Tyler is home to one of the largest community colleges in all of Texas: Tyler Junior College (TJC). TJC is a two-year college which enrolls more than 12,000 credit students and 20,000 continuing education students every year.

Tyler Junior College has expanded considerably since its humble beginnings in 1926. In addition to the main campus on the east side of town, TJC offers continuing education and technical certification in specialized fields such as automotive and welding technology at its West Campus on the opposite side of town on Loop 323. TJC also offers nursing courses and a handful of general education courses at two satellite centers in Lindale and Jacksonville. Many core courses are also available on-line directly through TJC or through TJC’s cooperation in the Virtual College of Texas, a consortium of 50 plus colleges offering more than 200 individual courses.

Having worked at TJC in various classrooms for over two years, I held the overall impression that about half of the instructors really enjoyed working there, were passionate about their subject, and made it their mission to see students succeed. Before you write off the other half, though, let me explain what they’re up against: TJC’s open door admissions policy not only lets in the motivated students bent on succeeding in their major and field, but also welcomes those students who hold a less-than-stellar academic record and may not have any real desire to pursue a particular career. The prevalence of the latter demographic alters the educational environment for everyone, motivated students and once-inspired instructors alike.

I personally witnessed the enduring patience of several instructors in dealing with lazy or belligerent students. It’s hard to keep excellent teachers and helpful staff when they feel like their efforts are unappreciated or altogether wasted. So kudos to those instructors who have stuck around campus and continue to pave the road to success for students who are actually holding a map.

Speaking of choosing a good professor at TJC why not check out Rate My Professor where you can find ratings on teachers at TJC from their students.

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In some ways it seems unfair to rate a college based on its quality of students, but I believe in this case the student population holds an overarching influence on TJC’s overall appeal. In addition to the attitudes of faculty and staff, students can negatively affect campus safety, student life, classroom management, standards of excellence, and thus, the overall quality of education.

On the flip side, Tyler Junior College runs a pretty decent athletics program for a junior college. TJC offers men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, tennis, and golf, baseball, football, and volleyball.

For the self-motivated student who would like to get an inexpensive education and move on quickly to a university or into the work force, you can’t beat the price and convenience of Tyler Junior College, especially when it’s right in your own backyard.