With ExxonMobil's help, Odessa College started offering a four-year bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree in leadership and management.
Odessa is one of the few colleges in Texas that can collaborate with ExxonMobil on this initiative to expand offerings to students to provide them with real-world experience and knowledge, college officials said in a release about the new program.
The new program will be available during the 2021 spring semester.
"We chose Odessa College for its excellent track record in education, particularly in STEM and energy-related fields," Enrique Garcia, a representative of an affiliated company with ExxonMobil, said in the Odessa College release. "Many of the professionals we hire come from the Permian Basin, so this is another important step to strengthen our local talent right here in the communities where we operate."
With ExxonMobil's financial support, Odessa College will be able to bring in high-quality professors to teach the programs and provide top-notch resources for students.
"Our program is the only one in the region that allows a student to obtain their BAAS degree from start to finish without already having their associate's degree," Odessa College President Greg Williams said in the release. "We are always looking for ways to grow the future leaders for our community, and this donation brings an energy component to the program that is critical to the success of our future workforce in the Permian Basin."