Adult Education
Adult Education provides instruction in communication and computation skills for individuals beyond the age of compulsory school attendance who are functioning at a level of performance that does not permit them to meet their adult responsibilities in today’s society. The major goals of the state program are as follows:
- Provide adults with basic skills in reading, writing, and speaking English (ESL-English as a Second Language); mathematical skills; and general knowledge acquisition through the eighth grade level of competency, (ABE-Adult Basic Education); or an accepted minimum competence level.
- Prepare adults for competitive and successful results on the General Educational Development (GED) test.
- Assist adults to meet specific educational objectives below the college credit level.
- Provide educational Prerequisites to vocational education of post-secondary education.
The Howard College-Big Spring cooperative (Co-Op 20) serves seven counties: Glasscock, Scurry, Mitchell, Nolan, Reagan, Martin and Howard. When a sufficient number of people are interested, classes can be held in Coahoma, Stanton, Colorado City, Snyder, Sweetwater, Big Lake, Forsan, Grady, Garden City, and Big Spring. Information about night classes in the surrounding communities can be obtained by calling the local school or the Adult Education Office at Howard College-Big Spring.
The Howard College-San Angelo cooperative (Co-Op 42) serves 15 counties and 36 school districts. A learning center is open during selected days and night hours for students’ use. Students are encouraged to attend according to their own time schedule. All instruction is individualized.
Registration is open during the entire year. Students may register at the class. There is no fee for program participation or materials.
Continuing Education: Community Education/Workforce Training
The concept of continuing education reflects the attitude of a fast-paced and changing society striving for more involvement in and awareness of the world around it. Classes are designed and created as a result of voiced needs and opinions of the community.
Community Education provides the opportunity for the surrounding community to take classes for personal enrichment, to socialize, and improve physical fitness. Classes can be organized to meet the needs of groups. Community members who are interested in pursuing a new interest or teaching a class are encouraged to call the Continuing Education/Workforce Training Office.
Workforce Training focuses on work-related training. It seeks to improve the skills needed in the local labor force by working with businesses and industries to identify and then design and deliver training to meet their specific requirements. It also provides training opportunities for individuals seeking to improve their workplace skills or attain new qualifying skills where a change of career is desired. The division assists businesses and industries who may need help identifying funding resources for training needs, writes grants to secure such funding, and administers grants when received.
Tuition and fees for a Community Education/Workforce Training Course or an approved Career Technical course offered by Howard College/SWCID for non-credit may be established by the college president or the designee and must be uniformly and consistently assessed for each course and may be set at zero. Exemptions, waivers, and/or a reduction of fees only apply to courses receiving state funding as governed by state law.
If space is available at the close of regular registration, students age 65 and older may enroll for up to 6 semester credit hours or 9.6 CEUs each semester or quarter term without payment of tuition. This exemption will only be honored upon request in person. Registration must be completed on site each registration period. All fees will be charged. This exemption does not apply to programs with limited enrollment and/or competitive selection.
All fees are payable at the time of registration either by check, money order, or credit card. Cost of the student supplies will be discussed at the first class meeting. The student will be responsible for the purchase of supplies and books. Textbooks may be purchased at the Howard College Bookstore.
Courses are open to interested persons regardless of age and educational background with some exceptions. International students enrolled in a continuing education program that exceeds 191 contact hours in a semester are required to provide confirmation that they are in the U.S. on an F-1 (student) visa. Federal and state law may exempt some individuals. Refer to the International Student Policy in this catalog for further information.
Courses may vary in length from a few weeks to a full semester. Short one or two day seminars and workshops are also offered. Continuing Education/Workforce Training courses observe scheduled college holidays unless special arrangements have been made.
Community members who have knowledge of a subject gained through formal education, work experience, training, or self-taught and are interested in teaching a class are encouraged to call the Community Education/Workforce Training office.
Classes are advertised prior to the starting date. Community members are encouraged to pick up a schedule at the college or request that a schedule be mailed to them. Every attempt is made to inform the public of scheduled courses. A student may register in the Admissions and Registrar’s Office during posted hours of operation. Students are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible in order to insure a place in the course. Registration is continuous until a class starts.
The Community Education/Workforce Training Department reserves the right to cancel any course in which there is not sufficient enrollment. Interested persons are urged to register early in order to be counted as being enrolled to avoid any unnecessary cancellation. Should a class be canceled after the student enrolls, the student will be given an opportunity to change to another course or receive a full refund.
Upon completion of approved courses, a certificate of completion with the CEU total will be given to students who successfully complete a course. A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is equal to ten hours of classroom attendance. Satisfactory completion will be determined by attendance and performance as assessed by the instructor. Certificates of completion will be awarded to students who successfully complete any workforce training or community education course.
Workforce Training Certificates and Awards
The HVAC/R program at Howard College is designed to prepare the student to seek a Texas State License in the HVAC/R field. If a potential student has been convicted of a felony, he or she will be required to complete the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Criminal History Evaluation Letter before acceptance in the HVAC/R program. http://www.license.state.tx.us/crimHistoryEval.htm Prior to enrollment in the Internship Program all students will be required to complete a background check and drug screen.
