We want to ensure that technical college education remains a vital part of getting students work force ready.

Students are able to come in ready to work. It eliminates another distraction.

This was not a turkey. Our College of Education has nearly 500 students, and our fall applications are up 50 percent. Summer enrollment is up 62 percent. ... We have really worked hard and we are graduating people. We are not losing people.

It's so important and valuable for them to see students of color being successful ... and getting a college education.

New programs, like Texas Grant, which gives aid to students who are in need and have completed college preparatory work in high school, are being designed to help alleviate financial burdens of college students.

These classes demonstrate to college admissions and scholarship staff that students who successfully complete them can do college-level work.