BROWNSVILLE — Texas Southmost College (TSC) recently introduced a new program that caters to working adults and is seeking applicants to enroll for the Fall semester. TSC Beyond, also known as The Weekend College, helps working adults obtain an Associate of Arts degree without disrupting their family or work schedule.
TSC Dean of Health Professions, Dr. David R. Pearse, explained that TSC Beyond caters to working adults who want to attend college but may not be able to attend because of their work schedules or other family responsibilities.
Pearse explained that students in the program enroll for two Saturday classes during the first eight weeks of the semester and another two during the last eight weeks for four courses per semester. Through this hybrid teaching method, students are eligible for full-time status, making them eligible for financial aid and other benefits, such as Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits.
“We are trying to bring students in for them to complete their degree as quickly as possible,” explained Pearse. “By enrolling in TSC Beyond, students can complete an Associate of Arts degree in as little as 18 months (about one and a half years). Furthermore, by coming to campus one day per week and connecting online, students become part of a learning community where they often make long-life friends and find the support they need to succeed in college.”
The hybrid-cohort method TSC Beyond utilizes to deliver instruction directs students to complete online assignments during the week and meet in person with their instructors on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pearse said that utilizing a cohort system benefits students because it allows them to make essential connections that will help them obtain their educational goals.
“Research shows that students who enroll in online courses lack connections with classmates. They can respond to other students in group chats or emails, but they do not personally know their classmates,” said Pearse. “We found that they are more successful when there is some interaction, which is why we chose to enroll students in cohort groups of 20 to 40 to keep them together through their academic journey at TSC Beyond.”
Pearse continued that cohort students often create study groups to help each other with assigned projects but, most importantly, encourage each other, leading to a higher success rate.
“That is how the cohort works,” explained Pearse. “They are together from the beginning and stay together all the way through to the end.”
For more information about TSC Beyond, email or contact Dr. David Pearse at (956) 295-3753 or [email protected]
