Technical College Joining EWCHEC
First new program with TSTC will offer biomedical tech training

Texas State Technical College will be the first new addition to the East Williamson County Higher Education Center, joining with Temple College to create a new program for biomedical technicians.

The three-year program will start at Temple College at Taylor - until EWCHEC has a building - then finish with a year in Waco. Starting salaries for biomedical technicians are an estimated $40,000.

“Some kids in Taylor still end up working at McDonald's,” John Nelson, Taylor Economic Development Corp. director said at a July board meeting. “We want to get them to a different level.”

TSTC is looking to create technical programs with business partners who will hire the students following the completion of the program, Executive Director Chuck McCarter told the EDC Board of Directors. TSTC applied for a $200,000 grant to jump start the program, and the Taylor EDC board approved adding $100,000 to the fund. McCarter said at the time he planned to ask the county to contribute as well.

The goal of EWCHEC, which was just formalized in May, is to bring together two and four-year colleges across Texas to offer classes in East Williamson County, according to McCarter. The final site for the building has not yet been selected, but both Hutto and Taylor are currently drafting proposals to bring the college to their respective cities.

Several other institutions have expressed an interest in joining, McCarter said, but so far only TSTC and Temple College have formally signed on. TSTC will announce the agreement in a press conference Wednesday afternoon at TCAT.

The plan for funding EWCHEC is a “Knights of the Round Table” idea, McCarter explained in an earlier interview. Each college that agrees to join the multi-institution teaching center will suggest unique courses and provide the necessary instructors. Each university will partially fund the center based on the number of class hours they offer at EWCHEC.

“Even though we don't have a building, partnerships are starting to come forward,” McCarter told the EDC board.

While each city is still drafting a proposal for the site and a plan to fund the construction, classes may begin as early as fall of 2008, according to a statement.