Tyler is home to one of the largest community colleges in all of Texas: Tyler Junior College (TJC). TJC is a two-year college which enrolls more than 12,000 credit students and 20,000 continuing education students every year.
Tyler Junior College has expanded considerably since its humble beginnings in 1926. In addition to the main campus on the east side of town, TJC offers continuing education and technical certification in specialized fields such as automotive and welding technology at its West Campus on the opposite side of town on Loop 323. TJC also offers nursing courses and a handful of general education courses at two satellite centers in Lindale and Jacksonville. Many core courses are also available on-line directly through TJC or through TJC’s cooperation in the Virtual College of Texas, a consortium of 50 plus colleges offering more than 200 individual courses.
Having worked at TJC in various classrooms for over two years, I held the overall impression that about half of the instructors really enjoyed working there, were passionate about their subject, and made it their mission to see students succeed. Before you write off the other half, though, let me explain what they’re up against: TJC’s open door admissions policy not only lets in the motivated students bent on succeeding in their major and field, but also welcomes those students who hold a less-than-stellar academic record and may not have any real desire to pursue a particular career. The prevalence of the latter demographic alters the educational environment for everyone, motivated students and once-inspired instructors alike.
I personally witnessed the enduring patience of several instructors in dealing with lazy or belligerent students. It’s hard to keep excellent teachers and helpful staff when they feel like their efforts are unappreciated or altogether wasted. So kudos to those instructors who have stuck around campus and continue to pave the road to success for students who are actually holding a map.
Speaking of choosing a good professor at TJC why not check out Rate My Professor where you can find ratings on teachers at TJC from their students.
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In some ways it seems unfair to rate a college based on its quality of students, but I believe in this case the student population holds an overarching influence on TJC’s overall appeal. In addition to the attitudes of faculty and staff, students can negatively affect campus safety, student life, classroom management, standards of excellence, and thus, the overall quality of education.
On the flip side, Tyler Junior College runs a pretty decent athletics program for a junior college. TJC offers men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, tennis, and golf, baseball, football, and volleyball.
For the self-motivated student who would like to get an inexpensive education and move on quickly to a university or into the work force, you can’t beat the price and convenience of Tyler Junior College, especially when it’s right in your own backyard.
Tags: apaches, rate my TJC professor, TJC, TJC teacher ratings, Tyler Junior College
Over by the cafeteria at TJC there are thugs that do not even go to TJC hanging out being the player they always dreamed of. I personally know one of these guys and he is now in jail for robbing a local Tyler Texas gas station.
The TJC newspaper even wrote about these people that do not even go to TJC that harass girls as they walk to their cars. I believe someone with a gun has been found on campus. Hopefully this next semester they will have a round the clock security officer in this area. In 2009 there was a homicide, armed robbery, and fights that make TJC unsafe for many women and men.
Gunfights and large fights (over 50 students in one particular fight) at TJC campus in 2009 have required the assistance of local Tyler police. The campus security has not given much detail on what they are doing to prevent this and from what I can tell most of their time is spent putting parking tickets on cars. I hardly ever see campus safety standing outside where trouble usually happens.
Just wanted to follow up on Thomas' comments with news that I think he would be happy to hear. TJC now (Sept. 2010) has a new administrator of campus safety- an individual who is a retired Houston police officer and who is determined to make the campus safer and attractive to students who are interested in receiving an education. He identified all of the students involved in a recent fight outside the cafeteria, similar to the one Thomas described, and had all of the students expelled. In addtion to this, he has a zero tolerance attitude toward disrepect of officers and has had students expelled who demonstrated rude and uncompliant behaviors. I'm so happy that TJC has hired this individual, and that they are aggressively taking action against negative and dangerous behavior. Way to go, TJC!
Trying to find one of my old instructors from TJC. Penny Bennett is her name….please let me know if you know how to get in contact with her.
I found this information about her but so far no email address or phone number… http://flic.kr/p/bmGYz6