Cape customizes education
City forges alliance with UH, HCC systems;
new training program prepares future leaders
PWE’s Linda Williams, Sherman Irish and Toni Lewis, participants in the Leadership Institute Program, combine their problem-solving skills.
Story and photo by John Perry
The E. B. Cape Center is the education center of choice for many city departments and employees. Two groundbreaking programs will train leaders for tomorrow’s municipal workforce.
Through an alliance with Houston Community College and the University of Houston System, employees can now receive HCC credit for city training. Approved credits will count toward an associate degree from HCC and future enrollment in the UHS to work toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
“It’s a great partnership between the two schools and the city,” Mayor Bill White said.
“The agreement reinforces the city’s commitment to employees and to a more efficient and effective City Hall,” White said. “It gives us a valuable tool to help employees succeed in an economy that increasingly depends on information and education.”
HCC Chancellor Mary Spangler and UHS Chancellor Jay Gogue joined White at the May 5 alliance signing ceremony at City Hall.
“HCC is excited to be part of an alliance that focuses on higher education and provides a means for receiving a degree,” Spangler said.
The alliance has been in the planning stages for two years.
“A lot of hard work and foresight went into creating this agreement,” Gogue said. “Everyone in the community will benefit from it.”
Beginning this fall, transferable credits, subject to academic policies and state law, may be applied toward fulfilling a degree plan at HCC. Employees can continue their higher education at a UHS campus, with programs that coordinate with the city’s alliance.
“This is a win-win agreement,” said Tom Morley, Human Resources assistant director and chief learning officer at the Cape. “The employee gains college credits and the city obtains a higher skilled and more knowledgeable work force.”
The Cape has submitted its curriculum for accreditation and will submit appropriate training programs conducted by departments for future accreditation.
Employees are not charged for tuition and fees for Cape courses.
“Some departments have tuition reimbursement to help with HCC or UH courses,” said Joe Little, manager of learning services at the Cape. “Overall though, employees bear full responsibility for their education and expenses beyond the E. B. Cape.”
The Cape provides more than 100 learning and development courses including computer applications, leadership, project management, organizational effectiveness, and business communications.
For information on courses that qualify for college credits, visit www.uh.edu/ ebcapecenter. For a calendar of courses, visit www.houstontx.gov/capecenter.
Employees must get supervisory approval prior to registration. The department’s training liaison should register participants at least two weeks prior to class start.
The city has several hundred employees pursuing degrees with HCC or UH. Both institutions provide classroom and online programs with day, evening, and weekend classes.
HCC offers 200 associate degree or certification programs. UHS offers more than 400 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.
To register, employees can get Cape transcripts from the registrar database at www.houstontx.gov/capecenter or by calling (713) 928-4525. Transcripts must then be submitted for review and approval by HCC counselors.
Creating new leadership
With the support of Public Works & Engineering Director Michael Marcotte, the Cape has custom-designed a premier training program.
PWE deputy directors Eric Dargan and Jeff Taylor spearheaded the yearlong leadership-training program for the senior executive, management and supervisory levels.
“The vision of the Leadership Institute Program is to bring together the best and brightest Public Works supervisors and managers with the goal of exposing them to the big picture of what it takes to provide excellent customer service to the city of Houston,” said Dargan.
Dargan and Taylor carefully chose 44 PWE employees between pay grades 17 to 21 for the program. Attending daylong classes once a month, participants honed leadership and problem-solving skills through role-playing, experiential exercises, case studies, and lectures.
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