At the July 31 Houston City College Southwest College community partnership meeting held at HCC’s Missouri City complex, school officials described a new initiative – “Houston Reconnect” – which is designed to give adults a second chance to complete a certificate or a degree.

“We want you back,” said HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher at the meeting.

Fisher outlined the program in her “State of the College” address at the campus at 1600 Texas Parkway in Missouri City. She said that the “Houston Reconnect” plan is scholarship devised to support students financially, who are close to completion of a workforce certificate or an associate’s degree. It is designed for former HCC students who are 25 years of age or older and who have finished college short of completing a certificate or associate’s degree, and who have been out of college between one and five years, with no outstanding debt with HCC.

Additionally, candidates for the program must have earned a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 while at HCC and have earned 15 credit hours toward a credential of value or earned 45 credit hours toward a workforce associate’s degree.

Priority will be given to students seeking short-term funding that can be completed in one year or less or workforce associate's degree that can be completed in less than one year.

According to the program materials provided at the meeting, applicants will receive a recruitment letter via email, with hyperlinks to an intake form, and an informational video. Applicants will attend an onboarding session either virtually or in person and will meet a Recruitment Navigator who will guide them through the enrollment process. Follow-up calls will be made every four months to offer additional assistance.

Eligible individuals who have not yet been contacted by email may call 713-718-5324 or 713-718-5409 for more information or may consult the program website at hcc.reconnect@hccs.edu.

HCC officially changed its name this summer from “Houston Community College” to “Houston City College.”