Richland College is a community college that is part of the Dallas County Community College District and is located in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas, Texas (United States) near the border with Richardson and Garland. The school was founded in 1972 and is the largest school in the DCCCD, featuring about 20,000 students. Located on the old Jackson farm, the campus comprises 155 acres (63 hectares) and has preserved the rural beauty with a brook flowing through the campus.
Programs
Richland offers dual enrollment, and has a charter high school, Richland Collegiate High School, which opened in Fall 2006.
In fall 2007, Richland College introduced a new associate degree in digital forensics, which includes a specialization in Information Assurance. This track focuses on the proper processing of stored and transmitted electronic data by identifying, detecting and applying the corrective measures in a timely manner to prevent data loss, unauthorized modification and destruction. It offers one of the few International Business programs in North Texas offering certificate and associate degree.
Richland offers one of the largest English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs in the DCCCD. This includes the American English & Culture Institute (AECI), a program for international F-1 students.
Richland College practices teaching, learning and community building throughout all of its programs. Of particular note are its excellent transfer programs and unique workforce programs. Students can earn a wide variety of certificates or associate degrees with emphases or fields of study in disciplines such as Multimedia, Peace Studies, Photographic/Imaging and Mass Communications/Journalism. The college has a large Student Media program and is home to the only DCCCD radio station, Chronicle Web Radio.
Awards and recognition
In 2005, Richland became the first community college to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Richland has been designated as the first two-year institution in Texas as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE2Y) for academic years 2011-2016. CAE2Ys receive formal recognition from the U.S. government, as well as opportunities for prestige and publicity for their role in securing our nation’s information systems.
In 2013, Richland College developed a skill standard for Digital Forensic Technician. Its Digital Forensics program was recognized by the Texas Skills Standard Board (TSSB) as the first and only institution in Texas to meet this statewide standard.
Athletics
Richland College fields teams in basketball, baseball, wrestling, soccer, and volleyball that compete in the Dallas-area Metro Athletic Conference. They also compete for national championships within the National Junior College Athletic Association, Division III. Many athletes have gone on to play for four-year university programs and professional teams.
The men's basketball team won the NJCAA Division III championship in 1999, 2009, and 2015.
The baseball team won the NJCAA Division III World Series championship in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2009.
The men's soccer team won the NJCAA Division III championship in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007.
The women's soccer team won the NJCAA Division III championship in 2004, 2006, and 2009.
The wrestling team has won seven Texas state championships, competing against four-year universities. After dropping the program in 1987, Richland resurrected the sport in 2017, and coach Bill Neal was named Southwest Conference Coach of the Year.
Building names
Some buildings at Richland College are named for heroes of the Texas Revolution, with the first letter of the name corresponding to the use of the building. For example, Bonham Hall, where the Business department is located, is named for James Butler Bonham, who died at the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. Crockett Hall, named for Alamo hero David Crockett, is the Campus Center. Fannin Hall, where Fine Art classes are held, is named for Col. James W. Fannin, who led the ill-fated Texas rebels at Goliad.
Other building names are Spanish words or names. Lavaca ("cow") houses the Library. Alamito ("little cottonwood") is the original Administration Building. El Paso ("the Pass") Hall is the interior lower level of a bridge that connects the east and west sides of the campus, which are separated by a shallow but picturesque creek originally known as Jackson Branch. Del Rio ("of the river") is where the school's Data center or computer lab is located.
Sabine Hall, named for the river that separates Texas and Louisiana, is the Science Building. Neches and Pecos Halls are also named for rivers. The previous Science building is now called Wichita, which is the name of a Texas Indian tribe. Thunderduck Hall, named after the school athletic team cartoon mascot, is the new Administration Building.
Notable alumni
- Evan Bernstein, Israeli Olympic wrestler
- Tony Bishop, Panamanian professional basketball player
- William F. Martin, American botanist
- Raven Oak, author
- Greg Travis, comedian and actor
- Ollie Hoops, basketball player for Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, and a professional team in Turkey
References
External links
- Richland College
