NVC Expands Sciences Courses at WETC

September 14, 2023

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Northwest Vista College (NVC) has expanded course offerings at the new Westside Education & Training Center (WETC) for students taking science classes this fall.

Dr. Russ Frohardt, dean for Academic Success at NVC, said that this semester NVC faculty will teach close to 20 classes at WETC, which includes NVC’s existing career and technical education programs, including the Community Health Worker program.

Currently, NVC is offering three biology courses, such as Introductory Biology and Anatomy & Physiology at WETC. These are often taken by science majors and those students intending to pursue careers in allied health fields, said Dr. Eric Madrid, associate professor and chair of NVC’s Natural and Physical Sciences department.

“The lab staff for Natural & Physical Sciences have been hard at work over the summer to prepare this space for students this fall,” said Eric. “Every piece of glassware, every microscope slide, and every anatomical model our students will use this semester had to be hand-delivered by our lab staff.”

This past spring, NVC and Alamo Colleges celebrated the grand opening of the new WETC building at the same location. The original WETC building opened in 2006, with an enrollment of 1,347 students. In 2017, Bexar County voters approved a $450 million capital improvement bond for the Alamo Colleges, with $23 million allocated for the WETC, which doubled the size of the previous building.

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About Northwest Vista College:  

Northwest Vista College (NVC), part of the Alamo Colleges District, is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. The college opened in 1995 with 12 students and has grown to one of the largest institutions of higher education in San Antonio and the region with current enrollment exceeding 17,000 students. Located in Westover Hills, NVC’s expanding agreements with business and higher education partnerships provide a wealth of opportunities for students and the community.

NVC was the only community college in San Antonio and one of eight in Texas that was invited in 2021 to compete for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s highest recognition in community college education. The Aspen Prize recognizes excellence in teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success as well as equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.