TSC board lowers tuition and fees, again

Board Vice Chair Trey Mendez bids farewell

The Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees voted to lower the college's tuition and fees at a regular meeting on June 27, 2019 at the TSC Performing Arts Center.

Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to lower the college's tuition and fees at the regular meeting on June 27, 2019, making TSC the most affordable institution of higher education in the Rio Grande Valley.

Across the nation, college tuition has increased an average of three percent per year over the last decade, according to College Board, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to higher education. In contrast, TSC has run counter-trend by lowering tuition for the second time in six years — approximately 40 percent since 2013. The bold action taken by the college's leadership has resulted in greater affordability, fueling steady enrollment growth at TSC.

"We are excited to be able to lower tuition and fees for the second time in six years," said TSC Board Chair Adela G. Garza. "The board of trustees has been working diligently with administration to continue to make a college education affordable for the communities we serve by staying true to our strategic plan and developing a tuition and fee structure to become the best value in the Rio Grande Valley."

The TSC Board of Trustees honored Board Chair and City of Brownsville Mayor Elect, Trey Mendez, with a resolution during the June 27, 2019 regular meeting. From left, TSC Trustee Art Rendon, Trustee J.J. De Leon Jr., Trustee Tony Zavaleta, Ph.D., TSC Board Secretary Ruben Herrera, TSC Board Vice Chair Trey Mendez, TSC Board Chair Adela G. Garza, Trustee Eva Alejandro, and TSC President Jesús Roberto Rodríguez, Ph.D.

The meeting was also board Vice Chair Trey Mendez's last as a trustee after winning the City of Brownsville mayoral runoff election on June 22, 2019. At the meeting, The TSC Board of Trustees honored Mendez with a resolution, as he bid farewell to his fellow trustees, as well as, TSC students, faculty and staff.

"Trey Mendez has been a passionate advocate for higher education and Texas Southmost College, and we are grateful for his service to our students, the college, and the community," said Garza. "It has been an honor to work together for so many years, pursuing an ambitious agenda to benefit the region."

"Just as he served in the best interests of TSC students as a member of the board of trustees, we know that he will serve in the best interests of Brownsville's citizens as mayor," added Garza. "We look forward to collaborating with him in his new capacity."

During Mendez's two terms as a member of the TSC Board of Trustees, he was instrumental in re-establishing TSC as an independent, comprehensive community college in 2013, earning separate accreditation in 2015, and supporting the reduction of the college's tuition and fees to increase students' access to college.

"This latest tuition and fees decrease just shows a renewed commitment by our board to continue to make education at Texas Southmost College accessible and affordable," said Mendez. "My time on the board was fantastic and I don't regret any of it all. It has been a pleasure to serve the students and the community in this capacity. It's not a good bye, it's a see you later. I'm moving on to the city and I'm looking forward to helping the City of Brownsville to get to where it should be. Even though I will be in a new role, I'm going to keep the students and the community of Texas Southmost College foremost in my heart and thoughts as I continue my public service."

About Texas Southmost College
Originally established in 1926, Texas Southmost College currently offers the first two years toward a bachelor's degree, along with career and technical education leading to certificates and associate degrees, college preparatory studies to prepare students for college-level work, workforce training, and continuing education. TSC offers over 50 programs of study leading to an associate degree or certificate.