Trustees Approve College-Wide One Time Payment for STC Employees

South Texas College Board of Trustees has approved a college-wide one time payment for all eligible full-time and part-time employees who undergo Return to Campus Safely COVID-19 Training and Response Strategies.

Trustees approved the use of U.S. Department of Education Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) in the amount of $4.5 million with payouts of $2,500 for full-time employees and $1,500 for part-time employees. The one-time payment is also seen as an incentive to retain its 2,167 staff and faculty members in the midst of the so called “Great Resignation” which has left U.S. employers struggling to fill 10 million jobs.

“Together we have overcome incredible challenges and we want to thank every employee that has been part of the effort to help bring us back to a new normal,” said STC Board Chair Rose Benavidez. “These one time payments are our way of thanking them and acknowledging their dedication and commitment to our institution and our students.”

Pending completion of the COVID-19 training sessions, employees would receive the one time payment in their bank accounts either on Dec. 16 or Jan. 28.

“Our employees have been through the most trying two years of their higher education careers. They have remained steadfast in the mission of educating Valley students and helping them advance their academic and technical education goals, despite the many personal and professional hardships that employees have endured,” explained President Ricardo J. Solis. “This is our way of expressing our gratitude while promoting COVID-19 campus safety training. The board joins me in recognizing that STC employees are our most valuable assets.”

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, STC actively developed and delivered online learning, new remote instruction methods, student services, and operations for students as well as safety protocols and pandemic-related policies for both students and staff of the college. In the process, many faculty and staff also incurred work-related expenses.

"This is a team effort. I personally want to thank the administration and the board for their continued support,” said Dr. Sylvia L. Flores who serves as STC Faculty Senate Chair. “There is nothing we can't do together."

For the 2021 Fall Semester, face-to-face instruction at STC campuses increased from 20 percent to 40 percent. Enrollment for spring is trending upward with STC’s incentive of a free semester – the second free semester offered to Valley students.