The Apache Pow Wow

Beginning this summer, Tyler Junior College expands its educational opportunities to neighboring cities.

TJC Board of Trustees approved a campus to be set up in Lindale later this year.

Tyler Junior College President Dr. Michael Metke announced in an e-mail to faculty and staff, Wednesday, the new Lindale classroom will be located in the Identity Shopping Center on U.S. Highway 69, just north of Interstate 20 in Lindale.

Dr. Metke said the expansion northward is a part of a plan to help students save on commuting costs.

"With gas prices the way they are the commuting may cost as much as the tuition. Going to Lindale will certainly cut the commute for people," Dr. Metke said.

Campus officials hope this move will help bring the education to the students.

"The classes where there is an interest we'll bring the classes to them," said Metke. "We plan to have a computer lab, so we could offer a lot of technical classes."

LISD Officials hope this will give students the opportunity to complete most of their college work while still in high school.

"[Lindale ISD] hopes to have students get their two-year associates degree at the same time as their high school diploma," said Lindale Superintendent Stan Surratt.

Surratt said the first courses will be housed at Lindale High School during the Summer I semester. Regular classes are expected to start at the new campus during the Summer II semester.

Metke said this campus will also be used for needs other than helping high school students if needed.

"If there's a particular need in Lindale, if there's a business or an office that needs training for a program, we can tailor-make some training," Metke said.

Lindale ISD Officials said they are still working on the type and schedule of classes but said the registration should be open within the next few weeks. They also said they are working on another option after students complete the TJC-Lindale program.

"We are working with UT-Tyler to get junior and senior classes up here. We are also working on graduate courses for teachers or anyone interested," said Surratt.

TJC may also expand its nursing program to serve the nursing community in Jacksonville.

"What we're looking at in Jacksonville is primarily nursing and allied health, but we'd also teach the pre-requisites," said Metke.

The Jacksonville location is still in the planning stages, with the college still talking to city leadership, East Texas Medical Center, and Trinity Mother Frances.

Metke said another goal he has is to set up a program for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) to get in classes to earn their Registered Nurse (RN) certification.

"We are talking to the hospitals about possible evening classes to help those nurses with a flexible schedule," said Metke. "There is a strong need now and in the future."

There is still no information on an expected start date on the Jacksonville Campus.

The Lindale campus will launch this summer.

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