President’s Welcome
On behalf of the Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees, our faculty, and staff, I welcome you to Texas Southmost College. As the oldest institution of higher education in the Rio Grande Valley–now approaching 100 years of service–and the first accredited community college in Texas by SACSCOC, you can be sure you are receiving a high-quality education. In addition, Texas Southmost College is the most affordable institution of higher education in the entire Rio Grande Valley, saving families thousands of dollars in tuition and fees.
There is another important way Texas Southmost College helps families save money – by providing the academic and support services that keep students on track towards graduating and completing their degrees and certificates on time. In fact, the three-year graduation rate at Texas Southmost College now surpasses the state average by 7.6%. Courses are delivered in-person, online, and hybrid during the day, evenings, and weekends to provide maximum flexibility for students’ schedules.
Students can choose to earn a degree or certificate from the 54 academic programs and nine Workforce Training programs offered at Texas Southmost College. Our goal is to meet the educational needs of the entire family, including:
- traditional college students seeking to complete an associate’s degree, take their basics, or earn transfer credit;
- non-traditional college students seeking a flexible schedule to achieve their goal of earning a college education;
- high school dual enrollment students, saving families more than $40 million in college tuition since 2017;
- middle and high school students through academic and athletic summer camps;
- our littlest Scorpions at the Raul G. Guerra Early Childhood Center, located right on campus, and
- job seekers enrolled in short-term or customized workforce training programs leading directly to careers.
Texas Southmost College’s beautiful and historic campus provides you with a unique college experience in an environment that is welcoming and provides a sense of belonging for all.
I encourage you to participate in the college’s vibrant student life to ensure you get the most out of your experience. Texas Southmost College provides you with the ideal collegiate environment to meet new people, develop life-long relationships, gain new experiences, and access the support services that will help you succeed.
Our entire college community has one goal: Your Success!
Faculty and staff are here to support you in reaching your academic, personal, and career goals, and we encourage you to take some time to get to know them.
Once again, welcome, and I look forward to seeing you at events like Welcome Week, Pizza with the President, NJCAA Scorpion soccer games, cultural events, and, ultimately, as you cross the stage at commencement.
Always Scorpion Strong!
Dr. Jesús Roberto Rodríguez
President