Community College Highlight: Galveston College

4/7/2022

by Cait Fitzpatrick

                                                                 Galveston College

Galveston Community College, known as Galveston College, was founded in September of 1967, after much work had been done by the local community to make this institution a reality. Galveston College is located on Galveston Island in the state of Texas, U.S.A., but has far reaching influence in other areas such as Galveston mainland, Jamaica Beach and the Houston community. Several attempts were made by local tax payers and education professionals to open Galveston College’s doors to the public back in 1935, however these attempts were unsuccessful. In November of 1935, voters approved the creation of “Galveston Junior College District,” but support for the district was not supported the following year in the 1936 election when the creators proposed the district be funded by property tax. 

Fast forward to 1966 and plans to create a college district for Galveston Island were on the election ticket once again. This time, citizens of Galveston Island voted to approve the new district and ultimately break ground to build what is now Galveston College - a dream that took 32 years to achieve. Today, Galveston College serves approximately 2,400 students each semester and offers academic transfer degrees such as an associate of arts, science or applied science as well as workforce degrees and certificates. Campus has grown since the college’s founding in 1967 through a land purchase and expansion in the 1990’s, but remains on Galveston Island to this day. Interestingly enough, the first building on campus that Galveston College occupied was once an orphanage. The space now houses several auditoriums and administrative offices. Campus facilities expanded in 2013 when the Charlie Thomas family generously donated the funds for an Applied Technology Center to serve specific workforce programs such as welding, electronics, HVAC, cosmetology medical coding. The center also included a new space for a very robust Nursing program that has since partnered with the University of Texas Medical Branch on Galveston Island.

Galveston College, currently led by president W. Myles Shelton, has a very unique tie to its local high schools. The college is governed by the Galveston Community College District Board of Regents who works very closely with the Galveston College Universal Access Community Endowment Scholarship. Established in the 1990’s, this scholarship allows students who graduate from Galveston Island’s three high schools to have their tuition and fees waived by the Galveston College Foundation. This program serves many individuals who meet the correct requirements to attend college for free and demonstrates Galveston College’s commitment to access to education within their community. Galveston College is an accredited institution through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions and boasts many other accreditations within more specific programs and certifications.