The name change is something that
we didn't take lightly at all,
as we as we look to the future,
we had been granted authority by the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board to offer Baccalaureate degrees
and that was going to require us to do
something differently in the future.
But when we made the decision to
consolidate into one college well
then it was obvious we need to have
a name that not only represented
our existing 7 colleges,
but the entire community that we serve.
So with input from literally
hundreds of people.
We landed on the name Dallas College
and I'm excited about the name.
I think it speaks well of this community
who we are and an institution that I
know that we're proud to be a part
of this community and hopefully the
Community is proud to have us a part of it.
I think there were some individuals
wanted it even more specific
about the geography in the area.
Others thought maybe it should be
something separate from that something,
or maybe some part of the history
of Dallas in North Texas.
But the end of the day,
Dallas College was the one that made
the most sense for us as we go forward.
And so and in fact, once once we adopted it,
we really kind of pushed up,
pushed everything else aside.
So and now look at looking down the
road for awaiting final approval by
the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on college.
That will grant us that single
institution authority to move forward
and offer programs and services
under the one name Dallas College.
You know it, it was much went into it with,
you know something that big.
We've had the name Dallas County
Community College District for 54 years.
So what were we acknowledge?
The name change we're looking for
another 50 plus years or longer for that
to be a relevant name for the institution.
And so it's not something we took lightly.
Knowing the importance of this
institution to the community.
But also we wanted to make sure
that we listen to everyone's
viewpoints from students too.
Business leaders to our faculty and staff.
Others in the community,
and understanding their perspective
in a way that made sure that they
could relate to Dallas College
and who we are going forward.
Well,
who's really people from
all walks of life in Dallas?
We we engaged individuals to help us with
focus groups to meet with stakeholders,
to layout the options.
Talk about why this is important
and why we're doing it,
which of course is to better
serve the needs of our students.
Better meet the needs of employers,
but also to listen to them about what
they thought about the college and
what we mean to them individually
and as to the community as a whole.
Well there will be a lot of work,
but at the same time we're going
to be responsible
were great stewards of the
taxpayer dollars, so we're not.
We've got time to rush so that we don't
have to rush and do some of this,
but certainly in a very visible way.
We want to recognize.
That we are a single institution going
forward and in prominent locations.
That's going to be displayed as soon as the
Southern Association gives us the go ahead,
but it was kind of interesting because
a lot of students already see us as one
institution because they're going to
multiple of our locations at the same time.
So for them they saw it as really
making things easier for them,
will really not planning on altering that
we really want to create that continuity
between the past and present and future,
and so we are we.
Believe that's an important part of Dallas
history and culture and we're going
to retain that for at least for now,
as we now have authority to offer
Baccalaureate degrees and will be adding
more backyard degrees in the future.
We were receiving feedback from
students on this saying, you know,
that's we're excited about that.
We're glad will be able to get
both an associates degree,
Anna Baccalaureate degree right here
in Dallas from our colleges said,
but you know,
if it's a four year institution,
we don't really want the word community
in on our transcript or on our degree.
So we we took that in.
To heart as well that feedback and and
really listen to them and said OK,
well that makes sense.
Certainly so because that would have
been an option, right?
Dallas Dallas Community College.
But with the Dallas College to really
encompass our new vision,
our new mission,
the new direction we're going
by offering four year degrees.