South Texas College
South Texas College (STC) is a public community college in the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Bachelor of Applied Technology, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Arts, and Associate of Science degrees. STC has an enrollment of approximately 31,000 students and a staff of 1,600 working across six campuses. It was created on September 1, 1993 with the passage of Texas Senate Bill 251, the purpose of which was to serve Hidalgo and Starr County. As defined  by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of STC includes all of Hidalgo and Starr Counties. Academics. South Texas College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Bachelor of Applied Technology, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees and certificates. The college offers more than 100 degree and certificate program options, including associate degrees in a variety of art, science, technology and allied health fields of study. The college also offers the Bachelor of Applied Technology degree as well as online degree and certificate  options. South Texas College employs 428 full-time and 228 adjunct instructors. There are 384 faculty members with master's degrees, 46 hold two master's, 5 hold three master's, and 79 have doctorate degrees. In certificate and other programs, there are 97 faculty members holding bachelor's degrees and 44 with associate degrees. STC has more than 60 articulation agreements in place with colleges across the country for those students who wish to continue their education beyond an associate degree. North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative (NAAMREI). The college is the fiscal agent and home of  the executive offices for the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative. STC serves as the Regional Institute for Advanced Manufacturing linked to all the community and technical colleges in the region. The college has taken the lead in helping train the workers to fuel a regional manufacturing economy and to support innovations in rapid response manufacturing.