On Wednesday night, HCC's Board of Trustees voted to start branding the college in a 6 to 3 vote.
"It's about the students, student successes, and we want our students to have lots of successes," HCC Board of Trustees Chair Eva Loredo said.
Loredo said the name change was first brought before the board last year. The college launched a study to determine what parts of the college's name and perception mattered most to students. The study found that while most people felt the word "community" meant a great deal to them, they also said they want their school to be seen as more than just a community college. The study also shows that dropping the word "junior" or "community" is a growing trend across the state.
Loredo said by replacing the word "community," she's hoping future employers won't overlook the college as a serious educational institution.
"You have choices, and you can hire someone, and you go, 'Let me look at their degree,' or 'Let me see where they came from,' and so this way, then they see Houston City College, they'll think twice about hiring them versus maybe Houston Community College," Loredo said.
She's also hoping the students won't feel deterred from putting a junior college at the top of their list.
"We still have some who say that I'm going to bypass the community and go straight to the university, and then they come back to us," Loredo said.
While some students may not have picked HCC, Loredo said there hasn't been an impact on enrollment.
The name change passed with a majority, but three trustees did vote against it, saying they don't want alumni, students, or future students to assume this also means a change in mission or the affordability associated with a community college, especially as pending legislation may change who is eligible for Pell Grants.
"I'd much prefer that money roll over to next year and actually help the students who are going to be losing funding and having further challenges," trustee Monica Richart said.
"One thing that came screaming through the survey data loud and clear is that that the community sees the name community in our community college as an indication of our affordability, and I think a change of that name would signal that that affordability isn't going to be there for them," trustee Sean Cheben said.
Loredo said this name change will not impact tuition, and that any cost tied to the name change is already built into the budget, though she could not say what the final price tag may be.
"The focus is going to be more on the programs we have to offer, and again, the affordability, the availability to the students," Loredo said.
Wednesday night's vote will be formalized in August. Students and alumni who want to weigh in on the change are welcome to contact the board of trustees. Loredo was not able to say if alumni will be able to have their diplomas reprinted, but said they are still valid.
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