Collin College revised its mission statement Tuesday to coincide with the changes made by the Texas Legislature that now allows the college to offer baccalaureate degrees.
The new revisions modify the mission statement to address the addition of baccalaureate degrees.
Senate Bill 2118, passed during this year’s Texas legislative session, allows some community colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs. Collin College was one of the state’s community colleges that was actively involved with legislators to push the bill forward.
The college will offer a
bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree, bachelor of applied technology degree and a bachelor of applied science degree.
Collin College Executive Vice President Brenda Kihl said before the college can take any further steps it must modify its mission and vision to support the strategic goal to offer a baccalaureate degree.
Kihl said the college will now begin the process of seeking accreditation for the BSN with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Board of Nursing and a national accreditation commission for nursing.
It could take at least a year for the college to receive accreditation, therefore it will not be able to offer the bachelor's degree program until next school year.
"What this bill did was open the doors for us to seek accreditation to offer these baccalaureate degrees," Kihl said. "It took us a long time and a lot of hard work to get here but it won't take us long to finally start offering these degrees."