HCC developing local programs for agriculture, horticulture and environmental studies students

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 2/2/23

As Katy-area students continue to show a strong interest in agriculture, horticulture and environmental studies issues, officials at Houston Community College’s Katy campus are developing programs to train workers in those fields.

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HCC developing local programs for agriculture, horticulture and environmental studies students

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As Katy-area students continue to show a strong interest in agriculture, horticulture and environmental studies issues, officials at Houston Community College’s Katy campus are developing programs to train workers in those fields.

Zach Hodges, HCC Northwest Campus president, said the college’s approach is two-fold. First, the college is developing certificate and short-term courses to provide workers.

“It’s a workforce program for the local agricultural and horticultural industry,” Hodges said. “There are lots of certificate programs within the landscaping industries. “There are a lot of small agriculture businesses, lots of commercial and residential businesses. We want to create workers for those industries, from entry-level through management.”

One certificate program the college now has works with the Texas Landscape Nursery Association, Hodges said. Through this program, Hodges said, a student can sit for his or her first certification exam.

The second part of the college’s approach is developing a program where students can attend HCC for their first two years and transfer, with credits, to colleges with four-year agricultural and horticultural programs, such as Texas A&M University or Sam Houston State University. The college has 300 similar transfer plans to 65 partner universities, according to HCC’s website. Major areas of study include art and design, business, engineering, health sciences, industry and manufacturing, public service and science and technology.

“We have such successful FFA programs in West Houston and Katy ISD,” Hodges said, adding that other area districts such as Sealy, Royal, Lamar, Spring Branch and Alief have FFA programs.

“Those kids are interested in majoring in agriculture,” Hodges said. “We want to provide a pathway for them to transfer to a four-year university.”

Towards that end, Hodges said, HCC wants to work closely with area FFA instructors.

“We want to build the transfer program,” Hodges said. “We’re just getting started, but it’s a commitment we’re making to the agricultural and horticultural industries. We hope to continue to implement the certificate program. Or working to implement this transfer program.”

Hodges said the college hope to have students enrolled in the transfer program by this fall.

Hodges said the program has been endowed, and would be called the Warren Bernard Itz Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Studies Program. According to materials provided by HCC, Itz, a native Texan, served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II and received the Bronze Star. Following his honorable discharge from the military, he returned to Texas and went on to a long career in banking, ranching and farming. He served in a number of community service positions in San Antonio and Houston.

Houston Community College