TSC Officially Opens Classroom for SHSU Criminal Justice Program

August 26, 2024 – Texas Southmost College (TSC) and Sam Houston State University (SHSU) recently celebrated the grand opening of new classrooms, marking the official launch of their collaborative Criminal Justice program. SHSU hosted the event to commemorate the beginning of this new partnership with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Tandy Hall T205, a space designated for Sam Houston State University (SHSU).

“The partnership between Texas Southmost College and Sam Houston State University is more than just a collaboration; it’s a commitment to expanding access to high-quality education in the field of criminal justice,” said Dr. David Stender, Senior Director for Strategy and Innovation at SHSU. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the educational journey for countless students in the Rio Grande Valley.”

As per a credit transfer agreement signed earlier this year, students who complete first two years of classes at TSC can now enroll in SHSU’s criminal justice program upon graduation. With this new classroom space available, students who are accepted into the program will now have the option to take their SHSU Criminal Justice classes at the TSC campus, meaning that they can earn a bachelor’s degree from SHSU while remaining in Brownsville.

“By offering SHSU criminal justice courses here at the TSC campus, we are meeting students where they are physically, academically and personally,” continued Dr. Stender.

“We understand that many of our students juggle work, family, and many other responsibilities, and this partnership allows them to pursue their dreams of earning a degree without sacrificing their connections to home, community, and culture.”

This program is designed to benefit nontraditional students, many of whom balance full-time jobs with their college coursework. With most courses requiring in-person attendance just once a week, students gain the flexibility needed to better integrate studying and class assignments into their busy schedules.

“With the new SHSU classroom in Tandy Hall, students can now take advantage of face-to-face courses here at TSC, enroll in 5 or 15-week courses online, and participate in internships, both locally and virtually,” remarked Dr. Stender. “This flexibility is especially important for nontraditional students who must balance full-time jobs with their studies.”

TSC alumna Alan Moreno Salazar is proudly the first student to enroll in the new SHSU criminal justice courses offered at TSC. “Since I was a child, I’ve always admired law enforcement. I’m studying to become a state game warden because I love Texas and don’t want to leave this wonderful place,” said Moreno Salazar. As a TSC graduate, he recognizes the unique opportunity this partnership offers. “Sam Houston State University has a legacy and prestige for its criminal justice programs, and I’m grateful to be part of that legacy without having to leave the place I’ve always called home.”