Dallas College Richland Campus is a public community college in Dallas, Texas. The school was founded in 1972 and is part of Dallas College. It is the largest campus in the college, featuring about 20,000 students. Located on the old Jackson farm, the campus comprises and has preserved the rural beauty with Thunderduck Lake flowing through the campus.
Awards and recognition
In 2005, Richland became the first community college to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Richland has been designated as the first two-year institution in Texas as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education for academic years 2011-2016. CAE2Ys receive formal recognition from the U.S. government, as well as opportunities for prestige and publicity for their role in securing our nation’s information systems. In 2013, Dallas College Richland Campus developed a skill standard for Digital Forensic Technician. Its Digital Forensics program was recognized by the Texas Skills Standard Board as the first and only institution in Texas to meet this statewide standard.
Athletics
Dallas College Richland Campus fields teams in basketball, baseball, wrestling, soccer, and volleyball that compete in the Dallas-area Metro Athletic Conference. They also compete for national championships within the National Junior College Athletic Association, Division III. Many athletes have gone on to play for four-year university programs and professional teams. The men's basketball team won the NJCAA Division III championship in 1999, 2009, and 2015. The baseball team won the NJCAA Division III World Series championship in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2009. The men's soccer team won the NJCAA Division III championship in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2016, 2018 and 2019. The women's soccer team won the NJCAA Division III championship in 2004, 2006, and 2009. The wrestling team has won seven Texas state championships, competing against four-year universities. After dropping the program in 1987, Richland resurrected the sport in 2017, and coach Bill Neal was named Southwest ConferenceCoach of the Year.
Building names
Some buildings at Dallas College Richland Campus are named for heroes of the Texas Revolution, with the first letter of the name corresponding to the use of the building. For example, Bonham Hall, where the Business department is located, is named for James Butler Bonham, who died at the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. Crockett Hall, named for Alamo hero David Crockett, is the Campus Center. Fannin Hall, where Fine Art classes are held, is named for Col. James W. Fannin, who led the ill-fated Texas rebels at Goliad. Other building names are Spanish words or names. Vaca houses the Library. Alamito is the original Administration Building. El Paso Hall is the interior lower level of a bridge that connects the east and west sides of the campus, which are separated by a shallow but picturesque creek originally known as Jackson Branch. Del Rio is where the school's data center or computer lab is located. Sabine Hall, named for the river that separates Texas and Louisiana, is the Science Building. Neches and Pecos Halls are also named for rivers. The previous Science building is now called Wichita, which is the name of a Texas Indian tribe. Thunderduck Hall, named after the school athletic team cartoon mascot, is the new Administration Building.
Notable alumni
Evan Bernstein, Israeli Olympic wrestler
Tony Bishop, Panamanian professional basketball player