Lampasas County Higher Education Center Foundation board members recently toured the Sidney Wieser Skills Center at Central Texas College.

They were met by William C. Alexander, deputy chancellor of educational program and support services; John Hunt, dean of central campus; Herb Maglietta, associate dean of vocational and tech programs, and department chairman of engineering, CAD drafting and design and office technology; Tony Cleaver, director of Skills Center counseling and tech prep; James C. Nixon, dean of the Fort Hood and services area campus; Bill Beebe, special assistant to the chancellor; and Billy Hazzard, department chairman for industrial technology.

LCHEC Foundation president Judy Hetherly participated in the recent tour, along with board members Kristi Ball, Dr. William Kirby, Linda Floerke, Sid Wieser, Dan Claussen and Jeff Villanueva. LCHEC chief operating officer Dr. S. Chuck McCarter and administrative assistant Amy McDaniel also joined the group.

Hazzard gave a presentation about the history of the Skills Center and took the LCHEC members on a tour of the facility.

During lunch at CTC’s planetarium, Alexander explained the role CTC plays for schools in Copperas Cove and Killeen, and he suggested LCHEC join P20, which seeks to increase educational access for traditionally underserved and underrepresented student populations.

CTC will cooperate with LCHEC, the deputy chancellor said, in expanding CTC programs at the Lampasas campus, located at the former Lampasas Middle School.

He encouraged LCHEC officials to decide what courses of study to add at the Lampasas campus, and he said developmental studies may be needed.

After the meeting, McCarter expressed optimism about the potential for increased partnerships between LCHEC and CTC.