MCALLEN, Texas - South Texas College and Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District have signed an interlocal agreement establishing a permanent office for PSJA ISD staff at the college’s Pecan campus in McAllen.
The office will be used to aid the success of PSJA students that are studying at STC as part of the college’s Valley Promise initiative. PSJA staff stationed at STC will also provide students with in-depth information about STC resources such as tutoring, mental health assistance, and the student food pantries.
PSJA has a long history of collaboration with STC, having been the first school district to set up a dual credit program with the college. Today, PSJA is STC’s largest feeder district for dual credit students and graduating seniors, with 1,500 of its students on campus.
With the inception of STC’s Valley Promise program this year, hundreds of PSJA graduates have been selected as Valley Promise Scholars.
“STC and PSJA have an innovative partnership and this agreement expands on that,” said STC Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Matt Hebbard, Ph.D.
“This idea was pioneered by STC President Dr. Ricardo Solis and PSJA Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias, who want to offer PSJA Valley Promise Scholars support in their transition to college.”
Hebbard said he is confident that this new phase in STC’s and PSJA’s partnership will ensure student success in obtaining their educational goals.
“This is going to help us avoid students falling through the cracks,” he said. “We can monitor student progress closely, not just at their transition and early years in college, but beyond. We are so excited and grateful to be working with PSJA in our commitment to student success.”
The Valley Promise, or Promesa del Valle, is available to graduating high school seniors who are entering as freshmen at South Texas College. Under the program, their first two years of tuition and fees are covered, once all financial aid has been applied. In other words, the students have no debt.
“When they graduate with an associate's degree, no debt whatsoever,” said Rodney H. Rodriguez, vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs at STC.
“And they can transfer to any university in the state of Texas and/or continue their bachelor's degree at South Texas College, since we offer five bachelor's degrees.”
Rodriguez said the program is going well.
“We’re really excited about the Valley Promise. It is going well. We were expecting 250 students. We ended up with 1,166 students, which is amazing, from our 54 school districts,” Rodriguez said.
Asked how STC was able to budget for the program when demand was much greater than expected, Rodriguez said: “We were able to work with our philanthropic partners and also submit grants to cover the excess amounts that we needed for a successful program.”
Rodriguez said an announcement will be made soon about STC working with a partner to make the Valley Promise program even better.
“We will be announcing that we will be covering for these individuals a transferable scholarship to university at no cost. So, they get four years paid tuition and fees. So, two years STC, two years at the university.”
Valley Promise is a last-dollar initiative that will cover tuition after all financial aid has been applied, offering a free education to high school seniors attending one of STC’s eligible Valley Promise high schools.
Solis, the STC president, said Valley Promise is expected to grow and with the help of national foundations and local philanthropists will ultimately result in free college for all Valley students.
Solis said the collaboration between STC and PSJA will not only support student success, but also help them navigate the many resources that STC has to offer.
“PSJA and STC continuously work at fostering and growing its partnership, and this agreement takes it to a new level,” Solis said. “This unique concept gives students a resource unlike any other. It makes the transition from high school to college less intimidating and provides one-on-one coaching and mentoring. It’s really a win-win for everyone involved.”
PSJA Superindent Elias said he shares Solis’ sentiment. He said opening a new office at STC will only inexpand on the work PSJA and STC already do in promoting student success.
“We are grateful for our continued partnership with STC, which allows us to keep offering valuable opportunities for our students,” said Elias.
“This initiative is all about student success. We want our graduates to know they are still part of the PSJA family and that we will continue to support them after they leave high school. At PSJA, we’re a family, and this office is just one more way we’re showing that commitment.”
In the coming month, STC and PSJA will host a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new office and officially welcome PSJA staff on campus.
STC’s Valley Promise initiative is entering its second year, with applications opening on October 1, 2024. Deadline to apply and take the Valley Promise Pledge is May 31, 2025.
Editor’s Note: For more information on the STC Valley Promise, visit valleypromise.org.
Editor’s Note: South Texas College’s Amanda Sotelo assisted with this story.
