Allen ISD, Collin College Plan Technical Campus Expansion
Allen ISD, Collin College Plan Technical Campus Expansion
November 14, 2017 – Allen ISD and Collin College will partner to build additional classroom and lab space at the proposed Collin College Technical Campus in Allen. The shared wing of the facility will expand dual credit availability for Allen High School students.
The Technical Campus, a 360,000-square-foot facility specializing in high-demand technical workforce education, will be built on State Highway 121 east of Exchange Parkway,adjacent to the Allen High School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) Center. Under a partnership agreement, Allen ISD will fund construction of a 40,000-square-foot addition to the planned campus.
The addition will exclusively house dual credit programs for Allen High School students from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. during the school year. Collin College will use the space when Allen High School classes are not in session, providing night and weekend educational opportunities for other students. In addition to general education courses, the Collin College Technical Campus will offer classes in automotive technology, construction trades, HVAC, health sciences, information technology, manufacturing, supply chain management, welding and other areas supporting local businesses and industries.
The Allen ISD Board of Trustees has approved an expenditure of $12 million for the addition, which will include 15 classrooms, two computer labs, two science wet labs and breakout spaces for collaboration. The college will manage and maintain the addition as part of the Technical Campus. The Collin College Board of Trustees and Allen ISD Board of Trustees approved the 50-year agreement at separate meetings in November.
“Partnering with Allen ISD allows us to do the most good for the most students,” Collin College President Dr. Neil Matkin said. “Allen ISD students who take advantage of the dual credit offerings at this new facility will have the opportunity to start their college education while in high school. Collin College students will benefit from additional resources, making it easier to earn a degree or certificate close to home as Collin County’s population continues to grow.”
Dual credit programs allow high school students to take college-level courses in a variety of subject areas, for which students can receive both high school and college credit toward an associate degree, specialized certifications or to carry forward as students enter two- or four-year colleges and universities. Through this dual credit partnership, Allen High School students may be able to earn an associate degree by the time they graduate high school.
Approximately 620 Allen High School students are currently enrolled in dual credit classes through Collin College. The college now offers 25 dual credit courses at AHS and students may take other courses at nearby Collin College campuses. Allen High School will move all of its dual credit programs to the new Technical Campus when it opens in the fall of2020.
“This is a unique opportunity for our high school students and the community,” according to Dr. Scott Niven, Superintendent of Schools. “It brings our dual credit program under one roof and allows us to expand courses for our college-bound students. This opens many more opportunities for our students to earn college credit and certifications while in high school.”
Board President Louise Master added that “Allen ISD and Collin College have had an excellent working relationship going back to 1999, when the college opened a facility within Allen High School. This innovative partnership takes that to the next level. It benefits our students, Collin College and the taxpayers.”
Collin College serves more than 53,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates in a wide range of disciplines. The only public college in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government and industry, providing customized training and work force development. In addition, the college operates the Collin Higher Education Center, which serves 3,200 additional students each year in partnership with the University of North Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Woman’s University, Texas A&M Commerce and Texas Tech.
For more information on Allen ISD or the school district’s addition to the Collin College Technical Campus, contact Allen ISD Chief Information Officer Tim Carroll at 972.727.0510.