2019-2020 President's Annual Report

Inst i tut ional Highl ights

ETS/TADC Initiative: Texas College is a member of the Texas Association of Developing Colleges (TADC)

which consists of the five institutions founded as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Texas.

The TADC has been invited by Educational Testing Services (ETS) to engage students in research in education

and the social sciences in efforts to enhance their research skills and to prepare students for the GRE and graduate

school. Additionally, ETS will utilize the expertise of senior faculty researchers to train junior faculty mentors,

who have limited experience in pursuing such research. The junior faculty mentors will then work with select

groups of students in various research methodologies in these fields. In summer 2020, the junior faculty mentors

will also complete a “Mindfulness Training” conducted by the faculty of Spelman College’s Psychology

Department. Mindfulness training is a tool used to improve students’ confidence and to assist them with passing

standardized tests. The expected outcome of Texas College’s participation in the initiative is to have and maintain

graduate school readiness for individuals who want to pursue graduate/professional schools.

LEGACY Scholarship Fundraiser: For 2020, LEGACY (a black-tie affair) was to honor/recognize The

League of Women Voters- Tyler/Smith County and the Texas College LEGACY Scholars i.e., students who are

among the highest academic performers at the College. The League of Women Voters – Tyler/Smith County was

celebrating 2020 as their 75th anniversary, while the national League was having their centennial recognition

during this same period. The acknowledgement of the League is significant to bringing the awareness and

importance of the country’s national election. It should also be noted that over that over the years, LEGACY as a

scholarship initiative has been meaningful to the retention and graduation of students with scholarship assistance.

22 2019- 2020 Pres i dent ’ s Annual Report