You Will Survive - Helpful college tips for the semester Page 4
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 – Volume 37 • Issue 1
@tccthecollegian • collegian.tccd.edu
DISTRICT
From Google to Microsoft 365
DISTRICT
Tuition rate increases, dual credit fees waived HOPE SMITH
editor-in-chief collegian.editor@tccd.edu
The newly proposed TCC 2023-24 fiscal year budget will raise tuition for students another $5 per credit hour. Approved by the Board of Trustees during the Aug. 17 meeting, this increase will begin in the spring of 2024 and take tuition from $64 to $69 per semester hour. TCC ranked number two among community college districts in 2022, according to the tuition rate and revenue analysis presented by Chief Operating Officer Susan Alanis. Along with this decision, dual credit students will receive free tuition.
Alex Hoben/The Collegian
A computer displays the OneDrive login screen in the SE Judith J. Carrier Library. OneDrive is Microsoft’s file storage system.
College prepares for digital platform change that occurs Sept. 30 HOPE SMITH
editor-in-chief hope.smith393 hope.sm ith393@my.tccd.edu @my.tccd.edu
Effective Sept. 30, TCC will transition from Google Workspace applications to Microsoft 365 applications. Students, staff and faculty will not be able to access their TCC Google applications, emails or files after. They are encouraged to start saving their Google files beforehand. Resources are available in the TCC Student Hub Canvas through the “myTCC Resources” page under News and Information. There, instructionals are provided. Lisa Self, NE professor in Child Development and Education, emphasized the importance of in-
forming students on the switch so they are prepared. “However TCC wants to use our resources, great. And it sounds like it’s something that really helps us financially, so we’re not having to support two different platforms,” she said. “So I just want to make sure that all the students understand that the email is going to have a little bit of a change.” As faculty, she feels it’s important to communicate with the students so as not to confuse them. “I thought this was important, too: In our training, it was like, that doesn’t mean Google things will be blocked like Google Translate, for example, is still available.” The decision goes back to choosing an application that would best suit TCC’s needs, director of administrative systems, Martin
Patrick said. Microsoft was an application of interest because of its email system, however before it was more “business centric” and did not meet TCC’s educational needs, Google did. After Microsoft 365 had a rebrand and rename, TCC IT began moving towards Microsoft applications. “It became a major focus of our technology initiatives as we’ve gone through the years because it aligns with what we want to do,” Patrick said. The problem: managing both Microsoft and Google, two different systems, led to more management and security concerns. The solution and current move was making a full transition to Microsoft.
“The primary focus was manageability and security, and we believe it will be an easier experience for students and faculty because faculty use this also as part of their education,” Patrick said. Lead IT Project Manager Mita Saha explained that as part of their communication plan, they are making multiple outreach efforts with TCC to ensure everyone is informed about this coming change. “[At] the New Student Orientation, there will be slides that will be shown and they will be discussing this so that the new students will know during their classes in the fall,” she said. “New Student group Advisement and Directors of Counseling are all made aware of that, so the students will have different avenues to learn about it as well.”
[SE President] Bill Coppola is smiling, because he and I have been wanting to waive dual enrollment tuition for a decade,
Elva LeBlanc TCC Chancellor
Paired with the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer program that will offer $55 per credit hour to TCC for economically disadvantaged students enrolled in dual credit, Alanis said waiving all dual credit tuition would be beneficial for two reasons. “We think it’s good policy in terms of encouraging early completion and progress of students and gaining credentials that will make them productive members of our workforce,” she said. “Also, just the administrative challenge and communication challenge of trying to parse through students who may have different points when you
See Board, page 2
NORTHEAST
Intercultural Network discusses possible effects of state DEI legislation KEYLA HOLMES
campus editor keyla.holmes@my.tccd.edu
Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 (SB 17) on June 14, banning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) offices at public colleges and universities. The bill impacts the way public universities allocate money for programs that promote diversity among students and staff. SB 17 also bans mandatory diversity training and affects current hiring practices. It is unknown as to how the bill will be implemented at this time. NE Intercultural Network student engagement and academic success sitter Janjura Williams is hopeful for the future of the Network. “At this time we’ve been told that it’s [The Intercultural Network] not going to be impacted,” Williams said. “Now as they delineate, and look at what the law really says, that may change in the future.” According to the TCC website, “The Intercultural Network’s goal is to encourage intercultural aware-
ness, inclusiveness and academic achievement on and off campus.” SE part-time Intercultural Network employee God Favor said TCC has yet to make an official statement. “Our department has been preparing for whatever changes may occur,” he said. Not knowing what direction The Network may be headed in, if any changes are to be made, can be difficult. SE Intercultural Network coordinator Frank Sheets said, “It’s kind of like an elephant in the room.” Despite the uncertainty, Williams feels hopeful that TCC will continue to do its best to serve its students. “Our programs are set up for success,” she said. “That reaches across all ages, genders, socioeconomics, as well as race and ethnicity. We’re Intercultural Network, so we provide resources for everyone.” This Fall is NE Kim Okoroafor’s first semester at TCC. Not always having felt comfortable being on other campuses, she appreciates the diversity at NE.
TCC newcomers Freshman speak on their thoughts and feelings of being first-time college students Page 2
“Walking around TCC, seeing so many people who look like me, who feel comfortable on this campus, is really amazing,” she said. “I feel a lot more comfortable here than other universities where that’s not a priority.” Okoroafor feels DEI is important and helpful for everyone. “We all benefit from it, even if we all aren’t people of color,” she said. “Diversity is so important for everyone to feel included, but also have them feeling like they know about everyone in their environment.” The value in being in a diverse space was also a sentiment NE student Chelsea Sandoval shared. “People should have the opportunity to learn about different cultures,” she said. For Okoroafor, DEI has contributed to her feeling a sense of belonging. “It’s extremely important because as a Black girl myself I know that it’s so amazing to step onto a university that prioritizes making me feel like I’m a part of something.”
Ariel DeSantiago/The Collegian
NE student worker Julian Herrera works in the Intercultural Network office located on the bottom floor of NLIB.
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