Collin County is experiencing explosive residential and commercial growth, and Collin College is expanding right along with it. New campuses are in planning stages and new industry-driven programs are being developed. As the Collin College Master Plan continues to unfold, this column will provide information about new campuses, programs and certificates coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
The Collin College Technical Campus groundbreaking is scheduled for Sept.7. The 340,000-plus square-foot campus will be located south of State Highway 121 and east of Exchange Parkway in Allen.
The new facility will support technical and workforce education for the automotive, construction, healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing industries. The Technical Campus will serve adult students and will have technical dual credit opportunities for students from area ISDs. In addition, Allen ISD partnered with the college to expand academic dual credit opportunities for Allen ISD students at the Technical Campus. The Allen Economic Development Corporation is also a partner on the project.
The Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) ribbon-cutting event is scheduled for Sept. 28. The PSTC houses the college’s fire science and law enforcement academies and is also a professional development site for emergency personnel. Built in cooperation with the cities of McKinney and Allen, the new center is located at 3600 Redbud Boulevard in McKinney, just a few blocks east of U.S. Hwy. 75 south of Bloomdale Road.
Classes will begin this fall in the PSTC, which boasts more than 120,000 square feet and includes three gun ranges with 37 lanes, an outdoor classroom, a defensive tactics room, a multi-story fire training tower, an indoor reality-based training center, classrooms, and a confined-space and trench-rescue facility. Students will have access to specialized simulators for training in hazardous-materials fires and spills, civil aircraft fires, and below-grade rescue in earth collapse extrications.
The Wylie Campus groundbreaking is slated for Oct. 19. The 300,000-plus square-foot campus will be west of Wylie City Hall and north of FM 544, at 391 Country Club Road. The campus is projected to serve 7,000 students. Three multi-story buildings will provide a comprehensive campus experience for students. The Wylie Campus will have a suite of academic and student services, including academic advising, career center, library, center for academic assistance, student life, and fitness. The campus will also have specialized facilities for science, engineering, information technology, fine arts, and healthcare programs.