The Western Texas College Board of Trustees approved a new Vocational Nursing Prerequisite Certificate at the Board of Trustees meeting on September 14. The certificate will create a focused starting point for students who plan to pursue vocational nursing or related health care programs.
The certificate responds directly to community feedback gathered during Western Texas College President Dr. Laurie Sharp’s Listening Tour. Students, employees, community members and regional partners identified nursing and health care education among the opportunities they want Western Texas College (WTC) to explore. That feedback helped shape the College’s 2026–2036 strategic plan, Serving Students Together: A 10-Year Strategy for Western Texas College (2026–2036), and its focus on accessible academic pathways that support student success and regional needs. The strategic plan is available on the college website at wtc.edu/strategicplan.
“An important purpose of the Listening Tour was to hear directly from the people we serve and use what we learned to help shape the future of Western Texas College,” Sharp said. “This certificate shows how that feedback can move into action. It gives students interested in nursing an opportunity to begin foundational coursework at WTC while we continue evaluating how best to serve the changing needs of our communities.”
College leaders developed the certificate as an intentional, sustainable first step that aligns community interest with current enrollment patterns, available resources and regional workforce needs. The pathway also allows WTC to continue assessing student interest and future opportunities for health care education.
“This is about responding thoughtfully to what we heard and creating opportunities that are both meaningful for students and sustainable for the College,” Sharp said. “As we implement our strategic plan, we will continue listening to our communities and looking for ways to translate their priorities into educational opportunities.”
Because admission and prerequisite requirements differ among nursing programs, WTC encourages students to meet with an academic and career advisor and confirm requirements with their intended receiving institution.
“Students interested in nursing need a place to begin, and this certificate will provide that starting point,” said Stephanie Ducheneaux, WTC vice president for academic affairs. “By bringing these prerequisite courses together into an intentional pathway, we can help students make progress toward their educational goals while giving them the flexibility to consider the nursing programs and opportunities that fit them best.”
WTC has a history of providing healthcare education to the region and recognizes the continued importance of nursing and health care across West Texas. The new certificate builds on that history while creating another practical path for students to move forward.
The new Vocational Nursing Prerequisite Certificate will be available immediately following approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Additional enrollment and availability details will be announced as they become available.