Texas State University at Round Rock, Austin Community College at Round Rock and Texas State Technical College in Hutto are spending over $180 million to expand programs in health care, technology, manufacturing and skilled trades.
“We definitely have more jobs coming in,” said Kelly Moreno, Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area chief solutions officer. “We have to anticipate what’s coming down the pipe. That’s why you’re seeing all these expansions in training through [local higher education institutions] because they know what’s coming.”
Planning for growth in the life sciences industry, TXST Round Rock will soon launch a life sciences incubator to grow student-founded businesses. University officials highlighted proximity to Samsung, which could yield partnerships with businesses coming to the region to explore opportunities in life and health sciences industries.
What’s happening
At the Texas State University at Round Rock campus, the school is working on a new $52 million facility, Esperanza Hall, with construction set to start in November. The university is also working on a life sciences incubator that will help provide support to future startups in this field, which could include health and manufacturing-focused businesses, research and development.
“The [Round Rock] Chamber really saw this as an opportunity to get into this industry and to attract companies to the region,” said Julie Lessiter, vice president of Texas State University at Round Rock. “We are partnering with them to give space on our campus so that the third party can come and build the building, fill it with early startup entrepreneurial companies.”
At the ACC Round Rock campus, a new advanced manufacturing program is in the works. In particular, officials are working to expand automotive, construction and welding programs. ACC officials said they also plan to expand the Round Rock campus’s health science programs in the future.
At TSTC in Hutto, officials said they are working toward a new advanced manufacturing program as well as a $54 million expansion to the industrial systems technology program.
Round Rock ISD also announced partnerships this year with TSTC and ACC for a manufacturing program and to expand access to free associate degrees.The approach
ACC Round Rock, Texas State University at Round Rock and TSTC East Williamson County pointed to Samsung’s expansion in Taylor, which is expected to create thousands of jobs with an opening later this year, as a reason for expanding programs. Similarly, Tesla is expanding operations in nearby Travis County.
Per the Texas Economic Development Corporation, over 5,200 biotechnology and life sciences-related manufacturing, research and development firms operate in the state.
Dave Porter, executive director of the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership, said that manufacturing is new to Central Texas, and when Tesla moved into the area there became a need for manufacturing and supply chains nearby.
Expanding opportunities
Schools in the Round Rock area are undergoing the following projects:
- Texas State University at Round Rock: Construction of the 81,600-square-foot Esperanza Hall; over $52 million
- Texas State Technical College East Williamson County Campus: Construction of a 95,000-square-foot building to house advanced manufacturing programs; $54 million
- Austin Community College at Round Rock: Expansion of current facilities for skilled trades, advanced manufacturing and to eventually include health sciences; $75 million
In addition to the area’s growth, some industries are already feeling worker shortages, Moreno said.
Texas is experiencing a nursing shortage, and March data from the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies found that by 2036 there could be a shortage of 56,000 registered nurses. Matt Hoffman, Texas A&M University Round Rock School of Nursing assistant dean, said many nurses are aging out of the profession.
Moreno said many electricians, plumbers and HVAC workers are also close to retirement.
Programs at schools such as TSTC, ACC and TXST are aiming to address these gaps with expansions. While TAMU at Round Rock is not working on any expansions, the university has programs aiming to keep medicine and nursing workers in Texas.
Lessiter said the life sciences incubator may also provide opportunities for startups working to solve the problem of shortages in health care as well as improve patient experiences.
Quote of note
“We have engineering that we’re slating to bring in a couple of years. ... We’re really working with the industry that is around to help prepare degree programs that will help with the workforce pipeline,” said Julie Lessiter,
Texas State University at Round Rock vice president.
Marking a milestone
Ahead of the fall 2024 semester, ACC officials said enrollment increased by 23% across all campuses, with enrollment at the ACC Round Rock campus increasing by 29.9%. This comes as the community college system has implemented a free tuition model for all students who live within its service area, which extends from Georgetown to Lockhart.
The free tuition pilot program isn’t the only expansion ACC has made in recent months. The community college district is also partnering with The University of Texas and the Texas Institute for Electronics to create a semiconductor training center in Austin.
This comes on the heels of its Semiconductor Technician Advanced Rapid Start program, which launched last fall. The four-week, full-time program provides theoretical and hands-on training for students to transition into manufacturing technician roles.In case you missed it
Similar to the initiative that allowed RRISD to partner with ACC for the creation of a dedicated Early College High School, all high school students will be able to earn an associate degree at zero cost, beginning this fall.
The district also announced a partnership with TSTC to create a new precision manufacturing pathway. Peggy Mica, RRISD’s assistant director of career and technical education, highlighted the value of this program for students.
“Manufacturing is growing rapidly in the Round Rock and Austin areas as well as other parts of the state and country,” she said. “Our students will now have the opportunity to learn about this career field with a high demand for qualified employees.”
What’s next
With the ongoing expansions, officials hope these campuses will address current and future workforce needs.
The construction of Esperanza Hall at the Texas State University at Round Rock campus is expected to begin in November, per the university.
The life sciences incubator is expected to be completely constructed by the end of 2025, Lessiter said.
“When that’s up and running, we’ll be able to create research opportunities around that, speaking opportunities, engagements for our faculty,” Lessiter said. “[As well as] long term spin-off academic programs, so we create the students who are going into the incubator.”
In June, ACC approved a construction manager to oversee the applied technology expansion to renovate one building and build a new one.
TSTC is still determining logistics for its new building, which is expected to open in a few years, Provost Kelly Coke said.
“We know advanced manufacturing is here,” Coke said. “It’s the future, but it’s also here to stay.”
