What happened
In May, Collin County voters approved a $600 million bond for Collin College. The bond will help fund the college’s long-range master plan that includes the construction of six new facilities, including a workforce/university information technology center of excellence in the Preston Ridge campus in Frisco.

In June Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2118 into law that authorizes Texas community colleges to offer certain baccalaureate degrees. Once this happened, Collin College administration began the process to be able to provide a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

The latest
The college is currently in the construction phase for one of its facilities supported by the bond program.

The college is finalizing its application to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for a nursing degree and plans to submit it in early 2018. Before offering the degree, the college must submit an application to be accredited to offer baccalaureate degrees by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and obtain approval from the Texas Board of Nursing.

What’s next
The bond program is scheduled to be completed in four phases over seven years with Phase 1 being completed in fall 2020. The college is also aiming to offer the nursing degree in fall 2019.

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of 10 stories to follow in 2018 here.