Houston, Texas (April 30, 2025) – Houston Community College (HCC) held a special event on Wednesday, April 30, to celebrate a $300,000 grant from the ExxonMobil Foundation that will support the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at HCC. The collaboration between HCC, Texas A&M University and the ExxonMobil Foundation seeks to establish an affordable and accessible pathway for aspiring engineers, meeting a critical workforce demand in Texas.
“The A&M/HCC engineering partnership located at the HCC Spring Branch campus has been an outstanding innovation for HCC as well as the greater Houston region. I applaud Texas A&M College of Engineering for their vision and ExxonMobil Foundation for its financial commitment to this high performing program,” said Dr. Zachary Hodges, President, Houston Community College Northwest.
"We are grateful to the ExxonMobil Foundation for their investment in the next generation of engineers," said Dr. Robert H. Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of the Texas A&M College of Engineering. "This partnership with Houston Community College is not only expanding access to world-class engineering education, but it's also helping us build a stronger, more diverse talent pipeline to meet the growing workforce needs of Texas and beyond. Together, we're creating opportunities that change lives and drive innovation across the state."
In addition to supporting the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at HCC through enhanced program resources, improved student services and more, the ExxonMobil Foundation donated an additional $150,000 to the Texas A&M University College of Engineering’s Student Engagement for Academic Success (SEAS) program. Launched in the Fall 2023, the SEAS program aids undergraduate engineering students by establishing learning communities, crafting impactful educational experiences and providing distinctive, pertinent professional development opportunities to enhance retention.
“We’re pleased to support the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at HCC and the SEAS program because of their ability to open doors and create opportunities so that aspiring engineers have every chance to succeed,” said Alvin Abraham, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. “We’re proud to help foster a STEM talent pipeline here in our hometown and develop future engineering leaders who will make a positive impact for generations to come.”
About the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Houston Community College
The Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Houston Community College (HCC), the first transition program of its kind, allows students to co-enroll at HCC and Texas A&M. Students complete their foundational courses at HCC, benefiting from small class sizes, personalized support and state-of-the-art facilities before transitioning to Texas A&M in College Station to complete their engineering degrees.
Since its launch in 2015, the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at HCC, has enrolled 845 students, with 201 graduates since May 2019 (the first possible graduation for HCC Academy students). Currently, 383 students are enrolled at HCC or Texas A&M, contributing to the program’s 423% growth.
The demand for engineers in Texas is increasing, fueled by the state's technology, energy and infrastructure sectors. According to the JobsEQ Occupational Report, engineers in Texas earn an average salary of $118,200, with opportunities available in diverse fields such as civil, industrial, mechanical, electrical, petroleum, and aerospace engineering. The report also highlights that there are currently around 154,000 engineers employed across the state, with the need for engineers expected to grow by 1.8% annually.
Learn more about the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at HCC.
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About Houston Community College: HCC is composed of 14 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly accredited, open-admission community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training and lifelong learning opportunities.
About the Texas A&M University College of Engineering: With nearly 800 faculty members and more than 24,000 students, the Texas A&M University College of Engineering is the second-largest engineering school in the country. In U.S. News & World Report rankings, the college is ranked sixth in graduate programs and seventh in undergraduate programs among public institutions.