El Paso Community College awarded $299,638 Perkins Leadership Grant
Photo courtesy of El Paso Community College
El Paso Community College has been awarded a $299,638 Perkins Leadership Grant for the 2026-2027 grant cycle, making it one of 13 Texas public two-year postsecondary institutions selected for funding.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday, Oct. 13, that the state would award $3.7 million through the Perkins Leadership Grants. The grants support the development of Career and Technical Education programs and are intended to inform and improve CTE Basic Grant activities statewide.
EPCC’s award is part of the Recruitment and Retention of CTE Educators in Postsecondary Education category. The project focuses on supporting the transition of healthcare professionals from clinical practice to teaching.
According to Rio Grande campus Dean of Health, CTE, Math and Science Dr. Souraya Hajjar, the project will provide supplemental compensation to attract qualified clinicians to teaching and help them become familiar with EPCC’s systems and academic processes. New instructors will also be paired with experienced faculty mentors for guidance on clinical practice, instructional strategies and clinical documentation requirements.
The project includes targeted professional development designed to strengthen teaching competencies, promote faculty retention and support long-term success in health education. It is also intended to strengthen student preparation for health-related instruction and support pathways into the healthcare workforce.
The state said Perkins Leadership Grants can help colleges develop or redesign programs for in-demand occupations and recruit and retain instructors. The grants also support efforts to create innovative CTE programs and provide training for high-skill, high-wage careers.
Other grant categories for the 2026-2027 cycle include Emerging and Current High-Demand Credentials and Prison Education – Preparing for Reentry. Awards went to colleges including Lamar Institute of Technology, Tarrant County College District, Texas Southmost College, Central Texas College and Lee College.
The Perkins Leadership Grants replace the Perkins Field Based Innovation Program and Perkins Excellence in Access and Opportunity Program, which were phased out on Aug. 31, 2026. The updated grant program refocuses funding on current labor market needs.