Elva Concha LeBlanc, Ph.D., is the Chancellor of Tarrant County College. She is a testament to dedication, passion, and the transformative power of education. Her extensive background in the education realm has equipped her with unparalleled insights into the complexities of education operations, organizational culture, and student needs.
Early Beginnings: A Seed of Remarkable Growth
Elva began her higher education at Tarrant County College and completed 59 hours in one year before transferring to the University of North Texas to finish her undergraduate and graduate degrees. After teaching bilingual kindergarten in the Fort Worth Independent School District, she became a professor and coordinator of the TCC Child Development Program before serving as chief academic officer at the Northwest Campus. She returned in 2006 as Northwest president after two years as executive vice president for instructional affairs at Austin Community College and five years as Galveston College president.
In 2017, Elva was named TCC’s executive vice chancellor and provost, and she maintained that role through most of 2022 while serving as TCC’s interim chancellor. The Board of Trustees confirmed her as chancellor later that year.
The Key Inspiration
Elva cherished her time at TCC but never imagined she would have the opportunity to teach and become the chancellor.
“Tarrant County College, Trailblazers, and North Texas hold a special place in my heart. I believe that education has the power to improve lives. Through education, we move from poverty to the middle class—the sky’s the limit. The opportunity to learn is the driving force behind success,” Elva remarks.
Adapting to the Evolving Needs of the Community and Local Industries
Elva strongly believes the Lone Star economy is changing, and higher education must be nimble in its response. In prioritizing student success, Tarrant County College prioritizes the needs of business and industry in North Texas. TCC is constantly reinventing itself. The college offers more than 240 high-quality degree and certificate options, everything from aviation to cybersecurity to manufacturing to health sciences. Business and community partners look to the college for specialized programs to propel their success.
For instance, when the Fort Worth Film Commission needed an educational partner to train film crews, Tarrant County College introduced three fast-track certifications in just six months. Collaborating with the Film Commission and 101 Studios, the institute is creating new career opportunities and supporting the region’s growing movie and TV industry.
“Our work-based experiences—apprenticeships, internships, capstone projects, clinicals, mentorships—move learning beyond the classroom to prepare TCC Trailblazers for today’s market and endeavors yet imagined,” Elva emphasizes.
The Notable Initiatives to Support Student Retention and Success
At Tarrant County College, students know they are family from the moment they arrive. The Tarrant To & Through initiative — a local bonding of school districts, colleges, universities, and employers aims to ensure that more Tarrant County students have the education and training to fuel today’s workforce. As of fall 2023, the T3 headcount is just over 2,000, and a new digital workforce program has been launched. The T3 Pathways to Career program assists students in identifying their skills and taking the necessary steps to obtain certificates and degrees.
The TRIO Student Support Services, a federally funded initiative, is dedicated to helping low-income students, first-generation students, and students with disabilities progress from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.
Approximately 18 percent of TCC students (8,000 in fall 2023) are the first in their families to attend college. The college takes a holistic approach to providing support to these students as well as all Trailblazers, offering academic and career advising, tutoring and mentoring, personal and financial counseling, mental and physical health services, and help transferring to a four-year university.
Overcoming the Significant Challenges
Two main challenges come to mind: the rising cost of higher education and the need to keep up with emerging technologies.
Some people doubt the value of higher education, but individuals with an associate degree earn an average 30 percent annual return on every dollar they invest in their schooling. It is more than three times the 30-year average of 9.6 percent for the U.S. stock market.
For 60 years, TCC’s mission has been to offer an affordable, top-notch education. It is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and has the second lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges.
“We have waived tuition for all dual credit students to align with Texas House Bill 8, which was passed by the Legislature last year. HB 8 links state funding for community colleges to student outcomes and supports the connection between student success and funding,” Elva shares.
Nurturing a Culture of Lifelong Learning
TCC is determined to provide learning opportunities from the cradle to long past retirement. Elva and her team take pride in the two state-of-the-art childcare centers scheduled to open in 2025, which will further support this mission. By partnering with more than 20 public school systems, TCC is expanding its dual credit, Early College High School (ECHS), and P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) programs. In spring 2024, nearly 700 ECHS students graduated with both an associate degree and a high school diploma. TCC also offers a unique dual enrollment program for Tarrant County adults who have aged out of traditional high school. Beginning this fall, these individuals can earn their high school diploma while completing certification in one of 10 career and technical education fields.
Tarrant County College provides seamless pathways for students to transfer to local four-year universities, with program-specific agreements for pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctoral degrees. TCC also has dual admission partnerships with UT Arlington, Tarleton State University, and Texas Wesleyan University, ensuring maximum value for transfer credits.
Integrating the Digital Tools and Resources
TCC has integrated technologies in multiple classrooms across the campuses. The Canvas Learning Management System is enhancing online and in-person classes, and electronic portfolios streamline students’ ability to showcase their work.
Industry micro-credentials and stackable degrees soon will give Trailblazers a competitive edge in the marketplace and help North Texas employers close skills gaps.
Additionally, the team is committed to blending ethical AI and digital resources into the curriculum. High school students gained practical experience in ChatGPT and Midjourney this summer thanks to a grant from the Governor’s Summer Merit Program.
Plans to Position TCC for Future Success
Elva announced that a new multiyear strategic plan debuts this fall following an intensive six-month development informed by students, employees, and community and business leaders. Trailblazing Together: 2030 is a lifechanging roadmap with a vast economic impact. “Reflecting HB 8, it will guide what we do and how we do it to generate more credentials of value and further position Tarrant County College as a role model for two-year institutions,” she says.
Emerging Trends in Higher Education
Elva explains that there is a renewed emphasis on lifelong learning, which reflects the growing desire for continuous skill development. As businesses and industries integrate new technologies to boost their bottom line, higher education institutions must keep pace.
Advancements such as micro-credentials and stackable degrees, face-to-face/online/hybrid learning, and Weekend College are crucial to success.
The Right Approach to Leadership and Decision-Making
As a lifelong learner and educator, Elva believes that the best chancellors are those who define their role as chief educator or chief mission officer. They should connect people, ideas, and resources to uplift communities, ignite economic vitality, and meet workforce demands. These leaders should prioritize teaching and learning and create a culture through purpose and transformation.
The Future Endeavors
Elevating a TCC education and enhancing the Trailblazer experience is always top of mind for Elva and her team. They are committed to providing the broadest range of services and activities, facilitated through annual student and employee surveys, and campus town halls.
Elva excitedly shares, “We will continue to hire the best people and work with the best companies, like our current 1,200-plus business and industry partners, to meet workforce needs.”
