Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is the state’s regulatory and overseeing body for institutions of higher education.  If a department were to be named "exemplary," a workforce program must meet 17 measures and standards. In addition the workforce program must exceed the measures and standards in at least five categories.

In January of 2008, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded Exemplary Status to Department of American Sign Language / Interpreter Training at San Antonio College, a college of the Alamo Community College District. Currently, San Antonio College’s program is the only interpreter training program in the state to receive exemplary status.

We wish to thank the faculty and staff of the Department of American Sign Language / Interpreter Training for this accomplishment. Special thanks to Dean Vernell E. Walker; Mary Mena, Chair of Mortuary Science and Stella Lovato, Chair of Allied Health. The department also would like to acknowledge the support of Dr. Robert E. Zeigler, San Antonio College President and Dr. Kristine Clark, San Antonio College Executive Vice President.

Some of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Institution Effectiveness measures and standards for evaluation of exemplary status included:

• Placement of program graduates/completers
  


• License/credentialing examination pass rate
  


• External linkages and agreements
  


• Business and industry partnerships
  


• Integrating academic and technical education
  


• Employer and student satisfaction with the program
  


• Determination of on-going need for the program