The College of Health Care Professions has operated in McAllen for more than 10 years. Thousands of students have earned certificates and degrees both in-person and online. A major part of this success comes from CHCP’s dedication to supporting these students, no matter what history, academic, or health experience they enter with.
Joaquin Paez, Director of Admissions, expanded on the need to offer a wide range of options given the different types of students they educate.
“We have quite a variety of students,” Joaquin Paez, Director of Admissions, said. “We have students who have some experience in the medical field. We have students with no experience, some that are changing careers completely. We also have students that are coming right out of high school, maybe with certifications already. We offer a wide variety of programs, so it really helps to keep all our services in one location.”
Scheduling is another key point of CHCP’s commitment to providing options for students in vastly different situations.
“We offer mornings and evenings,” Paez said. “Our morning class only goes one day a week, so our students are able to juggle home, work, and school all at the same time. Our evening programs meet twice a week. They are able to hold full-time jobs with both schedules.”
One unique positive about the Rio Grande Valley and the population that CHCP in McAllen serves is the family atmosphere. Students typically are not on this journey alone.
This is a special, unique-to-the-Valley situation that sees entire families alongside students, rooting for their success.
“Here at the college, we connect with the students from the very beginning, and we also connect with the support system,” Aleda Reyes, Director of Career Services, said. “We think it’s important to connect with their family as well. During admission appointments, there is almost always someone there with the student. When I went to college, my parents were never with me, to get a schedule, to enroll, or to ask financial aid questions.”
When it comes to financial aid, CHCP steps in to guide students through the process.
“Financing education can feel overwhelming, so our FA team simplifies the process so students and parents have a clear financial plan without the confusion,” Veronica Ortega, Director of Financial Aid, said.
Wrap-around Services
“All of our students have an assigned career-services advisor,” Reyes said. “There is someone that is partnered with them from the very beginning, even when they get hired in their first position and they reach their success. There are alumni services, and they have someone to call.”
At CHCP, there is no wait for the college to start looking out for its students and their long-term success.
“Those services start from the very beginning, from their first class,” Reyes said. “We start working on their resumes their first month they’re on campus.”
Thanks to this proactive approach, as well as strong relationships with local healthcare employers, students typically don’t wait long for work. Some even have jobs lined up before finishing their program.
Shared Success
“We have a lot of first-gen students,” Reyes said. “A majority are female, first-time graduates. Graduation is very special to our students and their families. When it comes to commencement, it is standing room only. It is a celebration, a party atmosphere.”
Paez added that the space they reserve for graduation ceremonies fills up quickly.
“Around 200-250 students typically come to graduation, but over 1,500 seats are filled,” Paez said. “We don’t limit their tickets because it is such a big accomplishment. The support around our students is huge.”
CHCP is proud to offer more than nine programs in person and even more through online courses.
