Laredo College: A Legacy of Education, Opportunity, and Community

Laredo College (LC), formerly Laredo Community College (LCC), boasts a rich history intertwined with the post-World War II era. Founded to provide training for returning soldiers, the institution has evolved into a leading community college in Texas, offering diverse academic programs and a vibrant campus life.

From Fort McIntosh to a Thriving Institution

Laredo College's story began after World War II, born out of the need to educate and train returning soldiers. Its original campus was established at Fort McIntosh. From its humble beginnings, Laredo College has experienced tremendous growth, expanding its academic offerings and student body. The college started with a mere 13 students but now admits over 12,000 students annually.

Academic Programs: A Wide Array of Choices

Laredo College runs several degree and certificate programs. It offers Associate in Arts and Science Degrees as well as certificates. The number of courses available at the college is enormous enabling applicants a huge range of career choices. The college offers degrees in diverse fields such as Agriculture, Fine Arts, Biological Sciences, Computer Sciences and Business. Engineering programs cover areas such as Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering. The range of the college’s vocational programs is also wide and its programs lead to the award of a Certificate of Completion. Areas covered include Accounting, Air-conditioning, Carpentry Technology, Computer Information Systems, Welding and Office Technology.

Open Admissions and Enrollment Options

LCC operates an open-door admissions policy to ensure that qualified applicants are not locked out of the college’s educational programs. While specific programs have specific admission requirements, the basic minimum that an aspiring student must meet is graduation from high school. Applications without a high school diploma will also be considered if they have satisfactory scores in their General Education Development (GED) tests. The college’s Director of Admissions has been granted power to approve for admission applicants who have no high school diploma but who show evidence of their ability to benefit from college education.

Through LCC’s Early Enrollment Program, students attending high school get the opportunity to obtain admission to the college. Early enrollment enables the student to obtain credit for college courses while still in high school. Students transferring to LCC from another college are considered for admission based on their academic records. The college requires that such applicants send academic transcripts from the last institution attended and a student will only be admitted when the transcripts are evaluated by the Admissions Registration Office. Students who have attended a home school program are admitted to LCC through either the Early Enrollment Program or individual approval.

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Upon admission to LCC, students have to go through placement testing which helps determine the courses that are most ideal for the student as required by the Texas Success Initiative (TSI).

Financial Aid Opportunities

Students attending LCC have many sources of financial aid and a needy student will most probably obtain needed aid. One such program is the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) which is available for students who are resident in Texas. Applicants to this grant have to meet additional conditions such as proving their financial need through their application with FAFSA. Similar to TEOG is the Texas Grant which was created in 1999. It is also open only to students who are residents of Texas and applicants are required to show the same satisfactory academic progress as is required under TEOG.

A host of federal grant programs are also available to students attending LCC. The Federal Pell Grant has helped students pay through college over the years and it just got better. While previously a student could only apply for a single Pell grant per academic year, beginning 2011, needy students will be able to benefit from two awards within an academic year. There three types of federal loans that a student attending LCC can apply for. The Subsidized William D. Ford Direct Loan Program enables needy students to obtain subsidized loans which are sometimes quite substantial. Similar to the subsidized loan is the Unsubsidized William D. Students attending LCC who have physical disabilities are considered for financial assistance through the Texas Rehabilitation Commission which channels such assistance through the Vocational Rehabilitation Division of the State Board for Vocational Education.

Student Life and Activities

Apart from academic pursuits, student life at LCC is vibrant and their activities are coordinated by the Student Activities Office. Some of the organizations already existing include the Computer Technology Organization Club which was created to enhance the students’ understanding of computer technology. Other clubs and organizations include the Revolutionary Arts and Cultural Empowerment (RACE) club, the Science Venture Club, the Student Nurses’ Association and the Percussion Club. To deal with student grievances and to help resolve disciplinary incidents, LCC has established the office of Student Affairs.

Recreational Facilities and Athletics

LCC provides its students, staff and faculty with adequate recreational facilities. These include the Maravillo Gymnasium which has facilities for basketball, volleyball, weight lifting and racquet ball. LCC’s athletic teams are known as the Palominos and compete in the Region 14 Athletic Conference. Athletic teams at the college include tennis, volleyball and baseball. Perhaps the athletic team that stands out from the rest at LCC (for good reasons) is the men’s tennis team. This team has won the Division 1 Junior College Men’s Championships for six times and by 2010 held the NJCAA record for the most consecutive wins. The team won consecutively between 2005 and 2010.

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Recognition and Achievements

Laredo College has been ranked as the top community college in the state by BestColleges.com. The college garnered this same accolade in 2020. BestColleges.com is an online resource that aims to help prospective students find the schools that best meet their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides and hundreds of independent college rankings. The site provides students with direct connections to schools and programs that suit their educational needs through their degree resources and program rankings. Academics-full-time and part-time retention rate, graduation rate and transfer rate-and affordability-average net price and percentage of enrolled students taking federal loans-were the two main ranking factors.

A Learner-Centered Mission

Laredo College Board President Lupita Zepeda praised the remarkable team effort of LC administrators, faculty and staff in always putting students’ needs first and quickly adapting and innovating in the face of changes and challenges impacting higher education. “At Laredo College, our mission remains learner-centered as we strive to transform lives through educational programs and services,” Zepeda said. “This stellar designation could not be timelier, as we are on the eve of celebrating 75 years of history and legacy that our college has cemented in our community. This accomplishment, like all other Laredo College achievements, is a reflection of the rigorous academic standards and institutional effectiveness our college community has always prioritized.”

Comprehensive Offerings and Community Engagement

Laredo College offers not only certified, award-winning programs, degrees and certifications but also vibrant student life activities, visual and performing art shows, Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center, extensive veteran services, adult and continuing education courses and networking opportunities through our multiple partnerships with local, state and federal public and private sector entities as well as through our very own Laredo College Economic Development Center.

Laredo College Interim President Dr. Marisela Rodriguez Tijerina said, “This recognition would not be possible without the myriad contributions of all our LC community which includes employees, students and the Laredo community,”. “It is truly an honor to be ranked as the #1 Texas Community College for the second year in a row.

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