Collin County Technical College

Last Friday I toured the Collin College Technical Campus with my wife seeking to understand what is offered and see first-hand the facilities. My aim was to think more about any further opportunities for Lovejoy to partner with them for students interested in the trades. The campus was new and some of the teaching spaces were not completed. However, I was able to get a strong idea of the breadth and quality of the programming.

They had a full auto repair facility, body shop, and painting booths. It was outfitted with the latest tools and any tool needed by a student could be checked out at no cost for being in the program.

They had a building and construction program featuring hands-on opportunities. In the drafting department they had expected computer labs but was married with large format 3D printers capable of printing scale models.

In the life sciences the department was outfitted with realistic dummy patients to help students learn their patient care skills. It was noted that some nursing lecturers come in proclaiming the equipment is better in the teaching wing than in their own hospital.

They also offer a 4 year degree program in cyber security along with associates degrees in technology careers.

Lovejoy currently offers dual credit through Collin College by bringing guest lecturers onto the campus for students. In this program, the students would need to be

transported to the Collin College Technical Campus in order to receive instruction. This is currently done with area schools such as Allen, Plano and McKinney. Being about a 30 min ride from the LHS campus I believe this could be done. Of course, there are many steps before this happens with the first student, but I think it is something to investigate for this unserved population at LHS.