The INSIDER - 2021 Year End Edition

PARTNERING TO PREVENT HIV/AIDS

To amplify the impact of 2021’s World AIDS Day, Texas College partnered with with the East Texas Chapter of the Links, Inc., East Texas Cares Resource Center, Special Health Resources, Jarvis Christian College, and Wiley College to collaboratively host a virtual educational program for the East Texas community at large, as well as beyond. To accommodate individuals, wherever they may be, the virtual event was facilitated through the Zoom platform with multiple presentation dates and times to best accommodate individual’s schedules.

The program aimed to not only provide education about the disease, but to also help spread awareness, as well as to dispel myths with facts regarding AIDS. The presentation surrounded topics such as building confidence to prescribe treatment for pre - exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and non - occupational post exposure prophylaxis (nPEP), as well as ending the HIV epidemic through prevention, and ultimately, congruently, ending the AIDS epidemic. In addition to the educational facets of the program, the event also honored those who have succumbed to the disease. Ms. Sha’Terra Johnson, HIV Community Health Planner for the Houston Regional HIV/AIDS Resource Group, delivered the keynote address; Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shirley McKellar also presented a proclamation on behalf of the city of Tyler. Texas College’s collaboration between these five other organizations and institutions represents the largest partnership and initiative for World AIDS Day in East Texas since the official designation of World AIDS Day over 40 years ago. The collective event served as the necessary first step to effectively educate the community and end new infections. Continuous efforts, spearheaded by the East Texas Chapter of the Links, Inc., will be employed to educate the community about preventive measures. As the Black and Hispanic populations continue to be disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it was imperative to Texas College to ensure student participation and attendance of the event. In addition to coordinating the initiative, Texas College students also participated in the event. Student attendees noted the presentation as informative, valuable, and eye - opening. To further incetivize student attendance, the East Texas Chapter of the Links, Inc., donated an array of gift cards, printers, and a supply of contraceptives for students that participated.

Texas College strides into 2022 with Accredited status awarded by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). TEA serves as the state agency that oversees both primary and secondary public education within the state of Texas, as well as Educator Preparation Programs at colleges and universities. The status of “accredited” was granted following a rigorous program review of Texas College’s Division of Education. The accreditation remains in effect until the next five - year review. “The Division of Education degree

TEA AWARDS ACCREDITATION

program successfully met the requirements of a multidisciplinary program that integrates theory with practice to best prepare our students to become competent and effective professionals that will contribute to the teaching community upon graduation,” said Dr. Jan Duncan, Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Division met several standards, including program impact, candidate quality, proficiency in content and pedagogical knowledge, recruitment, and selectivity.

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