LSC-CyFair’s AAT and Medical Assistant Programs Ranked Tops in Nation
CYPRESS — Need another reason why choosing Lone Star College-CyFair degree programs in teaching and medical assisting fields are the best choice? Both programs are among the top 20 nationwide as reported in GradReports.com’s 2020 Best Colleges for Earning Potential list.
LSC-CyFair’s Associate of Arts in Teaching degree program is featured on the 2020 Best Colleges list ranking second with LSC-CyFair’s Medical Assistant degree program ranked 19th . The rankings are the first to be based on median early-career salary data of more than 5 million graduates from the U.S. Department of Education’s resource, College Scorecard.
“We truly appreciate our exceptional faculty in these two outstanding degree programs and their dedication to preparing high-caliber, skilled graduates for the workforce ,” said LSC-CyFair President Dr. Seelpa Keshvala.
Professors of education Fay Lee and Shamim Arastu said this AAT program recognition means they are doing their job and they are doing it well.
“Students can endeavor into a field without exorbitant loans. Our program’s ultimate goal is to provide our students with a firm foundation that teaching is a public service and that helping students fulfill their goals in life is a measure of success,” said Lee.
LSC-CyFair partners with several universities because each university program fits all different students’ seasons of life and accommodate their current work and school life status, she said.
Associate of Arts in Teaching transfer
Among the institutions LSC-CyFair AAT students have transferred and graduated from include:
- University of Houston-Downtown,
- Sam Houston State University,
- Texas A&M University,
- Houston Baptist University,
- Texas Tech University and
- Stephen F. Austin University.
Nearly a third (82) of the 243 AAT graduates (2018-2020 program) throughout the LSC system are from LSC-CyFair.
“Through the collaboration, networks and opportunities we provide our students, we prepare them to transition into their Educator Preparatory Programs. They experience the rigor needed for success, while having strengthened their passion and desire to pursue a degree path in the service of education,” said Arastu. “Our program embeds student service learning, project-based learning and allows for growth and professional development through student participation in our Future Professional Educators Club and our chapter of the International Education Honors Society, Kappa Delta Pi.”
Alumni awards
Among the alumni now living their dream career teaching in the Houston area are Molly Milillo, who was named “Teacher of the Year” for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD after only her first year of teaching Gleason Elementary School and Stephen Posada, a sixth-grade science teacher at Hambrick Middle School in Aldine ISD. Maisa Gonzalez teaches kindergarteners at Carter Elementary in Lamar Consolidated ISD and Melissa Reinsch will begin her teaching career this fall at a Title 1 campus in CFISD.
Hiring rates and Accreditation
LSC-CyFair’s Medical Assistant Program has a job placement rate average of 96.8% in the past five years with 100% employer satisfaction rate, said Gina Scott, program director. Many of the graduates since 2006 are hired off of their externships in area hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and other healthcare facilities, such as such as Kelsey Seybold, Excel Urgent Care and HSE Medical Associates.
“We have a very high national CMA(AAMA) pass rate with most students offered jobs upon completion of their externship/practicums in the community,” she said.
For example, Jennifer Contreras has been working for HSE Medical Associates since her externship back in 2006, as well as six others who have graduated from the program. A 2016 alumni, Elizabeth Recinos went to work for Northwest Family Practice, while eight-year EMS career changer and also a 2016 alumni Tanya Gonzalez went to work for Baylor Scott and White Medical Center.
LSC-CyFair’s program is nationally accredited program through CAAHEP under the direction of the Medical Assistant Education Review Board. And now the program has earned the Best College list national recognition.
“This ranking provides students with the confidence that LSC provides a reputable program with elite standards. The fact that they invest in themselves and can rest assure that the return on investment will exceed their expectations is great,” said Dr. Christina Hagerty, LSC-CyFair Dean of Public Service, Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Fall registration is underway at LSC-CyFair. For AAT or Medical Assistant program information go to LoneStar.edu/cyfair-aat or LoneStar.edu/medical-assist-dept-cyfair.
Helping more than 22,000 students reach their academic and career goals, Lone Star College-CyFair is the 5th comprehensive college in the Lone Star College System, located at 9191 Barker Cypress Road just three miles south of U.S. Highway 290. Start close and go far at LSC-CyFair as well as at LSC-Cypress Center, located at 19710 Clay Road and LSC-Westway Park Technology Center, located at 5060 Westway Park Boulevard. For more information about LSC-CyFair and its programs, call 281.290.3200 or visit LoneStar.edu/cyfair.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of six colleges, 10 centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
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