BLINN PRESIDENT ADDRESSES PROPOSED NEW JR COLLEGE

  

Blinn College President Dr. Mary Hensley briefed local community leaders Monday evening about the attempt to create a new Junior College in Brazos County.  The Talent Initiative Steering Committee, a subcommittee of the Research Valley Partnership, is circulating a petition in Brazos County to create a new Junior College.  The group claims that Blinn College is not addressing the technical training needed by employers in the area.

Dr. Hensley explained that Blinn is currently teaching 83 percent of the high demand jobs in workforce training and by next fall, will be at 97 percent or higher.  She said that Blinn has invested heavily in Brazos County since it first began to have classes there 46 years ago.  Blinn currently has close to $200 million in property and buildings in Brazos County and if a new Junior College is formed, they would have to pay Blinn the full market value to take them over.  Hensley also pointed out that it would take a new college 3 to 5 years to gain accreditation, leaving thousands of students to look elsewhere for their education.

A press conference is planned for this (Tuesday) afternoon where Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp is expected to announce an agreement between Blinn College and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to provide workforce training in Brazos County.  Many of the new training programs will take place at the new RELLIS campus, where Blinn is building its new Bryan campus.

Blinn plans on holding another public informational meeting tonight (Tuesday) at 6:15 pm in the Brenham City Council Chambers with additional information.