For immediate release - Sept. 2, 2005
(Dallas) College students who are fleeing the ravages of Hurricane Katrina will be welcomed by the Dallas County Community Colleges to attend classes this fall.
Students displaced by Hurricane Katrina may enroll at any of DCCC's campuses. Those locations and phone numbers for admissions and registration offices are: Brookhaven College (in Carrollton/Farmers Branch), 972-860-4883; Cedar Valley College (in Lancaster), 972-860-8201; Eastfield College (in Mesquite), 972-860-7100; El Centro College (in downtown Dallas), 214-860-2618 or 2037; Mountain View College (in Dallas), 214-860-8600; North Lake College (in Irving), 972-273-3183; Richland College (in Dallas/Richardson), 972-238-6100, 6106 or 6101; and Dallas TeleCollege (DCCC's virtual campus), 972-669-6400.
Dr. Jesus “Jess” Carreon, DCCC chancellor, announced today that the system is marshalling its resources to support students from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. Members of the DCCC board of trustees approved the in-district tuition rate today during the group’s regular monthly meeting.
DCCC’s package of support includes:
- in-district tuition;
- financial assistance through the Student Emergency Fund;
- online classes; weekend courses; special sections to meet students’ needs;
- response teams of DCCC employees who can assist community colleges in affected states who request help as they rebuild their institutions; and
- community-based efforts organized by DCCC students to help storm victims.
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“These students need our help, and they need it today. We want to help displaced students who have suffered through the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and who had plans to enroll in or return to college this fall,” said Carreon. “This system has special ties to the Louisiana community and technical college system because Dr. Walter Bumphus, who leads that statewide system, was a former president at Brookhaven College, which is part of DCCC. We also send our condolences to victims in Mississippi and Alabama.”
Although fall semester classes started on Mon., Aug. 29, displaced students coming from Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama can enroll in classes that have a later start date; a Friday/Saturday schedule; distance learning courses; and, in some instances, special sections of courses such as English, history, government or mathematics that may be created at a later date, based on demand.
Evacuees from the states affected by Hurricane Katrina who wish to enroll in courses at DCCC and who do not have the funds are eligible for assistance from the Student Emergency Fund administered by the DCCC Foundation. Betheny Reid, executive director of the foundation, is working with area donors to provide additional money for the DCCC Student Emergency Fund, and the system’s employees and current students also can make donations directly to the foundation to help those prospective students seeking refuge in Dallas County.
Area residents interested in donating to the Student Emergency Fund can visit the DCCC Foundation’s website at www.foundation.dcccd.edu, or they can send a check made payable to “DCCC Foundation Student Emergency Fund” and mail it to: Dallas County Community Colleges Foundation, 701 Elm St., Suite 700, Dallas TX 75202.
After community colleges in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama assess their needs, DCCC officials and employees may travel to that state as system support teams to assist with recovery efforts.
For more information, contact Dr. Andrew Jones, DCCC vice chancellor for educational affairs, at (214) 860-2129; or Bob Brown, vice chancellor for business affairs. For details about donations to the DCCC Student Emergency Fund, contact Reid at (214) 860-2053.
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