Collin College facts for kids
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Former names
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Collin County Community College (1985–2007) |
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| Motto | "We have a passion for: Learning, Service and Involvement, Creativity and Innovation, Academic Excellence, Dignity and Respect, and Integrity" |
| Type | Public community college district |
| Established | 1985 |
| President | Neil Matkin |
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Academic staff
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1,565 full-time and 1,343 part-time (2023) |
| Students | 60,679 (2024) |
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United States
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Sporting affiliations
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NJCAA – NTJCAC |
| Mascot | Cougar |
Collin College is a public college in Texas. It started in 1985 with about 5,000 students. Today, it helps more than 60,000 students learn new skills. The college used to be called the Collin County Community College District. In 2007, it changed its name to Collin College. Its main office is in McKinney.
Collin College serves students from all of Collin County and Rockwall County. It also helps students from parts of Denton County, including Frisco, The Colony, Celina, and Prosper.
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College Campuses
Collin College has several campuses where students can learn. Each campus offers different programs and features.
McKinney Campus
The McKinney Campus, also known as Central Park Campus, opened in 1985. It has a large library, classrooms, and a student center. In 2016, a new Health Sciences Center opened here. It is a big building where students can study health-related subjects.
Plano Campus
The Plano Campus, or Spring Creek Campus, opened in 1988. It is the largest campus by student numbers. This campus is home to the college's fine arts and sports programs. It has an art gallery, a theater, a gym, and tennis courts. A new library building opened in 2013.
Frisco Campus
The Frisco Campus, also called Preston Ridge Campus, opened in 1995. In 2014, a building on this campus was named Lawler Hall. This was to thank Roger and Jody Lawler for a large gift for student scholarships. The Frisco Campus focuses on business and high-tech programs. The culinary arts program, where students learn to cook, moved here in 2009.
Other Learning Locations
- Collin Higher Education Center (CHEC): Located in McKinney, this center hosts programs from other universities. Students can take bachelor's, master's, and even doctoral classes here. Universities like Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of Texas at Dallas offer courses at CHEC.
- Public Safety Training Center (PSTC): This center in McKinney helps train police officers and firefighters. It has special areas that look like real buildings for practice. It also has firing ranges and other training obstacles. It opened in 2018.
- Technical Campus: This campus in Allen opened in 2020. It focuses on technical skills.
- Wylie Campus: Also opened in 2020, this campus can hold many students. It helped expand the college's veterinary medicine program.
- Farmersville Campus: This campus opened in 2021.
- Celina Campus: This campus opened in 2021 and can support many students.
- Rockwall Center: Collin College also has a learning center in Rockwall.
Future Campus Plans
In 2017, people in Collin County voted to approve $600 million for new college projects. This money helped build the Technical Campus, Wylie Campus, and the Public Safety Training Center. It also funded safety upgrades at other campuses. Future plans include new campuses in Celina and Farmersville, and improvements to existing campuses.
College Discussions and Policies
Collin College has faced discussions about its policies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Safety Discussions
During the pandemic, there were concerns about holding in-person classes. The college president, Neil Matkin, decided that campuses would stay open. There were discussions among staff about safety measures. The college later moved some services online after the semester ended in December 2020.
Free Speech Discussions
Collin College has also been part of discussions about free speech. This means how much teachers can say about certain topics. In 2021, an organization called FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) mentioned Collin College on a list about free speech. This was because of how the college handled comments made by some professors. For example, a history professor made a comment on social media about a political figure. Later, her teaching contract was not renewed.
Another history professor was fired in 2022. This happened after he suggested that students in his classes might want to wear masks. The college had told professors not to recommend masks. These events led to discussions about what teachers are allowed to say and how the college supports their freedom to express ideas.
What You Can Study
Collin College offers different types of degrees. You can earn an associate degree, which is a two-year degree. Since 2019, the college has also offered its own bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity and nursing. This means students can get a four-year degree directly from Collin College. In the 2021-2022 school year, 26 students earned bachelor's degrees in nursing.
College Sports
Collin College has sports teams known as the Cougars. They offer scholarships for men's and women's basketball, esports (video gaming), golf, and tennis, as well as women's volleyball. The teams play in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference.
The women's basketball team has won many conference championships, including in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2024. They also played in the national tournament in 2023 and 2024. The main basketball gym and tennis courts are at the Plano Campus. Volleyball matches are held at the Frisco Campus.
College Achievements
Collin College has received several awards and recognitions.
- In 2020, it was recognized for being a "community engaged" institution. This means the college works closely with its local community. Only a few colleges in the U.S. receive this honor.
- That same year, the college was named a center of excellence in nursing education.
- Its respiratory care program has won an award for eight years in a row.
- The college has also been named one of the best places to work in higher education for two years in a row.
Notable Teachers
- Levi Bryant – A well-known philosopher who teaches at Collin College.
See also
In Spanish: Collin College para niños
