so people something different from what can come in to complete a specific type they’ve done before.”

NCTC’s NAIL Training program is providing certifications and pathways to degrees with accelerated schedules to help you get the workforce training and job placement assistance you need to get better jobs in North Texas.

Know Yourself

Another Career Services tool many NCTC students enjoy is Clifton StrengthsQuest, an online strengths-based assessment that’s available for free. The questionnaire poses 177 questions in a timed format that allows students 20 seconds for each question, so it can be completed relatively quickly. The resulting report lists your five top strengths in terms of interpersonal skills and innate talents.

Practice Makes Perfect

The interactive online program called Skills2Succeed Academy is a great help to job seekers, and Career Services also makes it available to nonstudents. Just go to www.s2sacademy.org and use the access code 04NCns. Contact the office to discuss your results.

BUILDING A BETTER YOU Multiple Locations

Scholarships Available

Big Needs, Big Opportunities

NCTC is offering training at its Bowie, Corinth, Gainesville and Graham campuses for maximum convenience.

This grant-based program funds up to 80 percent of costs for tuition, books, tool kits and certification fees.

Industry is hiring and the demand for construction labor in areas like carpentry, electrical, framing and HVAC continues to grow.

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FUTUREFOCUS 2020

MODERN MACHINISTS

MAKING THE THINGS

THAT MAKE EVERYTHING Sometimes referred to as Precision Manufacturing, machining is the process of taking a raw material like metal or plastic and transforming it into a desired shape and size. Whether you’re looking at a stapler, a door handle or an airplane part, chances are, machining had something to do with its creation.

“Today’s industry is all about automation,” says Industrial & Engineering Technology division chair Darrell Smith, “It’s the future of manufacturing and machining through Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) technology plays a key role in this future.”

At NCTC, Machining Technology is grouped under the umbrella of Industrial & Engineering Technology along with five other specialties, Electrical, Engineering Technology (formerly called Drafting), HVAC, Industrial Mechanics and Welding Technology. With both a three-semester, 36-credit hour certificate program and a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree, Machining Technology equips students to enter fields like manufacturing, robotics, electronics, and industrial maintenance, and an associate degree lays the groundwork for careers in advanced industries like aerospace and technology when followed up with bachelor’s coursework in engineering.

ART TO PART CNC Machining is a central aspect of the machining program and it’s where the magic happens, as machinists program their equipment to precisely replicate and produce software-designed items created by engineers and other innovators. Smith dubs this intricate and technical process “art to part.”

“The modern machinist must know how to take a technical drawing from concept to finished part,” Smith says, “and that means understanding material, drill bits, cutting techniques, process optimization and technical math. … It is the application of engineering and design which requires a high level of accuracy.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a healthy 9.4. percent job growth for CNC programmers, while Smith says other areas associated with machining have explosive growth needs – for instance, the projected growth rate for lathe/mill operators and setters is 19.4 percent, while the projection jumps to 35.5 percent for model makers in metal/plastic – and these are roles that machinists can fill.

In today’s workforce, machinists must have a strong skill set in design, measurement, programming and manufacturing,” Smith says. “This prepares them to advance and grow in areas like quality control, production, planning, design with CAD/CAM programming, or management.”

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

WHAT’S OFFERED

HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLATION & REPAIR OF HVAC SYSTEM ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$40,081 - $48,200

INDUSTRIAL MECHANICS

INDUSTRIAL MACHINING MECHANIC ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$43,602 - $55,900

MACHINING TECHNOLOGY

CNC PROGRAMMER ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$48,687 - $58,660

WELDING TECHNOLOGY

WELDER, CUTTER & FITTER ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$39,296 - $46,140

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

MECHANICAL DRAFTER ENTRY LEVEL - MEDIAN SALARY*

$51,248 - $61,744

*According to texascareercheck.com

DRAFTING NEW POSSIBILITIES NCTC’s Engineering Technology program explores the design of items through the use of CAD software.

Typical applications include architectural, residential and commercial; mechanical parts; modeling of parts; machine design; animation modeling; electrical design; and civil drafting.

Division chair Darrell Smith adds that civil drafting is a particularly dynamic field because it integrates drone technology into the process of making topography maps and building surveys – then, the information can be used for model designs.

With a job growth rate of 15 percent, Engineering Technology is a promising career field on its own, but if you pair drafting studies with machining skills, Smith says, the growth potential is “explosive.” Fortunately, most of the software used in Engineering Technology is compatible with CNC equipment, so dovetailing these studies is a smooth move.

*According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

MAKING THE CUT

COSMETOLOGY ADDS AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE & BARBERING HAS A BOOM With a growing roster of new dual credit possibilities and the recent launch of a new Cosmetology Operator to Class A Barber Crossover program, NCTC’s vocational Cosmetology department is a hotbed of activity at the college’s Gainesville campus.

Lindsey expects it to be offered in the spring as well.

NCTC is one of the first community colleges in the state to offer a Barbering program, and Bea Gutierrez-Gonzalez, owner of Style Avenue in Gainesville, says she was “surprised and excited” But the biggest news flowing out of the when she heard of the new offering. As a humbly-sized-but-bustling department is member of the Cosmetology department’s the recent decision to include the Barbering advisory board, she says the extra training program in the pathway to earning an can only enhance students’ marketability.

Associate of Applied Science degree in Cosmetology for Fall 2020. Previously the Case in point, a newcomer in her shop is Barber courses were offered only as an recent graduate Nancy Rodriguez, who Occupational Skills Award with 11 credit completed the Cosmetology dual credit hours and didn’t meet the criteria for program at Sanger High School and financial aid assistance. Now, it is still offered continued on to finish the Barbering OSA as an OSA but is also included as a pathway coursework in December. Now Rodriguez to a recently-approved AAS degree in rents a booth at Style Avenue and will Cosmetology, which means financial aid bring barbering services – and male is available to those who qualify. clients – to the salon for the first time.

NCTC’s Human Services and Hospitality chair Stephanie Lindsey notes that men’s grooming has made a big comeback in recent years – representing a $26 billion industry, according to The National Association of Barber Boards of America – so the availability of the Class A Barber Crossover program will go a long way toward increasing graduates’ job prospects.

Once Cosmetology students become licensed Cosmetology Operators in the state of Texas, Lindsey says they can enroll in the Barbering program. Classes are held two days a week – currently Mondays and Tuesdays – and the16-week curriculum entails 300 clock hours and 11 semester credit hours.

Initially, the Barbering Occupational Skills Award was introduced as a fall semester offering, but in 2021,

A 2008 graduate of Trinity High School in Euless, Texas, Jacob Chavez joined the Air Force after graduation and served for four years.

After that, he spent another four years working in oil fields in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Texas as a drilling fluids technician. However, the military veteran says he always had his career sights set on his first love: Cosmetology.

“My mom’s been doing hair for my whole life, so I was always around it, and liked it.”

Eventually, Chavez was living in Corinth and decided to enroll in NCTC’s Cosmetology program, which he completed in December 2018. The 29-year-old also intends to pursue the Cosmetology Operator to Class A Barber Crossover program, but says financial aid fell through last fall, delaying that dream.

In the meantime, he manages to stay extremely busy working part-time as an assistant manager at an area barber shop and doing hair as an independent contractor at Legacy Salon Suites in Highland Village.

“She’s just waiting for her license,” Gutierrez-Gonzalez says, “and then we’ll have these extra services to offer.”

Much of Cosmetology’s activity comes from the department’s dual credit program which is available to all Cooke County school districts, with partnerships operating in high schools in Gainesville, Sanger, Era, Valley View, Aubrey and Callisburg. Lindsey says there’s a homeschooler program as well. In addition, Lindsey says school officials in several Denton County cities have expressed an interest – specifically Aubrey, Pilot Point and Krum.

COSMETOLOGY Certificate 1 Year

For more information, contact Stephanie Lindsey at slindsey@nctc.edu and (940) 668-3314 or division coordinator, Keilah Marcom, at kmarcom@nctc.edu and (940) 668-3341.

Above: Bea Gutierrez-Gonzalez | Top Right: Nancy Rodriguez

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COSMETOLOGY BUSINESS Level 1 Certificate 1 Semester

COSMETOLOGY ADVANCED Level 1 Certificate 1 Semester

BARBERING OSA 1 Semester

COMMON CORE COURSES 1 Semester

COSMETOLOGY AAS 2 Years

FUTUREFOCUS 2020

JUMPSTART YOUR DREAMS

When it comes to designing your life and pursuing a dream, education is key, and North Central Texas College is constantly expanding, improving and tweaking its offerings in order to prepare students for academic success and career fulfillment. With accredited classes that transfer readily to four-year institutions, NCTC offers a valuable, affordable start to your higher education journey.

The color-coded dots indicate whether offerings entail an Occupational Skills Award, certificate or associate degree. For descriptions of each, read “What’s In A Name” on Page 2.

OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS AWARD LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATE ASSOCIATE DEGREE

DEGREE PLANS

AA, AS & AAT DEGREE TRANSFER

NCTC graduates with an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) can continue their education toward a four-year degree at any public university in Texas without the loss of credits earned at NCTC.

AAS DEGREE TRANSFER

NCTC Associate of Applied Science (AAS) graduates can take advantage of NCTC’s agreements with specific Texas universities to earn a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science (BAAS).

Those universities include Bellevue College, Midwestern State University, Tarleton State University, Texas A & M University-Commerce, Texas Tech University, Texas Woman’s University, University of North Texas, and University of Texas at Tyler.

ADN TO BSN

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at NCTC partners with major universities to offer students the opportunity for a smoother transition from ADN to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through the Consortium for the Advancement of Baccalaureate Nursing Education in Texas (CABNET) agreement. Since the BSN Pathway curriculum has been standardized, students who graduate with an ADN from NCTC, pass the NCLEX-RN, and complete all BSN prerequisite courses will be able to complete the BSN program with 30 hours of online courses at one of NCTC’s partner universities.

BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ACCOUNTING BARBERING BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COSMETOLOGY COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTOR ESTHETICIAN EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC CHILD DEVELOPMENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIRE SCIENCE FIRE ADMINISTRATION TEACHING • EC-6 • 4-8 EC-6 • 8-12 EC-12 HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RADIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY VOCATIONAL NURSING

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING INDUSTRIAL MECHANICS MACHINING TECHNOLOGY WELDING TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPUTER HELP DESK COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS &TECHNOLOGY COMPUTER NETWORK SYSTEMS • CISCO NETWORK • CISCO BASIC CYBER SECURITY DATABASE MANAGEMENT GAMING APPLICATION PROGRAMMING GAME DEVELOPMENT WEB DESIGN

PLANTS AND ANIMALS AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT EQUINE SCIENCE FARM AND RANCH MANAGEMENT HORTICULTURE MANAGEMENT HORTICULTURE SCIENCE LANDSCAPE DESIGN SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURE

TRANSFERRING CREDITS Whatever your skills and interests, starting your education at community college means getting a foundation of basic classes in an attentive environment – all while spending less on tuition. NCTC offers a broad range of academic studies that easily transfer to four-year university programs. A small sampling includes Agriculture, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Government, Humanities, French, Spanish, Math, Music, Physics, Psychology, Teacher Education and Visual Arts.

STARTSMARTER

COOKE COUNTY GAINESVILLE CAMPUS 1525 West California Street Gainesville,TX 76240 (940) 668-7731

DENTON COUNTY CORINTH CAMPUS 1500 North Corinth Street Corinth, TX 76208 (940) 498-6282 FLOWER MOUND CAMPUS 1200 Parker Square Flower Mound, TX 75028 (972) 899-8400 FIRST STATE BANK EXCHANGE CAMPUS 316 E. Hickory Street Denton, TX 76201 Call or Text (940) 251-0701

GRAHAM ISD GRAHAM CAMPUS 928 Cherry Street Graham, TX 76450 (940) 521-0720

MONTAGUE COUNTY BOWIE CAMPUS 810 South Mill Street Bowie, TX 76230 (940) 872-4002

APPLICATION CHECKLIST • Apply online at ApplyTexas.org

• Apply for financial aid and scholarships* • Complete the TSI testing requirements, if needed • Receive a meningitis vaccine if under age 22 • Submit high school or college transcripts • Register for classes *Optional

WHEN TO GO

MAY-MESTER REGISTRATION - THROUGH MAY 18 MAY-MESTER TERM CALENDAR - MAY 18 - JUNE 5 NCTC COMMENCEMENT - MAY 2020 POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 SUMMER 2020 REGISTRATION SUMMER I & III 2020 REGISTRATION THROUGH JUNE 8TH SUMMER II REGISTRATION THROUGH JULY 15TH SUMMER 2020 TERM CALENDAR SUMMER I JUNE 8 - JULY 14 SUMMER II JULY 15 - AUGUST 20 SUMMER III JUNE 8 - AUGUST 13 FALL 2020 REGISTRATION BEGIN: APRIL 15TH FOR CURRENT STUDENTS MAY 1ST FOR NEW STUDENTS FALL 2020 TERM: AUGUST 24 - DECEMBER 12 SPRING 2021 TERM: JANUARY 19 - MAY 15