Lamar Institute of Technology offers more than 50 certificate programs, including dental hygiene.

The labor shortage in construction, petrochemical and related industries confronts companies across the country. However, one college in Texas is devoted to providing training to students in these areas. Its efforts not only help the local economy and southeast Texas, but also provide students with the education for a brighter future.

Based in Beaumont, Texas, the Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) traces its roots back to 1923. It was named to honor Mirabeau B. Lamar, second president of the Republic of Texas and known as the “father of education” in Texas.

Vocational subjects were among the first courses offered by Lamar University and played an important role in the development of the college. Today, the college offers more than 50 certificate programs and associate degrees in various fields.

On the Rise
President Paul Szuch says the college enrollment grew 115 percent in the five years prior to hurricane Rita, and was ranked as one of the fastest-growing institutions of its size by Community College Week. However, when Hurricane Rita hit the area in 2005, the college saw a drop in enrollment. “Hurricane Rita took a toll on the community,” Szuch says. “There was a tremendous impact upon the economy and housing and a lot of our students stopped out or left. We lost about 500 to 600 students from our 2005 enrollment of 2,711.”

Slowly, the school’s enrollment is returning to pre-hurricane levels; however, it has struggled to make up for the lost funding. Not only did the school lose tuition dollars from reduced enrollment, it also did not receive increased funding for the growth that occurred during 2005.

The Texas legislature provided a special appropriation of $34 million for the four Lamar components to rebuild from Hurricane Rita, which helped get LIT back in operation.

“Since our budgets are established for two years and are based upon current enrollment, we were seeking assistance during the last legislative session to receive funding based upon our 2005 enrollment to continue to sustain our current programs and meet the tremendous demand for additional training,” Szuch explains. “Our state funding for the 2007-2008 years was funded on our 2004 enrollment. So, it’s a challenge to maintain and enhance our current programs and expand to new programs.”

Szuch goes on to say the effects of the hurricane upon enrollment and the current economic condition bring both good news and bad news. In addition to a decline in enrollment, the area is seeing economic expansion and significant rebuilding activity. The area desperately needs skilled workers in the construction and petrochemical industries, and LIT is doing all it can as a partner with work force boards, chambers and work force alliances to find and train students to meet the demand.  

“We are in the hub of the petrochemical industry, and right now, the area is involved in $10 to $14 billion of plant expansions in Southeast Texas,” Szuch says, noting that as many as 23,000 skilled workers will be needed in the next five years to build and staff the plants.

LIT offers several programs specific to the petrochemical industry, and Szuch says job placement isn’t an issue. The college currently boasts a 99 percent placement rate. “We can’t turn out workers fast enough to meet the immediate needs of the growth in the industry,” he states.

LIT is also focusing on starting new commercial and residential construction programs. The college is working with the Associated General Contractors (AGC) to raise funds and develop a residential construction training program. AGC is hiring employees, paying for their education, providing scholarship funding and assisting with the facilities for the program.

“We are [also] going off-site with our program partners to train students,” Szuch explains. “[For] every organization that has a request for work force training, LIT is responding through a partnership program if the need cannot be met through existing programs and facilities.”

Student Services
Szuch says LIT plans to continue adding new facilities to its campus and renovating existing facilities.

Its long-range goals involve future partnerships with state and federal agencies, as well as other community organization, he says.

“We are an institution that responds to the needs of industry and our community,” Szuch adds.
“We must continue to establish partnerships with all our community stakeholders and organizations to develop programs and curriculums to help our students prepare for new opportunities. It’s a challenge to prepare individuals for new technologies, but that’s why we are Lamar Institute of Technology.”