Spotlight On: Elva Concha LeBlanc, Chancellor, Tarrant County College
October 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Chancellor Elva Concha LeBlanc discussed the reaffirmation of Tarrant County College’s accreditation and surpassing pre-pandemic enrollment with over 47,000 students. She also highlighted the success of early-college high schools and technical training, which have had a significant impact on the community.
What were some of the key milestones or achievements at Tarrant County College over the past 12 months?
There’s a lot going on. To stay relevant, we pivot. We created an Office for Transformational Change to enhance communications, keep people informed about what is taking place throughout the college and make transitions and change less stressful. In a significant achievement, we received reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This is crucial for funding and demonstrates the quality of our education.
Partnerships have continued to expand, and over 47,000 students are now enrolled, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Collaborations include Early College High Schools, dual enrollment and P-TECH programs, and all of them are performing well. For example, the U.S. Department of Education recently named the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Collegiate Academy a National Blue Ribbon School.
We have completed several initiatives involving structure and direction, including a strategic plan, a technology plan, and enrollment management and academic continuity plans. A corollary economic impact study completed last year also demonstrates Tarrant County College’s positive effect on the community.
What is the early-college high school program, and what has been its impact on students and the community?
The Early College High School program is particularly impactful for students, ISDs, and TCC. Early College High Schools serve students who often are the first in their families to attend college, speak English as a second language, or have struggled academically. Despite these obstacles, the students excel in a collegiate level learning environment. Last spring, over 700 students graduated from this program. They earned their associate degree before receiving their high school diploma, a significant achievement for our community.
This fall, we launched a new partnership with New Heights High School, a charter school for adults who have aged out of high school without earning their diploma. They can earn a high school diploma, a certificate or an associate degree in various technical fields. We only started marketing in June, and already met our enrollment cap of 900 students and have a waitlist for upcoming terms.
Special programs benefit veterans, and another program called Second Chance is a unique partnership that allows individuals who are incarcerated to acquire skills training that increases their workforce readiness post-release.
What are some of the key partnerships that Tarrant County College has in place?
When the Fort Worth Film Commission needed trained professionals, we quickly developed a curriculum in just six months (much faster than other institutions!). The program has been a resounding success, with graduates already working in the film industry. Collectively, we offer more than 240 high-quality degree and certificate programs, especially in technical fields.
We also have earned the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity designation and partnered with companies to support our nuclear medicine technician and nursing programs. These agreements ensure our graduates are job ready. We’re working with several institutions — Dallas College, UTSA, UTA, Texas A&M, Penn State to name a few — on projects, including engineering and microelectronics, and Texas A&M’s footprint in downtown Fort Worth aligns with our nursing, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship programs.
What is the significance of the aviation program for Tarrant County?
Aviation has been a major success for us. We have a powerful relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration that took years to develop. Our program teaches airframe mechanics, avionics and composite materials, and pilot training is available in both airplanes and helicopters. As the aviation industry continues to flourish, our offerings will follow suit and meet the need.
The aviation industry faces a shortage of pilots, mechanics and avionics specialists. We’re training people as fast as possible, following FAA requirements so graduates are fully certified. We are also partnering with Texas Woman’s University, which recently graduated its first female pilot, and with other community colleges, including Dallas College, to help them start their own programs.
We have substantial programs in logistics, cybersecurity, criminal justice along with firefighter and police academies. All are the result of partnerships not only within Tarrant County but across Texas and with federal entities, such as the United States Post Office and numerous police and fire departments.
Our contribution at Alliance Airport has developed over time through partnerships and creative financing. Community colleges like ours aren’t funded the same way universities or public schools are so we must be resourceful, creating arrangements that benefit everyone involved and demonstrate to taxpayers that we’re delivering on their investment.
How is Tarrant County College adapting to meet the needs of its diverse student population?
Our faculty truly deserve recognition. They meet our Trailblazers where they are and help them become successful college students. Our TCC faculty set high expectations and provide high support, holding students accountable while guiding them to success.
We offer impressive learning modalities, including our highly regarded online campus, TCC Connect. We ensure that students are prepared for online classes and require faculty to complete a certification on online instructional strategies before teaching in a virtual classroom. We also provide ongoing support for faculty, with e-faculty stepping in when challenges demand.
Our technical programs utilize hands-on, active learning from day one, and our faculty revel at the pace. General academic faculty work closely with reading and math instructors. This requires constant conversation and professional development, which our Office of Organizational Excellence and Development provides. Faculty learn to deliver instruction in different environments, use technology effectively and adapt to student needs. They also work closely with university and public school faculty to ensure seamless transitions for graduates. While we have excellent facilities and administrators, it’s the faculty who make the biggest impact on our students’ success.
What is your outlook for higher education, and how is Tarrant County College preparing for it?
We are in a strong position, especially with the new state funding formula model under House Bill 8 that focuses on student outcomes. We have always prioritized student success, so we’re on solid footing here. We have the talent — and the will — to adapt and train the 21st-century workforce. Challenges are inevitable (and healthy) but surmountable. I see a very positive future for Tarrant County College.
For more information, please visit:
