Each month leading up to The Woodlands 50th Anniversary celebration, content is created to honor the past, present and future of our community. During August, education will be featured.
By Laura Landsbaum
George Mitchell’s original vision for The Woodlands included a focus on education — and he ensured that college and workplace training played an important part in that plan. Mitchell’s forward thinking is credited for the creation of The Lone Star College campus and The University Center.
The Woodlands Development Company, now Howard Hughes, donated 20 acres on the north side of College Park Drive for the campus, which has grown to more than 150 acres today. The story of that growth is reflective of the growth of The Woodlands itself, with the pioneering master planned community turning 50 on October 19.
In May 1991, Conroe ISD voters approved a plan to join the community college district, which had first formed in Aldine ISD in 1972. From 1992 through 1995, the college operated out of the Lone Star College-Conroe Center in the heart of Conroe. During that time, construction on the main campus on 242 was underway, and in August 1995, then Governor George W. Bush presided over the grand opening ceremonies.
The Lone Star – Montgomery campus opened in 1995 offering academic transfer courses as a two-year program, and workforce development programs. Recently, a limited number of four-year degree programs have been added in Nursing, Cybersecurity, Emergency Management and Energy, Manufacturing & Trades Management.
Lone Star College is set apart by how many different paths it offers for success.
“A little more than half (of students) take English, math, history, government and their general education courses on their way to a four-year institution,” senior associate vice chancellor Linda Head says. “The other half take courses that get you a career immediately upon completing a certificate program, for example, a certified nurse aide, patient care technician, or a firefighter.”
The workforce programs were developed with the support of local business and industry leaders.
“There is a tight process, separated into eight different industries on how we create new and keep current all of our degrees and certificates which is dependent upon excellent relationships with industry leaders and all the businesses in the area,” Head notes. “In addition, we make sure wherever possible, if there is an industry certification or state licensure involved, we include that, and our students have to pass that test also.
And of course we must keep our program updated so our program advisory committee membership helps us insure that occurs.”
A College That Helps Build the Community
The community benefits from having Lone Star College’s educational programs.
“An example is our firefighter program. We work with the firefighters and The Woodlands Fire Department. About 17 years ago, we started our fire program in The Woodlands and we teach it at the fire training academy in Harper’s Landing and The Woodlands Fire Department Training Center,” Head says. “It’s a wonderful partnership with the local fire department.”
Lone Star College – Montgomery also developed a Corporate Training program.
“We created the Corporate College,” Head says. “We started a Corporate College 17 years ago, and we customize training for corporations primarily in manufacturing and health care. “And we’ve been very successful in training incumbent workers for organizations in these areas.”
The Lone Star – Montgomery dual credit program, which offers college level courses through the Conroe Independent School District, has been a very successful way for high school students to get a head start on an academic degree path and is an alternative to AP programs and an opportunity for those students in Montgomery County who are home-schooled.
“We have one of the largest dual credit programs in the country,” chancellor emeritus and former president of Lone Star College – Montgomery Dr. Steve Head details. “There are about 20,000 students across the college system.”
The Honors College is another option for high achieving students at Lone Star College – Montgomery. A wide range of opportunities are available for incoming freshman wanting to graduate with an Honors AA or Honors AS degree.
“We made the curriculum consistent across the entire system,” Steve Head says. “It’s one of the reasons that Lone Star has become a college of first choice for a lot of students. We started attracting top tier students.”
Continuing Mitchell’s Education Vision
The University Center, co-located with Lone Star College, stands out as another one of George Mitchell’s visionary programs.
“George Mitchell decided that we would have a university center at the community college, and he helped us get the property at a very low cost,” Linda Head says. “We would have multiple universities that would offer the 2nd two years of a variety of baccalaureate degrees in a non-compete, offering different junior and senior years so that our (Lone Star) students could keep pursuing their degrees. This program also offers opportunities for university students to take classes when they come home for the summer or holidays at a low cost with only 20-25 students in a course section.
Various universities have offered courses on the Lone Star College campus over the years. Currently, universities offering courses at Lone Star include Sam Houston State University, the University of Houston Downtown-Northwest, Ferris State University, Bellevue University and the University of St. Thomas.
Several satellite campuses also serve the area.
Creekside Center is home to a satellite campus (Lone Star College – Tomball) that serves residents of Harris County and The Woodlands. The Lone Star College – Conroe satellite offers courses for Montgomery County residents and a new satellite campus is in the works. Lone Star College – Magnolia is scheduled to open in 2025 at the intersection of Highways 1486 and 1774. And of course, Lone Star College Online is always an option.
No matter where you happen to be in the area, a Lone Star College campus is bound to be close to home, making the community smarter — and stronger.
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Many thanks to The Woodlands 50th Anniversary Sponsors:
FOUNDING – Howard Hughes
PRODUCER – The Woodlands Township
LEGACY – Woodforest National Bank
HERITAGE – Waste Connections Inc.
GOLD – Entergy Texas, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
SILVER – Ovintiv, SVN/JBeard Real Estate, The John Cooper School