In the near future, some Hardin County residents may not have to make the trip to attend classes at Lamar State College-Orange (LSCO).
Because of the increased number of Lumberton students enrolled for classes at LSCO, construction of its first satellite campus is underway in Hardin County.
According to President Dr. Thomas Johnson, student increases from Lumberton prompted the college to construct a facility on South Main Street in Lumberton.
Johnson stated LCSO is one of the fastest-growing colleges in the state.
“We’ve noticed a significant number of our students were coming from Lumberton and Hardin County,” he said. “So, we decided to branch out and open a site in Lumberton and we are excited about it.”
The anticipated Hardin County satellite completion date is this fall, with the first classes being offered in Spring 2024.
“We first have to get the requirement from the Texas Higher Education Commission approved,” said Johnson.
The president noted, of LCSO’s last graduating class in the fall, 10% was from Hardin County. Johnson said LCSO attracts students from Southwest Louisiana, along with those from Jefferson, Jasper and Newton counties, but the lion’s share by far comes from Orange and Hardin counties.
The Hardin County building, which is being completely gutted and remodeled for classes, sits on two acres.
“It’s our hope that we have so many students that we would have to build on those two acres to expand,” Johnson said. “First, we need to get there, start our site and see how it goes. We have so many bright students from Lumberton, it just seems like the right thing to do.”
Johnson and his staff are looking into what classes they can offer at the new branch.
“We’ll take a look at what our current students from Lumberton take and we will also work with the local school districts on dual credits for high school students,” he said. “We want to put there exactly what we need. We’ll have to look at some data analysis.”
Johnson said LCSO has accreditation requirements that must be met.
“We would not only like to have general courses, but some type of programs where a student can go there and compete it at the Lumberton site,” he added.
Johnson said LCSO knows Lumberton is a growing area and wants to be a part of the growth.
“Our mission is simply, ‘transforming lives,’” he added.
Provost Dr. Wendy Elmore noted that about 16% of the college’s current enrollment is from Hardin County.
“It shows we are in the right place for the right reasons,” said Elmore.
“While other colleges are seeing enrollment decline, we are seeing the opposite,” added Johnson. “Our college enrollment grew about 12% this year.”
LCSO, a member of The Texas State University System, has served students for more than 50 years since Lamar University opened its first extension center in Orange in 1969. In 1971, the Texas Legislature passed legislation allowing Lamar University to operate a two-year educational center as LU-Orange.
The Texas Legislature authorized the creation of the Lamar University System in 1983, and in 1991 the legislature provided degree-granting authority to LU-O. Effective Sept. 1, 1995, LU-O, along with sister institutions in Port Arthur and Beaumont, became part of the Texas State University System.
During the 1999 legislative session, Lamar University-Orange was officially renamed Lamar State College Orange (LSCO).