College awarded $249,930 through the TRUE grant program

Panola College was awarded $249,930 through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s TRUE grant program, supporting the development of an Occupational Skills Award in Industrial Communications and Measurement along with the installation of an immersive interactive technology lab for cutting edge training.

The technology will bring industry sites into the classroom for a more effective and versatile experience, equipping students with more skills in various applications of theory than ever. Industry partners will be able to share real time, in the field, scenarios with trainees to immerse them into the setting for a real-world experience.

“This new credit-bearing credential can be stand alone, earned in one semester, or added onto any credential currently offered at the College for upskilling and marketability,” said Natalie Oswalt, Dean of Arts, Sciences, and Technology at Panola College. “It will be offered in a hybrid modality, with the immersive lab portion being face-to-face and other materials presented online.”

The TRUE grant program was established to support the creation, expansion, or redesign of workforce education and training programs that are in high-demand.