TSTC Visual Standard Guide 2020

COMMUNICATION + 

CREATIVE SERVICES 

VISUAL STANDARDS 

GUIDE

“ “ 

DESIGN IS NOT JUST 

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE 

AND FEELS LIKE. DESIGN 

IS HOW IT WORKS. 

- Steve JOBS

WHO IS THIS GUIDE FOR 

This communication and visual standards guide is for employees of Texas State 

Technical College. It should also be used by any design agencies, freelance designers/ 

videographers/photographers/illustrators/writers that collaborate with the college 

to develop creative materials. 

The standards featured in this guide do not provide a set of rules for every conceivable 

application, but do provide guidance to achieve a consistant look and feel and to stay 

on brand when developing new creative assets or communication pieces. 

VISUAL STANDARDS | INTRODUCTION 3

VISUAL 

STANDARDS 

. 

. 

LOGO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

SEAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

COLORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

TYPOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

PHOTOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

ICONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

ELEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

APPLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 

CAMPUS STORE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 

THE TSTC FOUNDATION . . . . 88 

WORKFORCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 

COMMUNICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . 96 

DESIGN SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . 110

VISUAL STANDARDS INTRODUCTION 

Our visual identity is not just a logo, it’s much, much more. It’s a strategically 

crafted palette of visual expressions – photography, typography, iconography and 

colors – that are blended together to reflect our college’s personality and values. 

Our visual identity is the most recognizable aspect of our brand. It is imperative 

that we maintain its integrity and deliver a consistent look and message across 

all visual communications. 

The standards in this guide have been developed to ensure that a meaningful, 

proper, accurate and consistent use of our visual identity’s design elements 

are implemented across all mediums to preserve and protect Texas State 

Technical College’s brand. 

VISUAL STANDARDS | INTRODUCTION 5

LOGO 

. 

PRIMARY & SECONDARY . . . . . . . 7 

CLEAR SPACE 

& MINIMUM SIZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 

COLORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

BACKGROUNDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

TAGLINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

DEPARTMENT NAME . . . . . . . . . . . 16

LOGO / PRIMARY & SECONDARY 

Primary & 

Secondary Logo 

The two-color positive combination mark is the 

preferred logo to be used in all TSTC communications 

wherever possible. This logo is the most recognizable 

visual element and is the foundation of our brand’s 

identity. To ensure that its integrity is not compromised, 

no alterations should be made to any part of the logo’s 

form or structure. 

Never redraw the logo or add visual effects/treatments/ 

embellishments such as drop shadows. 

Never distort, stretch or reverse the logo or add 

additional text or graphic elements. 

The logo should always appear with 

a trademark symbol. 

Only use approved, scalable vector (.eps) digital files, 

which can be downloaded from www.tstc.edu/branding/ 

downloads. TSTC will not recognize any reproductions 

of the TSTC logo that don’t comply with the visual 

standards specified in these guidelines. 

When space is limited or if the design dictates, 

a secondary two-color positive logo can be used. 

A secondary logo is also used primarily for internal 

publications, social media and small promotional items. 

PRIMARY LOGO 

SECONDARY LOGO 

WHITE 

WHITE 

VISUAL STANDARDS | LOGO 7

LOGO / CLEAR SPACE & MINIMUM SIZE 

Clear Space 

& Minimum Size 

Clear Space 

To ensure the logo is legible and clearly visible in 

all applications, the logo must be surrounded by a 

minimum-recommended amount of clear space. This 

breathing room prevents the logo from being visually 

cluttered and having to fight for attention with other 

graphic elements and typography. 

The recommended minimum amount of clear space to 

always surround the logo is equivalent to the X-height 

of the uppercase “T” in the TSTC word mark (SEE DIAGRAM). 

Do not place any graphic elements inside this boundary. 

If possible and layout permits, allow even more clear 

space for greater legibility. 

Minimum Size 

When reproducing the primary two-color positive 

TSTC logo and scaling it down to appear at a small size, 

a minimum size has been defined to avoid legibility 

issues and to maintain the logo’s integrity. 

For print, the primary logo should not appear smaller 

than 1.50 inches (38.1 mm) wide. For screen/pixels 

the primary logo must not appear smaller than 

90 pixels wide. 

The secondary logo must not appear smaller than 

1.50 inches wide in print and 90 pixels on screen. 

PRIMARY LOGO 


1.50 INCHES (38.1 MM) WIDE 

90 PIXELS 

PRIMARY LOGO 


90 PIXELS 


8 

TSTC | BRAND IDENTITY

LOGO / COLORS 

Preferred, Single 

& Monochromatic 

Preferred Colors 

Unless the design dictates otherwise or due to printing 

limitations or budget requirements, the primary logo 

should always be reproduced in its purest form, the 

two-color positive combination mark, preferably 

placed on a white background to ensure the highest 

amount of contrast. 

This is the strongest, most recognizable visual element 

in our identity and it should be repeatedly used in 

its purest form across all communications to keep 

reinforcing our brand and building brand recognition. 

PREFERRED COLORS - PMS 1797C, PMS 281C 

Only convert to CMYK when printing in four-color process. 

ALTERNATE PALETTE - PMS 872C 

Colors from the alternate palette can only be 

used in accordance with the usage guidelines. 

Single Colors 

If the design dictates or due to printing limitations, 

specifications or budget requirements, a single-color 

logo option is available. Color options are limited to the 

colors available in the approved primary and secondary 

color palettes according to usage guidelines. 

PMS 281C 

BLACK 

Monochromatic 


specifications or budget requirements, a grayscale 

100 percent black option is available. 

PMS 1797C 


LOGO / BACKGROUNDS 

Backgrounds: 

Solid Colors 

It is preferred that any variant of the TSTC logo be 

placed on a solid white background to ensure the 

maximum amount of contrast, visibility and legibility. 

If the logo is to be placed on a solid-colored 

background, the background color options are limited 

to the colors available in the approved primary and 

secondary color palettes with the logo reversed in white. 

Only use colors from the approved palettes that 

produce a high level of contrast with the reversed logo. 

PMS 1797C 

PMS 281C 

PMS 872C 

Colors from the secondary palette can only be 


BLACK 

10 


LOGO / BACKGROUNDS 

Backgrounds: 

Photos & Illustrations 

Refrain from using any variant of the logo mark on 

photographic or illustrated backgrounds. 

If design absolutely dictates, logo variants can only 

appear on a section or portion of a photographic image 

or illustration, providing that the logo is clearly visible, 

legible, free of visual clutter, interference and is not lost 

in the background image. A high level of contrast must 

be present. 

For optimal results, use the reversed logo on darkercolored 

images and a high-contrasting, single-color 

positive version on lighter-colored images. Place logo 

over an area that is clean, open and free of detail. 

OPTIMAL RESULTS 

Position a high-contrasting, single-color 

positive logo on lighter-colored images. 


LOGO / TAGLINE 

Lockup, Clear Space 

& Minimum Size 

Tagline Lockup 

Always use the primary two-color positive logo and 

tagline wherever possible. Never recreate the lockup 

or create the tagline in another typeface. 

Clear Space 

To ensure the tagline lockup is legible and clearly visible 

in all applications, the lockup must be surrounded by a 

minimum recommended amount of clear space. 


always surround the lockup is equivalent to the X-height 





Minimum Size 

When reproducing the primary lockup and scaling it 

down to appear at a small size, a minimum size has been 

defined to avoid legibility issues and to maintain the 

logo’s integrity. 

For print, the tagline lockup should appear no smaller 

than 1.50 inches (38.1 mm) wide. For screen/pixels, 

the lockup must not appear smaller than 90 pixels wide. 

PRIMARY TAGLINE LOCKUP - TWO-COLOR POSITIVE 

PRIMARY TAGLINE LOCKUP - BLACK 

The tagline “TECHNICALLY BETTER” has been reduced 

to a 50 percent tint. 

CLEAR SPACE 

MINIMUM SIZE 


90 PIXELS 

12 







limitations or budget requirements, the lockup should 

always be reproduced in its purest form, preferably 



Single Colors 



lockup option is available. Color options are limited 


secondary color palettes. Usage guidelines apply. 

PREFERRED COLORS - PMS 1797C & PMS 281C 


SECONDARY PALETTE - PMS 872C 



Tagline Tint 

In single-color applications of the lockup, the tagline is 

reduced to a tint of 50 percent to distinguish it from the 

logo. If the design dictates or due to legibility concerns, 

the tagline does not have to be screened back and can 

appear at 100 percent. 

PMS 281C 

BLACK 

Monochromatic 


specifications or budget requirements, a grayscale 100 

percent black option is available. 

PMS 1797C 

NON-TINT 

If the design dictates or due to legibility concerns, the tagline 

does not have to be reduced to a tint of 50 percent. 



Backgrounds: 

Solid Colors 

It is preferred that the lockup be placed on a solid white 

background to ensure the maximum amount of contrast, 

visibility and legibility. 

If the lockup is to be placed on a solid-colored 



secondary color palettes, and the lockup must be 

reversed in white. 


produce a high level of contrast with the reversed 

white lockup. 

PMS 1797C 

PMS 281C 

PMS 872C 



BLACK 

14 



Backgrounds: 


Refrain from using the lockup on photographic 

or illustrated backgrounds. 

If design absolutely dictates, the lockup can only appear 

on a section or portion of a photographic image or 

illustration that ensures that the logo lockup is clearly 

visible, legible, free of visual clutter, interference and 

is not lost in the background image. 

A high level of contrast must be present. For optimal 

results, use the reversed logo lockup on darker-colored 

images and a high-contrasting, single-color version on 

lighter-colored images. Place logo over an area that is 

clean, open and free of detail. 





LOGO / DEPARTMENT NAMES 

Department Name 

Lockup 

Department Lockup 

A visual hierarchy has been developed to display 

department names clearly in conjunction with the 

primary and alternate logo marks. 

Names of departments should not exceed the width of 

the logo mark. In instances where it does, the name will 

be required to appear over multiple lines. 

Clear Space 


always surround the lockup is equivalent to the X-height 





Minimum Size 

When reproducing the department lockup in print, the 

lockup should appear no smaller than 1.50 inches 

(38.1 mm) wide. For screen/pixels, the lockup must 

not appear smaller than 90 pixels wide. 

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT MULTIPLE LINE Lockup 

- TWO-COLOR POSITIVE 

CLEAR SPACE 


90 PIXELS 

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT SINGLE LINE LOCKUP 

- TWO COLOR POSITIVE 

MINIMUM SIZE 

16 







limitations or budget requirements, the lockup should 

always be reproduced in its purest form, preferably 



Single Colors 



lockup option is available. Color options are limited 


secondary color palettes. Usage guidelines apply. 

PREFERRED COLORS - PMS 1797C, PMS 281C 


SECONDARY PALETTE - PMS 872C 



Monochromatic 


specifications or budget requirements, a grayscale 

100 percent black option is available. 

PMS 281C 

BLACK 

PMS 1797C 



Backgrounds: 

Solid Colors 

It is preferred that the department name lockup be 

placed on a solid white background to ensure the 


If the lockup is to be placed on a solid-colored 



secondary color palettes, and the lockup must be 

reversed in white. 


produce a high level of contrast with the reversed 

white lockup. 

PMS 1797C 

PMS 281C 

PMS 872C 



BLACK 

18 



Backgrounds: 


Refrain from using the lockup on photographic or 

illustrated backgrounds. 

If design absolutely dictates, the lockup can only appear 

on a section or portion of a photographic image or 

illustration that ensures that the logo lockup is clearly 

visible, legible, free of visual clutter, interference and is 

not lost in the background image. 

A high level of contrast must be present. For optimal 

results, use the reversed logo lockup on darker-colored 

images and a high-contrasting, single-color version on 

lighter-colored images. Place logo over an area that is 

clean, open and free of detail. 





SEAL 

OFFICIAL COLLEGE SEAL . . . . . 21

SEAL / OFFICIAL COLLEGE SEAL 

Official 

College Seal 

The TSTC Seal is the official mark of the college 

that adds prestige and authenticity to official 

college communications. 

The use of the seal is restricted and should only be 

used for formal college business communications, 

commencement and ceremonial materials. It may not 

be used in any other instance without the written 

permission from the Chancellor’s office. 

CLEARSPACE GUIDANCE 

The TSTC Seal must appear in one of the colors from 

the approved color palettes. If the design dictates, 

embossing or gold foil stamping are the only 

embellishments that can be used on the seal. 

Clear-space guidelines must be followed. 

OFFICIAL COLLEGE SEAL 

PMS 218C & PMS 872C. 

PMS 872C PMS 281C BLACK 

VISUAL STANDARDS | SEAL 21

COLORS 

RATIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

PRIMARY & 

SECONDARY PALETTES . . . . . . . . 24

COLOR / RATIO 

Color Ratio 

Using the opposite infographic, you 

can get a sense of how the primary and 

secondary colors should be balanced 

across all communications in the brand. 

Texas Blue 

Lone Star Red 

Classic Blue 

Cool Gray 

Graduate Gold 

Alumni Yellow 

VISUAL STANDARDS | COLOR 23

COLOR / PRIMARY & SECONDARY PALETTES 

Primary Color Palette 

Color Palettes 

Consistent use of our brand colors is one of 

the most fundamental and essential ways to 

build brand recognition, college spirt and a 

TEXAS BLUE 

PMS 281C 

#1d2757 

cohesive look across all visual applications 

that incorporate our identity. Our branding 

colors have been formulated into two palettes 

— primary and secondary. 

C : 100 

M: 80 

Y : 30 

K : 45 

R : 

G : 

B : 

29 

39 

88 

Primary 

The primary palette consists of the colors 

75% 50% 25% 

Alternate Color Mix 

C: 100 M: 65 Y: 0 K: 60 

Lone Star Red (PMS 1797C) and Texas Blue 

(PMS 281C). In almost every instance, the 

colors from this primary palette should be 

the dominant colors featured in any visual 

LONE STAR RED 

application of our branding colors. 

PMS 1797C 

Consistent use of our Texas-inspired primary 

#d13138 

colors helps build a stronger brand and also 

assists in gaining greater brand recognition. 

C : 10 

M: 100 

R : 210 

G : 49 

Y : 

90 

B : 

56 

K : 

5 

75% 50% 25% 

Alternate Color Mix 

C: 0 M: 100 Y: 100 K: 10 

24 


COLOR / PRIMARY & SECONDARY PALETTES 

CLASSIC BLUE 

Secondary Color Palette 

PMS 3005C 

#2474bb 

C : 

85 

R : 

37 

Secondary 

M: 

50 

G : 116 

The secondary palette consists of four colors, which 

serve predominantly as accent colors to enhance the 

primary palette. Each color has its own unique function 

75% 50% 25% 

Y : 

K : 

0 

0 

B : 187 

but is limited in its scope and use. 

Classic Blue (PMS 3005C) is the preferred accent color 

to complement the primary palette. 

COOL GRAY 

PMS 7C 

#999898 

Cool Gray (PMS 7C) is an alternate accent color option 

or can be used in conjunction with Classic Blue. 

C : 

M: 

45 

35 

R : 154 

G : 153 

Graduate Gold (PMS 872C) should only be used 

Y : 

35 

B : 153 

for formal applications and visual communications 

associated with graduates and commencement. 

75% 50% 25% 

K : 

3 

Alumni Yellow (PMS 130C) should only be used for 

communications associated with TSTC alumni. 

Never use secondary colors on their own or as the 

dominant color scheme of a communication piece. 

Tints 

Primary and secondary colors can be expanded by 

creating screens or reduced percentages of a color 

commonly known as tints. 

The use of this extended range of colors is limited 

and can only be applied to infographics or any other 

graphic representation of numerical data or statistics. 

Each brand color includes three tints, made up of color 

values set at increments of 75 percent, 50 percent and 

25 percent. Do not alter or create additional tints of any 

primary or secondary color. 

GRADUATE GOLD 

75% 50% 25% 

ALUMNI YELLOW 

75% 50% 25% 

PMS 872C 

#8d734a 

C : 

M: 

Y : 

K : 

30 R : 141 

40 G : 115 

70 B : 74 

15 

PMS 130C 

#f6a700 

C : 

M: 

0 

35 

R : 246 

G : 167 

Y : 100 B : 0 

K : 0 

VISUAL STANDARDS | COLOR 25

TYPOGRAPHY 

PRINT PRIMARY: ALLER . . . . . . . . 27 

PRINT SECONDARY: 

BEBAS NEUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

WEB: MYRIAD PRO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

TYPOGRAPHY / PRINT PRIMARY: ALLER 

Meet the 

Aller Family 

Aller is the primary typeface to be used on all 

visual communications. Its consistent use across all 

applications will create a uniformed look and feel and 

build stronger brand recognition with our viewers. 

Aller Light 

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 

1234567890!@#$%^& 

Aller Regular 



1234567890!@#$%^& 

Aller Bold 



1234567890!@#$%^& 

Light 

Regular 

Bold 

VISUAL STANDARDS | TYPOGRAPHY 27

TYPOGRAPHY / PRINT SECONDARY: BEBAS NEUE 

A Bold, Modern 

Sans Serif 

A secondary designated typeface is Bebas Neue, which 

is a modern, bold, condensed sans serif. This type’s use 

is to be limited and restricted for display headlines only 

and for designs that have a more sporty, casual and 

relaxed theme. 

Bebas neue 

ABCDEFGHIJ 


1234567890!@#$%^& 

BOLD 

28 


TYPOGRAPHY / WEB: MYRIAD PRO 

How We Speak 

Online 

Since Aller is not available as a web font, Myriad Pro is 

the substitute typeface for all online communications. 

Myriad Pro Light 



1234567890!@#$%^& 

Myriad Pro Regular 



1234567890!@#$%^& 

Myriad Bold 



1234567890!@#$%^& 

Light 

Regular 

Bold 

VISUAL STANDARDS | TYPOGRAPHY 29

PHOTOGRAPHY 

CREATIVE DIRECTION: 

VALUE SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

ART DIRECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

CORPORATE PORTRAITS . . . . . . . 34 

LOCATIONS / MACROS . . . . . . . . 35 

STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . 36 

SAMPLE IMAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

PHOTOGRAPHY / CREATIVE DIRECTION VALUES 

Creative Direction: 

Value System 

Inspiring 

Relatable 

Authentic 

Emotive 

Unique 

Confident 

VISUAL STANDARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY 31

PHOTOGRAPHY / CREATIVE DIRECTION VALUES 

Creative Direction Values 

for Photography 

Inspiring 

Relatable 

Authentic 

Emotive 

The best photography should create an emotional 

connection by capturing a moment or object that 

the viewer can relate to. Use a candid style of 

photography to capture real-life instances, expressions 

and interactions to establish meaningful and lasting 

impressions. 

Confident 

Images should reflect a high level of confidence in our 

featured subjects. They should look comfortable in 

their learning environments and with the technologies 

they are interacting with. Subjects should always be 

portrayed as welcoming and assured. 

Unique 

The unique qualities of our brand should be reflected 

in the way we visually tell our story. A photojournalistic 

style of photography that is modern, progressive and 

looks warm and natural, will help to differentiate TSTC 

visually from other colleges in the marketplace and 

solidify our brand’s unique value. 

CREATIVE DIRECTION VALUES 

A set of values for the creative direction of photography will 

clearly define the visual expectations for photography and give 

photographers and designers a set of guidelines to follow. 

32 


PHOTOGRAPHY / ART DIRECTION 

Overall Art Direction, 

Styling & Lighting 

Art Direction 

The direction for our photography is to capture natural, 

candid, real-life moments of people or individuals 

looking engaged in their activities and learning 

environments. Their expressions and interactions 

should be positive, warm and welcoming. They should 

interact with the camera but preferably not look into it. 

Images should have a single concept and be focused 

on one subject. Details should be kept to a minimum, 

and backgrounds should be free of clutter to provide for 

ample negative space. 

Our photojournalistic style of photography should look 

modern and progressive and have a premium quality to 

it. Shots should be composed using unique angles to 

give fresh, new perspectives. 

Styling: Attire & Makeup 

People or Individuals representing the college should 

always look well-groomed, professional and dressed in 

appropriate technology attire, if applicable. 

Clothing should be presentable, pressed and fit well. 

Garments must not display slogans or graphics that 

are not sanctioned by TSTC. Hair should not be overly 

styled, and makeup, if necessary, should look natural. 

Lighting 

Lighting should be warm and always look natural, even 

if it is artificially sourced. Natural lighting effects will 

make our photography more relatable and authentic. 

NATURAL LIGHTING 

Lighting should always look natural, even when it is sourced 

artificially in a studio environment. 


PHOTOGRAPHY / CORPORATE PORTRAITS 

Corporate-Style 

Portraits 

When taking photographic portraits of students, 

employees and stakeholders, subjects must be 

dressed professionally and/or in the uniform of their 

appropriate field of study. Strictly, no casual dress. 

Subjects can look candid and relaxed if the creative 

direction dictates, but in general they must not look 

overly posed. They should display positive, warm facial 

expressions. 

Lighting should always look natural, even if it is 

artificially sourced. 

Locations should look clean, presentable and natural, 

and they should be a true reflection of the subject’s 

learning environment or workspace. They should not 

be overly staged or unrealistic, and they should not be 

visually cluttered or complex, as this will distract the 

viewer. 

Backgrounds for studio portraits should be a solid 

neutral color, preferably white. 

STUDIO PORTRAITS 

Lighting should always look natural, even when it is sourced 

artificially in a studio environment. 

34 


PHOTOGRAPHY / LOCATIONS, MACROS & TEXTURES 

Locations, 

Macro & Textures 

Locations 

Locations should look presentable and natural, and 

they should be a reflection of the learning environment 

or workspace. 

They should not be visually cluttered, overly staged or 

complex, as this will distract from the main subject and 

detract from our aesthetic. 


If a communication piece requires macro photography 

of textures and surfaces, man-made or natural, they 

should not be visually distracting or chaotic. 

Textures should be simple, recognizable and visually 

appealing to enhance the visual narrative. 

LOCATIONS 

Locations should be a reflection of the learning environment or workspace. 

MACRO & TEXTURES 

Cropping 

Cropping 

When cropping images, focus on a single subject and 

follow the rule of thirds as a guide for composition. 

CROPPING 

Crop images to create a more dynamic image. 


PHOTOGRAPHY / STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY 

Stock Photography 

Libraries 

Stock photography libraries are very useful, but there 

are some downsides; the use of stock photography is 

widespread, images are not exclusive to one user, and 

the use of a single image by multiple subscribers can 

and does occur. 

All images that we choose to represent our brand must 

also have a consistent look and feel. When sourcing 

images from a stock photography library, avoid images 

that do not meet our creative direction values. 

CLICHÉ 

Do Not Use cliché images with educational and success metaphors. 

Do not use: 

• Any cliché imagery, including images that use cliché 

metaphors for education and success. 

• Images with overly complex or busy backgrounds. 

• Images with people or individuals who are 

unconvincingly posed and styled. 

• Photo-montaged images or imagery that have been 

treated with distracting filters and effects. 

OVERLY POSED 

Do Not Use where subjects are overly posed and are not authentic. 

PHOTO MONTAGES 

Do Not Use photo montages and images treated with distracting filters and effects. 

36 


PHOTOGRAPHY / SAMPLE IMAGES 

Portraits 



Student Life 

38 



Technologies 



Technologies 

40 



Academics 




42 



Tools & Equipment 


ICONS 

LET’S TALK ICONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 

MAKING YOUR OWN . . . . . . . . . . . 46

ICONS / ICONOGRAPHY 

Let’s Talk Icons 

& Pictograms 

Icons or pictograms are a simplistic, memorable and 

playful form of visual communication. They are easy to 

recognize and understand. Icons appear on almost every 

electronic consumer device, most notably as graphic 

user interfaces on smartphones and computers. 

Our visual identity features a unique set of icons 

that are clean, modern and simple using a flat design 

aesthetic and can be reproduced legibly at small sizes. 

Each icon comes in a solid and hollow (outline) format. 

Icons are designed to appear in a single color using 

color options from the primary palette. 

HOLLOW SET 

It is preferred that the icon(s) be placed and appear 

positively on a solid white background to ensure the 


If the icon(s) is to be placed on a solid-colored 



secondary palettes or with the icon(s) reversed in white. 

SOLID SET 

VISUAL STANDARDS | ICONS 45

ICONS / MAKING YOUR OWN 

Making Your Own 

Icon 

If you’re unable to find a suitable icon, making your own 

could be a good alternative if you feel comfortable with 

the process. 

There are a few simple rules of thumb to follow for the 

best results: 

• Keep our icon style in mind when creating an icon 

from scratch. 

• Line weights should be between 2% and 5% of 

the total height of the icon. For example, an icon 

approximately 100 pixels tall could have a 3-pixel 

line weight, but an icon 300 pixels tall might look 

better with a thicker line. Just make sure they are 

well-balanced. 

• Avoid sharp corners when possible. Use the “align 

to center,” “round join” and “round cap” stroke 

options in Illustrator. 

• Make them playful, but recognizable. 

Use “round join” and “round cap” 

in your stroke settings. 

4% 5% 2% 

Percentage of 

icon width 

• Above all, stay consistent. 

MAKING ICONS 

Stay balanced and consistant. 

46 


(GREAT) DESIGN... 

IS INTELLIGENCE 

MADE VISIBLE. 

- Alina WHEELER

ELEMENTS 

STAR-POINT ANGLES . . . . . . . . . . 49 

STAR-POINT TEXTURES . . . . . . . . 50

ELEMENTS / STAR-POINT ANGLES 

Star-Point Angles 

Star Points 

The four distinct angles of the pentagram used in the 

logo mark form the basis for graphic elements used in 

the visual identity. 

Applying the angle to shapes, lines and typography 

gives our identity a more dynamic look; these angles 

represent the cutting edge of technology. Choose the 

best angle to suit your design, page orientation and 

level of content. 

144° 

108° 

72° 

STAR POINTS 

The four distinct angles of the pentagram used 

in the logo mark form the basis for graphic 

elements used in the visual identity. 

Masking 

Use these angles to form masks that crop images and 

mask out parts of letter forms in typography without 

compromising legibility. 

Photography 

Apply these angles when taking photographs, for 

framing compositions or as unique perspective for a 

shot. Photograph visual elements in objects, buildings 

or environments that follow similar angles. 

40° 

40 o 72 o 108 o 

14 4 o 

VISUAL STANDARDS | ELEMENTS 49

ELEMENTS / STAR-POINT TEXTURES 

Graphic Element: 

Star-Point Texture 


Abstract textures of the star points can be used as 

graphic elements for communication pieces. 

These textures can be cropped, flipped, rotated 

horizontally, or masked into shapes and used as 

backgrounds for page layouts. 

To ensure a consistent look and feel across all 

communication pieces, only use these versions or 

cropped versions to create branded backgrounds. 

50 


ELEMENTS / STAR-POINT TEXTURES 


Applications 

Applications 

Below are samples of how the star-point textures can be 

cropped, flipped, rotated, enlarged or masked into shapes. 

The World 

Needs 

YOU! 

WEATHER ADVISORY 

Stormy 

Weather Ahead 

Tuesday, April 26 

Here 

VISUAL STANDARDS | ELEMENTS 51

APPLICATIONS 

. 

. 

PRINT COLLATERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 

DIGITAL MEDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 

SIGNAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 

I.D. BADGES & NAME TAGS . . . .75 

EMAIL SIGNATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 

PARKING PERMITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 

EVENT SETUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 

APPAREL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 

TEMPLATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 

WEB ADDRESSES & LINKS . . . . . 8 2 

NAMING PROJECTS & FILES . . .83

APPLICATIONS / BUSINESS CARDS 

One TSTC, 

One Business Card 

Business cards may be small, light and seem 

insignificant, but they carry a lot of weight. A business 

card is sometimes a client’s or customer’s first 

interaction with TSTC’s visual identity. Its design, print 

quality, finishing and paper stock convey a lot about 

who we are and what we stand for. It’s a reflection of our 

college’s personality and values, and it should make 

an impression. 

Guidelines have been developed to address specific 

design issues, to ensure a consistent look for every 

business card generated. 

When listing a staff member’s degree, use only 

the highest attained degree. Do not use a listing of 

industry certificates. 

First Surname, Ph.D. 

POSITION OF DEPARTMENT NAME 

OVER TWO LINES IF NEEDED 

Department 

of Technology Name 

O: 956-555-5555 F: 956-555-5555 

C: 956-555-5555 

firstname.surname@tstc.edu 

First Surname, Ph.D. 

POSITION OF DEPARTMENT NAME 

OVER TWO LINES IF NEEDED 

3801 Campus Drive 

Waco, Texas 76705 

tstc.edu 

Department 

of Technology Name 

O: 956-555-5555 F: 956-555-5555 

C: 956-555-5555 

firstname.surname@tstc.edu 



tstc.edu 

BUSINESS CARDS 

One design with two-color options. 

VISUAL STANDARDS | APPLICATIONS 53

APPLICATIONS / LETTERHEAD 

Letterhead, 

Clean and Simple 

Margins 

The margins indicate the safe area in which to place text 

and graphic elements on the page. 

U.S. Letter—Portrait 

The grid system (8.5” x 11”) uses a 0.5-inch outer 

margin. The system uses one column, and the column 

width is determined by the gutter space, which is set at 

0.25 inches. 

Star-Point Angle 

Apply the 40-degree star-point angle to crop the solidcolored 

background. The background color options are 

limited to the colors available in the approved primary 

color palettes. Only use colors that produce a high level 

of contrast with the reversed logo. 

Website Address 

Web address must appear on the bottom-left corner of 

the page, opposite the logo. 

Month and Day, Year 

Dear Sir: 

DEPARTMENT OR TECHNOLOGY NAME 



254-867-0000 

254-867-1234 

Ictiatur empelitam int facil ium soluptatur sedit dolut od eum nisqui dest excerum invenihil et hic to et millese 

quisciurem dolupta temoluptatis non con nisti nem aute etum volorporendi net landa doluptum quuntur, net ut 

volorro corumque eliquisincti autempore et ent facimilit es magni dio odisi accum quidebis mo vid molupta 

aligendam, explanda dolest, cum et fugit aperiatur anditiam ut illa es que mi, corum ex et lam, que nosto officia 

quibus, te nonectur, optur? Moleces cus ea atent hiliquate ommos elest, si ommolup tatquo volupta duntecestia sit 

ratione inum enecum et eici autatib eratur magnate volupta ipienis intemolorem erum fugiatur sit, ario. Ugia cum 

exero omnihil minis dolorem evelis est, etur ariaest audigenihil modigni sinturit, occuptius prepudamus. 

Estet lant quaepel ibusandae aci que si rectiate et doluptati a nihilla sum nobitas ipsum fugit eturibus non re, corero 

consequia etum sit et re molorit iandebis dolent, ut eatibus, cuptatam unt quisim voluptatia non providios maiorecae 

prerupt atiorectas. 

Volum comnim debit faccum qui sumquidis sim et qui dest ut lautem re viducia idunt ero cullecaborem et volorum 

ullantet quiae non ea vendignatat optium fugit unt fugitiis rerum qui consequiae velibus dus eos et ut qui arios a 

dolorat labore, coribus aperum iunt. Illore rem fuga. Ga. Nam se num atat optium fugit unt fugitiis rerum qui 

consequiae velibus dus eos et ut qui arios a dolorat labore, coribus aperum iunt. Illore rem fuga. Ga. Nam se atat 

optium fugit unt fugitiis rerum qui consequiae velibus dus eos et ut qui arios a dolorat labore, coribus aperum iunt. 

Illore rem fuga. Ga. Nam se numquibusdae. Et eum fugiam et voluptatem quos ipsa dem doloreh endisquam qui 

custorporat laborercim que intiur aut vitas utecest isquos dendelest occulli quamus ad mo con peruptatum. 

Rerion res necaborio eveliqu istiore corrorernam eic to bernam in nias apidem nim ipsanim aionem vento et fuga. Ut 

volorrum sequuntibus dolor recatum veriorepe volo dolorio nsecto quas et eos quasitas ut veliquis aut aliqui seque 

ped min nos quis nit, nientis enimincil magnihi ciatios si sus et voluta vid qui resto maio volor aceped que les 

magnamus alita culland eliqui tet laborum quid quodisc ipsandit rectento officid eligentius. 

Sincerely, 

First Name Surname 

54 


APPLICATIONS / BROCHURES & RACKCARDS 

Brochures 

& Rack Cards 

Brochure Photography 

The direction for our photography is to capture natural, 

candid, real-life moments of people or individuals 

looking engaged in their activities and learning 

environments. Their expressions and interactions 

should be positive, warm and welcoming. They should 

interact with the camera but never intentionally be 

looking into it. 

Images should have a single concept and be focused on 

one subject. Details should be kept to a minimum, and 

backgrounds should be clutter-free to provide for ample 

clean (negative) space. 

Our photojournalistic style of photography should look 

modern and progressive and have a premium quality to 

it. Shots should be composed using unique angles to 

give fresh, new perspectives. Color treatments altering 

the dynamic range will provide a warm, relatable and 

authentic feel. 

Front Cover Macros & Textures 

If the brochure design requires macro photography 

of textures and surfaces, man-made or natural, they 


Textures should be simple, clutter-free and visually 


S 

A Quirky Headline 

T 

Goes Right Here 

T 

NAME OF TECHNOLOGY 

o 

GOES RIGHT HERE OVER 

o 

THREE LINES IF NEEDED 

BROCHURE DESIGN 

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing 

elit. Vivamus pretium ac est at aliquet. Cras sit amet 

auctor dui. Curabitur auctor pulvinar mattis. Proin 

pharetra nisl blandit risus dapibus, auctor suscipit 

mauris feugiat. Cras vitae venenatis velit. Lorem ipsum 

dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus 

pretium ac est at aliquet. Cras sit amet auctor dui. 

Curabitur auctor pulvinar mattis. Proin pharetra nisl 

blandit risus dapibus. 

T 

Amazing Opportunities 

T 

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. 

Vivamus pretium ac est at aliquet. Cras sit amet auctor 

dui. Curabitur auctor pulvinar mattis. Proin pharetra nisl 

blandit risus dapibus, auctor suscipit mauris feugiat. 

Cras vitae venenatis velit. 

T 

Numbers That Matter 

T 

TEXAS EMPLOYS 

THE THIRD MOST 

AVIONICS TECHNICIANS 

IN THE NATION 

T 

T 

Top Skills for a Top Career 

T 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net. Wages vary by location, employer and experience. 


Proin pharetra nisl blandit risus dapibus, auctor suscipit 

mauris feugiat. Cras vitae venenatis velit. 

• Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing 

elit. Vivamus pretium ac est at aliquet. 





A bifold brochure design featuring macro photography on the front cover; macro photography must be simple, clutter-free and 

enhance the visual narrative. 

3 

9% 

AVIONICS TECHNICIAN JOBS 

INCREASE IN TEXAS 

BY 2026 


APPLICATIONS / BROCHURES & RACKCARDS 

A Solid Investment 

S 


Vivamus pretium ac est at aliquet. Cras sit amet auctor 

dui. Curabitur auctor pulvinar mattis. Proin pharetra nisl 


S 

Curabitur auctor pulvinar mattis. Proin pharetra nisl 


Vivamus pretium ac est at aliquet. 

S 

Learn more and apply now at tstc.edu. 











Texas State Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 

Commission on Colleges to award Associate of Applied Science degrees and Certificates of 

Completion. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 

30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of TSTC. 

Equal opportunity shall be afforded within Texas State Technical College to all employees and 

applicants for admission or employment regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national 

origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. TSTC complies with the Texas 

Equal Opportunity Plan. For more information, contact TSTC’s executive director of 

Enrollment Management at 956-364-4986. 

© Copyright Texas State Technical College. May 2020. All rights reserved. 

tstc.edu 

tstc.edu 

ALTERNATE BROCHURE COVERS 

Alternative cover designs featuring star-angle enclosures. 

BACK COVER 

Image on back cover must have a single focus. 

56 


APPLICATIONS / POSTER & FLYERS 

Posters 

& Flyers 

Posters and flyers are a common, highly visible 

messaging tool for internal and external 

communications. It is important that we deliver and 

maintain a consistent look and feel across all posters 

and flyers representing our brand. 

Visual standards have been developed to address 

specific aspects of page layout design, such as 

paragraph and line spacing, message hierarchy, limits 

on type sizes and the creative direction of photography 

to ensure a consistent look and feel for every flyer and 

poster generated. 

ADA Statement 

The Americans With Disabilities Act statement should 

be placed on all TSTC event materials, such as posters, 

flyers, postcards and digital signs. 

To request disability accommodations, please contact 

Access and Learning Accommodations at 254-867-3842 

or adarequest@tstc.edu at least one week prior to the 

event date. 

Copyright 

It is the policy of Texas State Technical College 

(TSTC) to be in compliance with all federal and state 

statutes regulating the use and development of 

copyrighted materials. 

STUDENT LIFE 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Event Name 

Goes Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, 

consectetur adipiscing elit, sed 

do eiusmod tempor. 




event date. 

tstc.edu 

© April 2020 TSTC. All rights reserved. 

8.5 X 11” FLYER 


APPLICATIONS / POSTER & FLYER DESIGN PROCESS 

DESIGN PROCESS 

Reversed Logo 

& Star-Point Angle 

Reversed Logo 

The secondary logo must be reversed in white on a 

solid-colored background. It must also appear in the 

bottom right-hand corner of the page layout. 

Clear Space 

The logo must be surrounded by a minimum 

recommended amount of clear space. The 

recommended minimum amount of clear space to 

always surround the logo is equivalent to the X-height 


Minimum Size 

The reversed TSTC logo must not appear smaller than 

1.50 inches (38.1 mm) wide. 


Apply the 40-degree star-point angle to crop the solidcolored 

background. The background color options are 

limited to the colors available in the approved primary 

and secondary color palettes. 


produce a high level of contrast with the reversed logo. 

STAR POINT 

ANGLE 

Crop solid 

background at 

40 degrees. 

LOGO 

The logo 

must appear 

in the bottom 

right-hand 

corner of 

the layout. 

The logo must 

have minimum 

required 

clear space. 

58 


APPLICATIONS / POSTER & FLYER DESIGN PROCESS 

DESIGN PROCESS 

Adding Headlines 

& Body Copy 

Typography 

Aller is the primary typeface to be used on all posters 

and flyers. For a more legible and simplified look, the 

typeface’s use must be limited to only three different 

type sizes, not including the disclaimer. 

Headlines 

Headlines must appear in title case and can run over 

multiple lines, but should not exceed a width of three 

columns unless design dictates otherwise. The headline 

must appear in a color chosen from the primary 

color palette. 

Body Copy 

Body copy must not exceed a width of two columns and 

should appear in an alternate color to the headline. 

LINE SPACING 

is equivalent to 

the X-height of 

the uppercase “T” 

in the subheading 

“STUDENT LIFE” 

HEADLINE 

SPACING 



the uppercase 

H in the 60-pt. 

headline. 

DOUBLE LINE 

SPACING 



two uppercase 

T’s. 

X 

X 

STUDENT LIFE 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Event Name 

Goes Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 




Only colors from the primary color palette can be used. 

Line & Paragraph Spacing 

Spacing guidelines have been developed (SEE DIAGRAM) 

for typographical elements to ensure a consistent look 

and to build a stronger sense of hierarchy within 

the design. 




event date. 

The space between type elements is fixed and 

cannot be altered. Composition of type elements can be 

changed if design and content dictate otherwise, on the 

tstc.edu 


provision that paragraph and line spacing guidelines 

are followed. 


APPLICATIONS / POSTER & FLYERS DESIGN PROCESS 

Adding Disclaimer 

& Website Address 


Web address must appear on the bottom-left corner of 

the page, opposite the logo. 

ADA Statement 

Disclaimer copy should appear clear and readable. 

Copyright 

Copyright should appear in at least 50 percent tint 

of black. 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Event Name 

Goes Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 







event date. 

tstc.edu 


60 


APPLICATIONS / POSTER & FLYERS LIGHT CONTENT 

Content Light 

Layout 

Content Light 

Poster and flyer content may vary from project to 

project, but in some cases there are only a few copy 

points to place in the layout . 

Changing Composition 

Composition of type elements can be changed on 

the provision that paragraph and line spacing guidelines 

are followed. 

Spacing guidelines have been developed (SEE DIAGRAM) 

for typographical elements to ensure a consistent look 

and to build a stronger sense of hierarchy. 

The space between type elements is fixed and cannot 

be altered. 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

STUDENT LIFE 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 




event date. 

tstc.edu 



APPLICATIONS / POSTER & FLYERS ALTERNATE DESIGNS 

Alternate Design 

Options 

Portrait Photography 

If concept or design dictate, corporate style portraits can 

be used. Portraits must meet our visual guidelines for 

photographic portraits. 

Typography must be clearly visible, legible, free of 

visual clutter and interference, and not be lost in the 

background image. A high level of contrast must be 

present. For optimal results, use reversed type on 

darker-colored images and a high-contrasting, 

darker-colored type on lighter-colored images. 

Iconography 

Use icons from the icons sets to achieve a minimalistic 

illustrative aesthetic. 

Knockout Tools & Parts 

Photography of tools and mechanical parts can be used 

as an alternative to portraits of people. Removing the 

background and replacing it with a neutral, preferably 

white, solid background can be used as an alternative 

visual effect for more relaxed communication pieces. 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

BIOLOGY 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 




event date. 

tstc.edu 


62 


APPLICATIONS / POSTER & FLYERS ALTERNATE DESIGNS 

NURSING 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Event Name 

Goes Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

HVAC TECHNOLOGY 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Event Name 

Goes Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 










event date. 




event date. 

tstc.edu 

tstc.edu 




APPLICATIONS / POSTER & FLYERS ADDITIONAL SIZES 

Additional 

Document Sizes 

U.S. Tabloid - Portrait 

The grid system (11” x 17”) uses a 0.5-inch outer 

margin. The system uses four columns, and the column 

width is determined by the gutter space, which is set 

at 0.25 inches. 

Large Format - Portrait 

The grid system (24” x 36”) uses a 0.5-inch outer 

margin. The system uses four columns, and the column 

width is determined by the gutter space, which is set 

at 0.25 inches. 

Document Bleeds 

Bleed describes the elements of a printed design that 

extend beyond the trim edge of a page. Our Harlingen 

print shop prefers a bleed of .25” (1/4 inch), while our 

Waco print shop prefers a bleed of .125” (1/8 inch). 

When using a bleed in your design, be sure to include 

crop marks as well. 

NURSING 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 







event date. 

tstc.edu 


64 


APPLICATIONS / POSTCARDS 

Send a Postcard 

Logo 

The primary logo must appear on the reverse side of the 

postcard. If the primary logo is to be placed on a solidcolored 

background, it must be reversed in white. 


For postcards, apply the 108-degree star-point angle 

to crop the solid-colored background. The background 

color options are limited to the colors available in the 

approved primary color palette. 

AIRCRAFT AIRFRAME TECHNOLOGY 

Punchy Little 

Headline Goes 

Right Here 

AIRCRAFT AIRFRAME TECHNOLOGY 

Punchy Little 

Headline Goes 

Right Here 

Headlines 

tstc.edu 

tstc.edu 

Aller is the primary typeface to be used on all postcards. 

For a more legible and simplified look, the typeface’s 

use must be limited to only three different type sizes. 


multiple lines, but they should not exceed a width of 

two columns unless design dictates otherwise. 


consectetur adiping elit. Sed vitae 

semper orci. 

Proin phareta blandit risus dapibus, 

auctor suscipit mauris feugiat. Vitae 

venentis velit. Vivamus pretium est 

aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor amet, 

consectetur adipising elit. 

Program Name 

Street Address 

City, State Zip 


consectetur adiping elit. Sed vitae 

semper orci. 

Proin phareta blandit risus dapibus, 

auctor suscipit mauris feugiat. Vitae 

venentis velit. Vivamus pretium est 

aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor amet, 

consectetur adipising elit. 

Program Name 

Street Address 

City, State Zip 

Knockout Photography 

Knockout images must appear in grayscale unless 

design dictates otherwise. 

Portraits of people or individuals must not look overly 

posed and should display positive, warm expressions. 

• Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, 

tetur adipiscing elit. 

• Vivamus pretium acest at aliquet. 

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. 

• Vitae venentis sit amet velit. 

Auctor suscipit mauris feugiat. 






• Vivamus pretium acest at aliquet. 

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. 

• Vitae venentis sit amet velit. 

Auctor suscipit mauris feugiat. 




POSTCARD TEMPLATES 

Templates for postcards can be downloaded from tstc.edu/downloads/postcards. 

VISUAL STANDARDS | WORKFORCE TRAINING 65

APPLICATIONS / BANNERS 

Large-Format 

Printed Banners 

Logo 

The primary logo must also appear in the bottom 

right-hand corner of the banner layout. If the primary 

logo is to be placed on a solid-colored background, it 

must be reversed in white. 


When needed, a 72-degree star-point angle using 

approved colors may be used to crop the background. 

The logo must be clear and visible regardless of design. 

Headlines 

Aller is the primary typeface to be used on all banners. 

For a more legible and simplified look, the typeface’s 

use must be limited to only three different type sizes. 

STUDENT LEADERSHIP & ENGAGEMENT 

Catchy Banner 

Headline Goes 

Right Here 

NURSING 

Catchy Banner 

Headline Goes 

Right Here 

DUAL ENROLLMENT 

Catchy Banner 

Headline Goes 

Right Here 


Catchy Banner 

Headline Goes 

Right Here 

WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY 

Catchy Banner 

Headline Goes 

Right Here 

66 


APPLICATIONS / TEXTBOOKS 

Textbook 

Cover Design 

Headlines 

Aller is the primary typeface to be used on all textbook 

cover designs. For a more legible and simplified 

look, the typeface’s use must be limited to only 

three different type sizes; this does not include any 

disclaimers. 


multiple lines. The headline must appear in a color 

chosen from the primary color palette. 

Front Cover Macros & Textures 

If the cover design requires macro photography of 

textures and surfaces, man-made or natural, they 


Textures should be simple, clutter-free and visually 


TM 

LABORATORY MANUAL 

Basic Metal 

Repair 

ABDR 1419 

tstc.edu 

TEXTBOOK COVER DESIGN 


APPLICATIONS / DIGITAL SIGNAGE 

High-Definition 

Digital Signage 

Logo 

As with any item produced for digital display, use only 

the secondary logo, following any applicable usage 

rules as laid out in the logo section. 

Copy Limit 

Because digital signs are visible for only a few seconds 

at a time, limit your copy to the most important 

information. It should only include the event name, date 

and location, as well as the ADA statement. 

Exporting Digital Signage 

When exporting digital signage, it should be 

saved at 96 dpi (dots per inch). 


Catchy 

Headline 

Goes Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 




event date. 

CYBERSECURITY 

Catchy 

Headline 

Goes Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

INTRAMURAL SPORTS 

Catchy 

Headline 

Goes Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

To request disability accommodations, please contact Access and Learning 

Accommodations at 254-867-3842 or adarequest@tstc.edu at least one week 

prior to the event date. 

To request disability accommodations, please contact Access and Learning 

Accommodations at 254-867-3842 or adarequest@tstc.edu at least one week 

prior to the event date. 

HIGH DEFINITION DIGITAL SIGNAGE (1920 x 1080) 

68 


APPLICATIONS / SOCIAL MEDIA 

Social Media & 

Stories Post 

Logo 

If the secondary logo is to be placed on a solid-colored 

1080 px 


Headlines 

Aller is the primary typeface to be used on all social 

media graphics. For a more legible and simplified look, 

the typeface’s use must be limited to only three different 

type sizes; this does not include any disclaimers. 

Iconography 

Use icons from the icons sets to achieve a minimalist 


1080 px 

CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

1080 px 

1920 px 

SAVE THE DATE 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 


Portraits of people or individuals must not look 

overly posed; they should display positive and warm 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

expressions. 

SOCIAL MEDIA POST 

STORIES POST 

VISUAL STANDARDS |APPLICATIONS 69

APPLICATIONS / PORTAL GRAPHICS 

Portal Post 

Logo 

If the secondary logo is to be placed on a solid-colored 


Headlines 

Aller is the primary typeface to be used on all social 

media graphics. For a more legible and simplified look, 

the typeface’s use must be limited to only three different 

type sizes; this does not include any disclaimers. 

Iconography 

Use icons from the icons sets to achieve a minimalist 



Portraits of people or individuals must not look 

overly posed; they should display positive and warm 

expressions. 

480 px 

HEADLINE 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

HEADLINE 

Catchy 

Headline 

Here 

Date & Time 

Venue Name 

853 px 

PORTAL POST 

70 


APPLICATIONS / POWERPOINT TEMPLATE 

CONTENT SLIDES 

Presentation 

Slides 

Simplified Presentation With Minimal Photos and Solid Backgrounds 

Less is more! No more than three to five short 

statements per slide. Use approved images 

and icons. Absolutely no clip art! 

PowerPoint 

When doing an official visual presentation 

internally or externally, use approved and 

branded PowerPoint templates. 

Typography 

Myriad Pro is the preferred typeface to be used 

on all PowerPoint presentations. If you are unable 

to install Myriad Pro as a typeface, please default 

to our alternate online typeface, Arial. 

Required Elements 

The TSTC logo and URL must be included on 

most slides. The primary logo should be used 

on external presentations. The secondary logo 

can be used on internal presentations. 

Photography & Icons 

To keep your presentation on-brand and consistent 

with our visual identity, use approved images from 

our photography library and icons from our icon sets. 

This PowerPoint template can be downloaded from: 

portal.tstc.edu/department/marketing 

COVER SLIDE 

Star-point angle can also 

appear in PMS 281C. 

DIVIDER SLIDE 

Solid background can also 


Visual Presentation With Engaging Photography 

CONTENT SLIDE 

Use the star-point texture in place 

of a solid background as needed. 

Student 

Recreation 

Center 

Hours: 

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. 

Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Weight room. 

Cardio room. 

Locker room (bring your own lock). 

Towels available. 

COVER SLIDE 

Solid background can also 


DIVIDER SLIDE 

Transparent angle can also 


CONTENT SLIDE 

Transparent angle can also serve 

as a placeholder for text. 


APPLICATIONS / EVITES & EMAIL HEADERS 

Electronic Invitations 

Document Size 

As with all media types intended for digital distribution, 

the document size is set in pixels at 72 dpi. Although 

we have no specific standard size, these generally work 

best at 500 px wide by 350 px high. Other styles may 

require different sizes. 

Design 

The electronic invitation takes design cues from the 

postcards and digital signage discussed previously in 

this book, but if the concept or design dictates, other 

styles can be used. 

For a more minimalist design, consider including the 

relevant information only in the body of the email and 

using graphic elements simply to catch the attention of 

the reader. 

ELECTRONIC INVITATIONS (EVITES) 

The electronic invitation document size is set at 500 px wide by 350 px high. 

Email Headers 

Document Size 

We have specified our standard email header as being 

600 px wide by 146 px high at 72 dpi. 

Design 

We have developed a standardized design for email 

headers consisting of a red star-point background and 

a blue star angle cut on the right-hand side. Though 

rarely needed, if you find yourself in a position to make 

an email header, please use the template found on our 

Google Drive. 

Aircraft Pilot Training 

Technology 

EMAIL HEADER 

Email headers are a standardized design utilizing a template found on our Google Drive. 

tstc.edu 

72 


APPICATIONS / DOOR SIGNAGE 

Signs on 

Your Door 

Signage 

All official campus signage has a unified and consistent 

look that meets the college’s brand standards. On 

standard glass office doors, only the TSTC logo and 

department name may be applied to distinguish an 

office or department location. Employee names can be 

used on wall-mounted signs outside office doors. 

Dimensions 

Standard width for vinyl office door signage is 16 

inches. Use a 76 pt. size, Aller regular font for the 

department name. The logo is 16 inches in width by 

7.1638 inches in height, centered above the department 

name. Leader line solid, 14.9 inches in width by 0.0972 

inches in height. All copy and lines must be converted 

to outlines for export in order to be properly cut on 

the plotter. 

Logo size exceptions will be made on a case-by-case 

basis on doors with only small windows. 

Color 

All door signage will be printed in white. Requests for 

blue, red or full-color logos will not be honored. 

Decor 

Signage on doors should not be obscured by any flags, 

posters or seasonal decorations such as wreaths. 

Nameplates 

Employee names can be used on wall-mounted signs 

outside office doors. Please contact Senior Executive 

Director of Communication & Creative Services Maria 

Aguirre for vendor information on nameplates. 

Doors With Small Windows 

For safety and security reasons, small windows on any 

office door may not be obscured by marketing wraps, 

posters, curtains or decor of any kind. 

Wraps 

Graphics or wraps requested for glass doors or window 

areas must be designed by the Creative Services team 

according to branding standards. The department 

ordering glass or wall graphics will be responsible for 

paying for the printing of ordered artwork. 

DOOR SIGNAGE 

Standard width for vinyl office door signage is 16 inches. 


APPLICATIONS / DIRECTIONAL SIGNS 

A New Direction 

for Signs 

Name of Event 

or Building 

Name of Event 

or Building 

Name of Event 

or Building 



limitations, directional signs should always be produced 

using the colors from the approved color palette. 

Signage should always use high-contrast colors to 

ensure the highest amount of visibility when viewed 

from a distance. 

24x36” A-FRAME DIRECTIONAL SIGNS 

STUDENT LEADERSHIP 

CONFERENCE 

3RD FLOOR 

TSTC 

PARKING 

24x18” REAL ESTATE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS 

74 


APPLICATIONS / I.D. BADGE & NAME TAG 

Identification Badges 

& Nametags 

Reversed Logo on Nametag 

The secondary logo must be reversed in white on a 

solid-colored background. It must also appear in the 

bottom right-hand corner of the nametag. 

Clear Space 

The logo must be surrounded by a minimum 

recommended amount of clear space. 

Minimum Size 

The reversed TSTC logo must not appear smaller than 

1.25 inches (0.25 mm) wide. 


For the nametag, apply the 72-degree star-point angle 

to crop the solid-colored background. The background 

color options are limited to the colors available in the 

approved primary color palette. 

Name ID Badge 

Templates for name ID badges can only be accessed and 

used by authorized staff. 

Official Title 


STAFF & FACULTY ID BADGE 

Access restricted to authorized staff. 

First Name 

Surname 

DEPARTMENT NAME 

TWO LINES IF NEEDED 

First Name 

Surname 

DEPARTMENT NAME 

TWO LINES IF NEEDED 

STAFF & FACULTY NAMETAG 

One design with two color options. 

STUDENT 

tstc.edu 

STUDENT ID BADGE 

STUDENT TECH ONECARD 


APPLICATIONS / EMAIL SIGNATURES 

Email 

Signature Block 

Email Signatures 

Email signature blocks should contain the following 

information and include the logo in triangle design. 

• Name 

• Title 

• Department 

• Texas State Technical College 

• Campus address 

• City, state, zip code 

• Office number — O XXX-XXX-XXXX 

• Cell phone number (optional) — C XXX-XXX-XXXX 

• Email disclaimer statement 

The Help Desk can assist you in getting your signature 

block formatted. 

First Last 

Job Title 


Texas State Technical College 

Camus Address | City, State, Zip Code 

O: XXX-XXX-XXXX | C: XXX-XXX-XXXX 

This email may contain the thoughts and opinions of [First Last] and does 

not represent official Texas State Technical College policy. 

STANDARD SIGNATURE BLOCK 

Contact the TSTC Help Desk for setup assistance. 

76 


APPLICATIONS / PARKING PERMITS 

Faculty, Staff & 

Student Parking 

Permits 

Parking Permits 

Issued at the start of every academic (fiscal) year, 

parking permits are another highly visible component 

of our visual identity that represents our brand on and 

off campus. 


For the hanging tag, apply the 144-degree star-point 

angle to crop the solid-colored background. Apply 

the 72-degree star-point angle to the sticker. The 

background color options are limited to the colors 

available in the approved primary color palette. 

Typography 

Aller is the primary typeface to be used on all parking 

permits. For a more legible and simplified look, the 

typeface’s use must be limited to only three different 

type sizes, not including the disclaimer and 

permit number. 

The permit’s active fiscal year is the only typographical 

element used in the secondary typeface, Bebas Neue. 

FACULTY & STAFF AND STUDENT PARKING PERMIT 

Hanging tag and sticker 


APPLICATIONS / EVENT TABLES 

Event 

Setup 

Event Tables 

If you are planning or participating in a student recruiting event, make sure you are using 

the latest branded recruiting materials, such as tablecloths, signage and promotional 

items. The table embellishments can be purchased through vendors recommended by 

Creative Services or borrowed from the TSTC recruiting team on your campus. 

Signage can be ordered via project request through C&CS Workzone located on the 

Portal. Be sure to allow plenty of time for graphic design and print work. 

All recruiting tables should look professional, and personnel should wear TSTC-branded 

shirts, preferably in the navy or red. 

Make sure your material is branded with the correct logo. 

Employees 

TSTC employees manning recruiting tables should follow these rules: 

• No dated backdrops. 

• No dated posters or brochures. 

• No sitting down. 

• No eating food. 

• No chewing gum. 

• No food on the table. 

• No soft drinks on the table, only water. 

• No talking or playing games on cell phone. 

• Never leave the table without coverage. 

• Table cover should not be wrinkled. 

• Red table runner should be centered. 

• Do not overstock table. 

EVENT TABLE SETUP 

All recruiting tables should look professional, 

and personnel should wear TSTC-branded shirts. 

78 


APPLICATIONS / APPAREAL COLORS 

Show Your 

True Colors 

Consistent use and correct implementation of our 

brand colors are essential to building stronger brand 

recognition, college spirit and a cohesive look across all 

visual applications that incorporate our identity. 

Apparel is another highly visible extension of our 

identity. It is important that our brand’s look, feel and 

integrity are not compromised during the design and 

production of any apparel merchandise. 

Apparel purchased for TSTC students, faculty and staff 

must be in compliance with our visual standards. 

Apparel Colors 

A primary and secondary color palette has been created 

specifically for apparel. The primary palette consists 

of on-brand colors, which will be used for all apparel 

design unless the function, application or purpose for 

the apparel dictates otherwise. 

The secondary palette consists of colors that can only 

be used for apparel design for specific applications, 

events or purposes. 

Primary Apparel Palette 

35%* 35%* 

LONE STAR RED 

TEXAS BLUE 

*PERCENTAGE OF TSTC APPAREL PRODUCED ANNUALLY IN EACH COLOR 

APPAREL COLOR — Primary Palette 

This primary palette has been created specifically for most TSTC apparel. 


APPLICATIONS / APPAREL COLORS 

More Apparel Colors 

Secondary Apparel Palette 

5%* 

5%* 5%* 5%* 

BLACK WHITE COOL GREY HEATHER 

10%* 

The remaining 10% will consist of approved 

color choices from the TSTC Campus Store 

for their promotional T-shirt statement. 

TBD 

*PERCENTAGE OF TSTC APPAREL PRODUCED ANNUALLY IN EACH COLOR 

APPAREL COLOR — Secondary Palette 

This secondary palette has been created specifically for TSTC apparel. 

TSTC Branded Giveaway Items 

80 


APPLICATIONS / TEMPLATES 

User-Ready 

Templates 

User-Ready Downloadable Files 

Communication and Creative Services provides 

downloadable templates for TSTC employees to use. 

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT/ORGANIZATION 

The branded templates are easy to use and customize. 

Whether you need a quick event or announcement 

flyer, a TSTC-branded PowerPoint presentation or a 

certificate of completion or recognition, C&CS offers 

approved designs for you to download through the TSTC 

Employee Portal. 

These templates can be downloaded from: 

portal.tstc.edu/department/marketing 

TEMPLATES 

Templates for posters and flyers can be downloaded from the Portal. 

VISUAL STANDARDS | APPLICTIONS 81

APPLICATIONS / WEBSITE ADDRESSES & LINKS 

Displaying Website 

Address & Links 


When displaying the address for the TSTC website, 

do not use the World Wide Web (www) prefix. Only 

display tstc.edu in the primary typeface Aller Regular. 

Displaying Links 

When displaying links to specific web pages on the 

TSTC website, display links in Aller Light. 

Using Aller Light for the links will create contrast 

between the link and the home page address. 

This contrast will also reinforce tstc.edu as the 

primary address. 

Give the URL to the Web Portal Developer so they may 

create a tstc.edu redirect. 

Redirect sample: 

The Challenger Learning Center’s Terra event 

registration link: 

Before: 

https://tstc.secure.force.com/events/targetX_eventsb__ 

events#/esr?eid=a1L2M000005UHT7UAO 

After: 

tstc.edu/TerraWaco 

Do not display links in an alternate color to the main 

tstc.edu address. 

Redirects 

In some cases when a URL is too long or too 

complicated, e.g., an event registration link, a 

“redirect” is needed. 

Redirects should come from the tstc.edu address. 

Do not use bit.ly addresses. 

DISPLAYING WEBSITE ADDRESSES AND LINKS 

Do not use the www prefix when displaying the tstc.edu website address. 

82 


APPLICATIONS / NAMING PROJECTS & FILES 

Naming Projects and 

Files 

Project Names 

Project names and file names go hand in hand. When a 

project request is accepted, the name will need to be a 

clear descriptor of what the project is and might include. 

The project name does not necessarily need to have 

the type of item(s) included, but should clearly identify 

what the project is for and general location information. 

For example, a campaign request for a registration rally 

in Waco would be called “Registration Rally Waco Fall 

2020,” but a poster for a cookout in Abilene would be 

called “Hamburger Cookout Abilene September 2020.” 

File Names 

When naming files, it’s as simple as copying the project 

name as the basis for your file name and including the 

appropriate location code, corresponding media type 

code, creation date code, and the Workzone project 

number. 

For the registration rally example used above, your file 

names might be “Registration Rally WAPO 0820 12345. 

pdf” and “Registration Rally WASM 0820 12345.jpeg.” 

Location Codes 

Each location has a designated two-letter code: 

Abilene: AB 

North Texas: NT 

Breckenridge: BK 

Sweetwater: SW 

Brownwood: BW 

Waco: WA 

Fort Bend County: FB Williamson County: WC 

Harlingen: HA 

Statewide: TX 

Marshall: MA 

File Names 

Each media type has a corresponding two-letter code as 

well that aligns with the categories within Workzone and 

on our Google Drive. 

Advertising - External Print & Digital: AD 

Apparel Design: AP 

Banners: BA 

Booklets - Instructional: BO 

Brochures - Bifolds & Rack Cards: BR, RC 

Certificates & Forms: CT, FO 

Digital Signage - TSTC Internal: DS 

Electronic Invitations: EV 

Flyers - 8.5”x11” Handouts: FL 

Portal Updates and Changes: PP 

Postcards - Mailers or Handout Cards: PC 

Posters - 11”x17” or 24”x36”: PO 

Social Media: SM (square format) 

ST (Facebook Sories format) 

Other Project Types 

There are many other types of projects listed within 

Workzone and on our Google drive; however, most of 

those projects are combinations of our most common 

types of media. For example, your project may be listed 

as an event, but we don’t have an event file name code 

because events usually consist of posters, flyers, digital 

signs and social media files. 

Uploading Files 

All finished files should be uploaded to the appropriate 

Google Drive folders, which are named to match our 

Workzone categories. 

When uploading your final files, upload all files, 

unzipped, in a new folder with the name of the project 

on the Google Drive. 


CAMPUS 

STORE 

BRANDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 

COLOR RATIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 

MERCHANDISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

CAMPUS STORE / BRANDING 

Campus Store 

Logo 

Primary logos should be used on a majority of products. 

Logos should be clear of distracting or over-designed 

graphics (less is more). 

Use of other fonts may be considered if they are clear, 

readable, and appropriate for the product. 

PRIMARY LOGO 


LETTER LOGO 

WORD MARK 


TAGLING WITH LOGO 

MYRIAD PRO LETTERS 

VISUAL STANDARDS | BOOKSTORE 85

CAMPUS STORE / COLOR RATIO 

Color Ratio 

Merchandise should express brand identity 

through color with the following breakdown: 

50% Navy 

25% Red 

5% White 

5% Black 

5% Grey 

10% Color Mix 

Color Combinations 

Primary 

Secondary 

86 


CAMPUS STORE / MERCHANDISE 

Primary Merchandise 

Secondary Merchandise 

VISUAL STANDARDS | CAMPUS STORE 87

THE TSTC 

FOUNDATION 

BRANDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 

VISUAL ELEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 

SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

THE TSTC FOUNDATION / BRANDING 

The TSTC Foundation 

Branding 

What Is The TSTC Foundation? 

The TSTC Foundation supports the critical needs of our 

students across the state by procuring and providing 

funds used to help improve student success, strengthen 

the technology of labs, and provide flexibility to the 

priorities of the college in an ever-changing Texas 

workforce. 

Because The TSTC Foundation operates in a supporting 

role, the department utilizes a separate and distinct 

logo in order to set it apart visually. Despite the visual 

differences of the logo itself, our general design and 

layout practices still apply when utilizing this logo. 

For more detailed information on how to properly format 

and use our logos, refer to the logo section found in this 

guide. 

PRIMARY LOGO 

PMS 281C 

WHITE 

PMS 1797C 

ALUMNI NETWORK 

CONNALLY MEETING & 

CONFERENCE CENTER 

ALUMNI LOGO 

CONNALLY MEETING & 

CONFERENCE CENTER LOGO 

VISUAL STANDARDS | THE TSTC FOUNDATION 89

THE TSTC FOUNDATION / SAMPLES 

You’re a 

gift to us. 

YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES A 

DIFFERENCE TO OUR STUDENTS. 

THE TSTC FOUNDATION 

SINCERELY THANKS YOU. 

You’re a gift to us. 

YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO OUR STUDENTS. 

THE TSTC FOUNDATION SINCERELY THANKS YOU. 

JESSE PARDO JR., HVAC 

TSTC in Fort Bend County 

Unrestricted gifts 

provide the freedom 

of broad and flexible 

support for the 

College’s areas of 

greatest need. 

FREEDOM CAMPAIGN 

At TSTC, our graduates have the freedom to reach never-ending opportunities. They draft their own 

futures, soar the skies and climb to new heights. Students are free to choose their own path, or 

even build new ones. Our facilities, industry-standard equipment and community-focused programs 

continue to build the Texas workforce, and your help makes it possible. 

With your unrestricted gift, TSTC students and graduates can continue to enjoy the freedom of choice. 

The TSTC Freedom campaign allows the college to spend funds in the areas of greatest need, be it 

equipment, student financial aid or other college affairs. 

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION 

The TSTC Foundation supports TSTC’s 10 campuses 

across the state, its students, career programs, faculty 

and staff. Our purpose is to support the critical needs of 

students (scholarships, hardships, tools and equipment) 

and provide funds to enhance our ability to provide 

new and emerging technical programs to support the 

Texas workforce. 

90 


THE TSTC FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 

TSTCFoundation.com 

THE TSTC FOUNDATION / SAMPLES 

2018–2019 ANNUAL REPORT 

6 

7 

THE GIFT OF 

GIVING HAS 

POWER AND 

POTENTIAL 

4 

Every donor’s gift provides the 

possibility to fulfill a life dream. 

An investment 

in the TSTC 

Foundation provides 

extraordinary 

benefits and 

opportunities 

to our students. 

—MIKE REESER, CHANCELLOR 

AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, 

TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE 

The Impact 

Is Clear 

$ 

191K $ 34K $ 

335K 

NORTH TEXAS 

MARSHALL 

WEST TEXAS 

$ 

135K 

EAST WILLIAMSON COUNTY 

$ 

769K 

HARLINGEN 

Your gifts shape the 

next generation of the 

Texas workforce. 

These figures at our different 

campus locations reflect total 

regional in-kind and cash 

contributions made this past 

fiscal year. 

5 

OUR MISSION 

The TSTC Foundation’s 

goals are straightforward. 

We aim to remove the financial obstacles our 

students face and support the College’s statewide 

vision to provide the best technical education 

in Texas. 

$ 

1.5M 

WACO 

$ 

3.5M 

FORT BEND COUNTY 

We strive to foster strong relationships with 

Texas and community leaders, industry partners 

and other supporters to encourage a spirit of 

giving and generosity that will support Texas 

State Technical College in its mission to promote 

student success and bolster the Texas workforce. 

VISUAL STANDARDS | THE TSTC FOUNDATION 91

WORKFORCE 

TRAINING 

BRANDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 

VISUAL ELEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 

SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

WORKFORCE TRAINING / BRANDING 

Workforce Training 

Branding 

What Is Workforce? 

Workforce Training at TSTC provides superior training 

programs through collaborative partnerships with 

business, industry, service organizations and higher 

education agencies. These training programs are 

designed to update and improve employees’ current 

skills, knowledge and abilities, or to prepare new 

employees to enter your workforce. 

PRIMARY LOGO 

TSTC’s Workforce Training program has a unique place in 

the TSTC brand, visually speaking to their business and 

industry clients. 

Logo and FAST Trac sm 

Workforce Training’s accelerated training program, known 

as TSTC FAST Trac, is designed to provide high-impact 

results utilizing today’s most up-to-date technologies in 

order to quickly get individuals back into industry. 

The TSTC FAST Trac logo is only used in very specific 

circumstances when referencing the program in 

brochures and other promotional material. 

When using these logos, follow any applicable usage 

rules as laid out in the logo section. 

REVERSED 

TSTC FAST Trac SM 

Flexible Advanced Specific Targeted TRAINING FOR INDUSTRY 

FAST TRAC SERVICE MARK 


WORKFORCE TRAINING / VISUAL ELEMENTS 


Visual Elements 

Workforce Branding Elements 

Currently Workforce Training utilizes cues from 

its old branding style, which incorporates circular 

elements: the Workforce dot-dash and the 

Workforce quarter-circle. 

Photography 

When choosing photography for Workforce 

Training, the focus should skew toward a slightly 

older demographic and revolve primarily around 

industry-related imagery. 

DOT-DASH 

VISUAL ELEMENT 

Use the dot-dash 

visual element at 

30% opacity on all 


branded materials. 

SAVE THE 

DATE 

QUARTER- 

CIRCLE VISUAL 

ELEMENT 

The quarter-circle 

visual element can 

be used on top of 

approved solidcolor 

backgrounds 

or photos. The 

quarter-circle 

element is not 

mandatory 

per Workforce 

Training branding 

guidelines. . 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Imagery should 

reflect students 

of a slightly older 

demographic 

that are in 

industry-related 

programs. 

INDUSTRIAL-STRENGTH 

TRAINING! 

PLCs . Mechanical Systems . Pneumatics Fundamentals 

WORKFORCE TRAINING POSTCARDS 

94 


© COPYRIGHT TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. CREATED FEBRUARY 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

WORKFORCE TRAINING / SAMPLES 

About Texas State 

Technical College 

For over 50 years, TSTC has been a trusted fixture 

in Texas and a leader in providing technical 

training and education. With more than 40,000 

TSTC graduates employed throughout the state 

and nation, our tradition of excellence is strong. 

TSTC FAST Trac 

TSTC’s accelerated training program is designed 

to provide high-impact results utilizing today’s 

most up-to-date technologies. At the core of the 

program are the training requirements set forth 

by industry; we then build the FAST Trac 

program around those needs. 

Flexible: 

Programs and scheduling. 

Advanced: Equipment and training. 

Specific: 

Targeted: 

To your industry and workforce. 

Skills and results. 

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department 

of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. This product was created 

by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. 

Department of Labor. 

The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties or assurances 

of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any 

information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the 

information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued 

availability or ownership. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon 

request to individuals with disabilities. 

TSTC FAST Trac Accelerated Training 

Workforce Training and Continuing Education 

901 North First Street 

Abilene, TX 79601 

tstc.edu/workforce 

To learn more about Texas State Technical 

College’s workforce training programs, 

schedule a tour or book a training session, 

please call us at 325-672-8236. 

Texas State Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of 

Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate of Applied 

Science degrees and Certificates of Completion. Contact the Commission on 

Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404- 

679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of TSTC. 

Equal opportunity shall be afforded within Texas State Technical College to all 

employees and applicants for admission or employment regardless of race, 

color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or 

veteran status. TSTC complies with the Texas Equal Opportunity Plan. For more 

information, contact Forrest McMillan at forrest.mcmillan@tstc.edu. 

Professional 

Driving Academy 


Well-trained diesel mechanics are in high demand, 

thanks to the rising need for diesel engines in transportation, 

oil rigs, power plants, hydraulic systems, 

locomotives, cargo ships, farm equipment, construction 

vehicles and mining equipment. Today’s mechanics 

must keep their skills sharp to stay competitive. 

Program Overview 

Total Hours: 232 / Tuition: $4,500 

• ASE-Certified 

• Caterpillar 

• Cummins 

• Detroit 

• DOT Inspection 

• International 

• PACCAR 

Possible Career Opportunities 

• Heavy equipment maintenance. 

• Over-the-road truck maintenance. 

• Fleet maintenance. 

• Dealership service. 

• Aftermarket parts development/specialist. 

tstc.edu/workforce/home 

WORKFORCE TRAINING 

For more information, contact Adan Trevino 

at 956-364-4503 or adan.trevino@tstc.edu. 

The job market for professional 

truck drivers continues to 

grow across the nation. 

HEAVY DUTY DIESEL 

ENGINE SPECIALIST 

Rev up 

Your Career 


This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department 

of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. This product was created 

by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the 

U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, 

warranties or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such 

information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited 

to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, 

adequacy, continued availability or ownership. Auxiliary aids and services are 

available upon request to individuals with disabilities. 

Learn more and apply now at tstc.edu. 

Tuition and fees subject to change. Please see tstc.edu for current pricing. 

Texas State Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on 

Colleges to award Associate of Applied Science degrees and Certificates of Completion. Contact the Commission 

on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about 

the accreditation of TSTC. 


Professional Driving Academy 

Texas State Technical College’s FAST Trac 

Intermediate Driving Academy provides 

intensive training for specific skill sets related 

to the professional truck driving occupation. 

The program prepares trainees to test for a 

Texas Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) 

and is designed to lead graduates to immediate 

employment within the transportation industry 

after four weeks of hands-on training. 

Brush Up Your Skills 

TSTC’s Professional Driving Academy provides 

hands-on, technical training to provide you 

with practical experience needed to take your 

CDL tests. The program is performance-based, 

with no required prerequisite courses or 

certifications. 

The Professional Driving Academy 

consists of the following two courses: 

• Commercial Driver’s License Written Skills 

(Professional Driving Academy Prerequisite 

TCVOP 10CE). 

• Fundamental Driving Skills (Professional 

Truck Driving Academy I CVOP-1013). 

TSTC is currently taking applications for the 

Professional Driving Academy. Prospective 

students are asked to return this packet of 

information to TSTC. At that point, payment 

must be made in full at least three days 

before the class start date. 

Prerequisites 

• Pass a drug test. 

• Hold a current Class C driver’s license, without 

warrants or pending criminal charges. 

• Must hold a valid U.S. Social Security card. 

• Be authorized to work in the U.S. 

• Be at least 18 years of age. 

• Pass Department of Transportation physical. 

Exam Admission Requirements 

• Possess a valid driver’s license. 

• Be at least 18 years of age. 

• Provide a copy of drug test. 

• Provide a medical examiner’s certificate. 

Certificate 

• Payment for the course. 

• Provide driving record. 

• Attend mandatory pre-course. 

Training Schedule and Location 

The TSTC Professional Driving Academy holds 

classes at the TSTC campus in Abilene, with 

additional classes held as needed at the 

Sweetwater and Brownwood campuses. 

All classes are offered Monday through Friday 

from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

A Promising Job Outlook 

The nationwide job market for professional 

truck drivers continues to grow. According to the 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas leads the 

nation in the number of heavy and tractor-trailer 

truck drivers. The number is expected to grow 

17 percent by 2026, according to O*Net OnLine. 

TSTC’s technical instruction and hands-on training 

in commercial driving give trainees the skills 

necessary to begin a well-paying and rewarding 

career. Trainees can readily find employment 

locally or seek opportunities throughout Texas 

and the U.S. 


WORKFORCE TRAINING RACK CARD 

Equal opportunity shall be afforded within Texas State Technical 

College to all employees and applicants for admission or 

employment regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national 

origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. 

TSTC complies with the Texas Equal Opportunity Plan. 

For more information, contact Forrest McMillan at 

forrest.mcmillan@tstc.edu. 

© COPYRIGHT TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SEPTEMBER 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

WORKFORCE TRAINING FAST TRAC BROCHURE 


COMMUNICATIONS 

AP STYLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 8 

MEDIA & 

PUBLIC RELATIONS . . . . . . . . . . 100 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

& VIDEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 

SOCIAL MEDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 

8 


COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES 

It is imperative that TSTC has a clear and consistent message in all internal and external 

communications. Our staff at the Office of Communication and Creative Services will take 

the lead on writing and editing the majority of TSTC material copy. But, as employees 

of TSTC and stewards of the college mission, we are all responsible for supporting the 

Communication Department and maintaining TSTC standards of accuracy and excellence. 

VISUAL STANDARDS | COMMUNICATIONS 97

COMMUNICATIONS / ASSOCIATED PRESS STYLE 

Writing Using 

Associated Press Style 

The Communication and Creative Services department 

has come up with some messaging guidelines based 

on Associated Press (AP) standards that you may 

find useful. 

Academic Degrees 

Associate of Applied Science — AAS 

Associate is singular and not possessive. 

• He earned an associate degree in Engineering. 

is correct 

• He earned an associates degree in Engineering. 

is incorrect 

• He earned an associate’s degree in Engineering. 

is incorrect 

Alumni 

Alumnus 

singular masculine 

Alumni 

plural masculine, word can be used for collective body 

of men and women 

Alumna 

singular feminine 

Alumnae 

plural feminine 

Alum or Alums 

for informal use only 

Class 

Capitalize the word “class” when referring to a 

graduating body of students. 

Example: 

He was a member of the Class of 2020. 

Dates and Times 

The name of a semester of study is capitalized, but 

lowercased if referring to semester or season separately. 

Example: 

• He took classes during 2015 Fall Semester. 

• He took classes in the fall. 

• He took classes last semester. 

Departments and Disciplines 

Capitalize the formal names of departments and offices, 

as well as the Board of Regents. Do not capitalize 

informal names. 

• Office of the Provost 

• Financial Aid department 

• The board (informal name for Board of Regents) 

• The regents 

• The office 

Telephone and Fax Numbers 

Phone and Fax numbers should be formatted in 

AP (Associated Press) Style using dashes between 

the numbers. 

• 956-292-9725 is correct 

• 956/292-9725 is incorrect 

• (956) 292-9725 is incorrect 

• 956/292/9725 is incorrect 

• 956.292.9225 is incorrect 

98 


COMMUNICATIONS / ASSOCIATED PRESS STYLE 

TSTC Name 

It is important to maintain consistency when referring to 

Texas State Technical College or one of its 10 locations: 

Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, East Williamson 

County, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North 

Texas, Sweetwater, Waco. 

The official and acceptable names for our college are as 

follows: 

Texas State Technical College 

TSTC (without periods) 

If referring to one of the campuses, use the college 

name and the preposition “in” before the campus 

location. 

Example: 

Texas State Technical College in Harlingen 

Texas State Technical College in Marshall 

TSTC in North Texas 

Incorrect use of our name: 

T.S.T.C. 

Texas State Technical Colleges 

(one college, 10 campuses) 

TSTC Waco 

TSTC at Marshall 

TSTC-North Texas 

Since the move to single accreditation, TSTC has become 

“one college with 10 campuses” and TSTC System will 

now be replaced with the term TSTC Statewide. 

The statewide administration is now referred to as the 

Executive Management Council and is made up of the 

chancellor, vice chancellors and select associate vice 

chancellors, campus provosts and directors 

within TSTC. 

Campus leaders, formerly known as presidents, now 

hold the title of provost. 

TSTC in Waco 


COMMUNICATIONS / MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS 

Media 

Inquiries 

News 

& Publicity 

In accordance with TSTC policy, all media inquiries 

or interview requests should be forwarded to the 

Communication department or the public relations 

representative on your campus. This is of particular 

importance if the matter in question is controversial or 

negative. 

The Communication department staff member or public 

relations representative will be responsible for: 

• Setting up interviews. 

• Prepping interviewees. 

• Facilitating media interviews. 

• Ensuring that the designated public information 

officer is informed of news/communications that 

affect its campus. 

• Handling media and disseminating information to the 

public during an emergency or crisis on a campus. 

TSTC best practices call for a Communication 

representative or designated public relations 

representative to be present during any media 

interview (even telephone interviews). 

When responding to media inquiries, campus and state 

public relations representatives should consider the 

benefits of the various response mechanisms available. 

Key messages should be considered for all media 

stories, as well as potential questions which could arise. 

Appropriate media training should occur for anyone 

being interviewed, depending on the individual’s media 

experience and comfort level. 

There are generally three types of interview 

possibilities: 

• Via email, where written response to questions is 

requested. This mechanism minimizes risk of being 

misquoted and minimizes facetime for the institution. 

It is a good choice for stories that are negative in 

nature. 

• Telephone interview. This is a good choice when 

television media or print media are simply needing 

data and information. It is always best for the campus 

public relations officer or designee to be present 

during the interview to help guide the responses 

toward the key messages. 

• In person, one-on-one interview. The interview 

should be with the highest available expert who 

can speak on the subject at hand. It is best for the 

public relations officer or a designee to be present to 

facilitate the interview and serve as an advocate for 

both the interviewee and the reporter. 

The TSTC Communication and Creative Services office 

is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. After-hours media 

inquiries should be directed to the Executive Director 

of Communications, Dr. Kristina Campos-Davis at. 

254-867-2025 or 325-829-0364. 

Designated Public Information Officer: 

Abilene ....................... Kristina Campos-Davis 

Breckenridge ................. Kristina Campos-Davis 

Brownwood .................. Kristina Campos-Davis 

East Williamson County ....... Kristina Campos-Davis 

Fort Bend County ............. Kristina Campos-Davis 

Harlingen ..................... Kristina Campos-Davis 

Marshall ...................... Kristina Campos-Davis 

North Texas ................... Kristina Campos-Davis 

Sweetwater ................... Kristina Campos-Davis 

Waco ......................... Kristina Campos-Davis 

100 



Public Relations 

& Publicity 

TSTC News Team 

and Beats 

All TSTC employees are encouraged to be on the 

lookout for opportunities to promote TSTC, its programs, 

students, and faculty successes through news stories 

for print, broadcast, or for the web and social media. 

Reporters, editors and news directors evaluate an 

item’s newsworthiness by its potential impact on their 

audience. The media might ask some of these questions 

to determine the news value of a story: 

• Will the audience care? 

• Does this mean anything to me or them? 

• Does this impact the community? 

• Will this make people laugh or cry? 

Student stories of struggle and success make for great 

stories. Stories of achievement — awards, graduation 

and placement — are also newsworthy. Writers will 

also highlight administrators, staff and faculty who 

are making a difference in the community, whether 

on campus or off. If you’re not sure you have a story, 

we urge you to err on the side of caution and reach 

out to your Communication staff — all of whom have 

a background or experience in public media — and 

let them decide if you’ve got a story worthy of media 

attention. 

Also keep in mind that media stories require still photos 

or video shot with high-quality equipment. 

These photos should help tell the story or enhance 

it. TSTC Communication staff have professional 

photography equipment and can help coordinate photo 

shoots as needed. 

Ben Barkley 

ben.barkley@tstc.edu 

325-235-7328 

Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Sweetwater 

Naissa Lopez 

naissa.lopez@tstc.edu 

956-364-4113 

Fort Bend County, Harlingen 

Daniel Perry 

daniel.perry@tstc.edu 

214-867-3432 

East Williamson County, Marshall, North Texas, Waco 



Media Advisories 

& Press Releases 

As a general rule, all TSTC communications are written in 

active voice using Associated Press (AP) style guidelines. 

Media advisories are basic outlines that answer the five 

main journalistic questions of What, Where, When, Who 

and Why. Media advisories are sent when inviting the 

media to attend a press conference or scheduled event 

on a campus. Media advisories should be followed 

up with phone call reminders to members of the local 

media. 

Examples of events that require media advisories: 

• Commencement Ceremony 

• Registration Rally 

• TSTC Day at the Capitol 

Press releases are written stories accompanied by 

photographs for release to the local media in a given 

market. The Communication department staff will write 

press releases on successful students, graduates, alumni 

and industry partners. 

102 


COMMUNICATIONS / PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO 

Photography 

& Video 

Permission From Photo/Video Subjects 

It is the policy of Texas State Technical College to 

use photo images, video, comments or signatures of 

students for promotion or advertising purposes after 

obtaining the students’ written permission to do so. The 

form can be found online at tstc.com/forms. 

All students are advised that the Texas State Technical 

College Communication and Creative Services 

department takes photographs and shoots videos 

throughout the year that may include images (as well 

as audio/video recordings of voices) of members of the 

student body and reserves the right to use them for 

publicity, promotional and marketing purposes. 

TSTC also reserves the right to take photographs of 

campus facilities and scenes, events, faculty, staff and 

students for promotional purposes in any areas on 

campus or at any TSTC-sponsored event off campus 

where subjects do not have a normal and reasonable 

expectation of privacy. All such photographs are the 

property of TSTC and may be used for TSTC promotional 

purposes (e.g., electronic and printed publications, 

websites, classroom use, college ads, social media, etc.) 

without prior permission of the subjects. 

As a general practice, there is no attempt to collect 

individual photo release forms from students in 

generally public areas. Public areas can be indoors 

or outdoors or events outside the campus. Written 

permission is required for images (photo or video) 

in areas such as classrooms, residence halls or 

private offices. 

Federal Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) and 

Health Information Health Insurance Portability and 

Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Fair Use Doctrine 

under the federal copyright law guidelines will be 

followed. 

Any photograph of a person in which the person’s face 

is clearly recognizable requires that a photo/video 

release form be signed. If the subject is under 18 years 

of age, the subject’s parents or legal guardian must sign 

the release form. 

External Photography or Video Requests 

Any requests from outside entities for commercial 

photo or video shoots on any given campus should be 

referred to the Communication department for review 

and discussion. 

This includes requests from local companies that may 

want to shoot a television commercial, private video 

and movie producers, or commercial photographers. 

Use of Copyrighted Materials 

Rights and permissions must be secured before posting, 

sharing or distributing copyrighted materials, including 

but not limited to: music, art, copyrighted photographs 

or texts, portions of copyrighted video or information 

considered proprietary by a TSTC partner, vendor, 

affiliate or contractor. 


COMMUNICATIONS / SOCIAL MEDIA 

Social Media 

Guidelines 

Applications that allow you to interact with others 

online such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and 

others require cautious consideration to assess the 

implications of using and accepting the use of these 

outlets. TSTC will strive to stay abreast of best practices 

in the social media field and update guidelines as 

necessary. 

• Social media includes social networking sites such 

as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn; Twitter; blog 

accounts (WordPress, etc.); video-sharing sites 

(YouTube, etc.), and photo-sharing sites (Flickr, etc.). 

• Familiarize yourself with TSTC social media guidelines 

and follow them in any social media activities in 

which you may be posting as a representative of TSTC, 

and not as yourself. Departments considering creating 

a social media site should consider the following 

questions: 

• What are the goals of creating such a site? 

• Who will be the intended audience(s) for this site? 

• What messages do we want to share on this site? 

• Who will write the messages for the site? 

• Who will update the site? 

• How often do you plan to post content to the site? 

• No TSTC Department or Program is allowed to 

create their own social media site. All pages/groups 

connected to TSTC must be approved and managed 

by the Dept. of Communications. 

• The TSTC site (tstc.edu) remains the official external 

communication vehicle for the college, and keeping 

the college website timely and up to date should be 

the priority. Departments should consider posting 

announcements on both their respective TSTC Portal 

and social media sites to reach a broader audience. 

• Contact the Executive Director of Communications, 

Kristina Campos-Davis, via email at kristina.campos@ 

tstc.edu to register or to create a social media account 

for a department within TSTC. Dr. Campos-Davis will 

use a dedicated administrative account to create 

the social media site so that the account does not 

belong to any one individual at TSTC. (Support 

departments are encouraged to post their messages 

on the main campus social media site.) We will then 

make individuals in your area editors of the site and 

a communication specialist will be assigned as an 

administrator. 

a. This allows us to remove individual administrators 

from the site when they leave the college. 

b. This also allows us to promote all the social 

networking resources at TSTC in one place. 

c. The only exception to this is YouTube. TSTC already 

has an established YouTube site, and all videos 

should be posted there. 

• TSTC’s Executive Director of Communications 

will review sites periodically to be certain these 

guidelines are being followed and that sites remain 

active. If a social media site becomes inactive for 

a continuous three months or does not follow 

guidelines established by TSTC, the college will ask 

that the site in question be discontinued. 

• Participating in social media is very timeconsuming. 

To do it well, page editors should be 

checking the page at least daily, if not more often, to 

respond to questions and posts. Editors should also 

be posting often to encourage participation and to 

stay relevant to users. If faculty members are not able 

to dedicate time to this endeavor, then they should 

not start a social media presence for their respective 

unit. 

• Furthermore, social media is a very public 

activity. Editors posting on these pages do so as 

communicators representing TSTC and must abide 

by the college social media guidelines. If employees 

wish to post items that do not meet with these 

guidelines, they can participate in social media using 

their own personal account, posting on Texas State 

Technical College pages, as well as other 

104 



pages as themselves. The college guidelines for 

communicators apply only to employees when they 

are posting as an administrator on a TSTC-branded 

social media site. 

• Responsibilities of page editors and administrators 

include: 

a. Monitoring the site on a daily basis to be certain that 

questions and posts are responded to in a timely 

manner. 

b. Posting regularly on the site to drive engagement 

and to make the page a valid and important 

communication outlet 

c. Checking for negative and inappropriate comments, 

spam posts, etc. 

• Please review and follow the college’s guidelines 

regarding content posted on the site. 

a. You should have a statement saying that we reserve 

the right to remove improper postings. Editors and 

administrators should review the site often to make 

sure postings are appropriate. 

b. The Executive Director of Communications can help 

add these statements to your site. 

• Please also refrain from posting images that may not 

put TSTC in a positive light. 

• Please refer to the college as TSTC when mentioning it 

on social media sites. 

Recommendations for Effective Use of Social Media 

• Be responsible in your communication. Make sure 

your communications are in good taste. Be sensitive 

about linking to content. Exercise good judgement 

and common sense. Do not use profanity, slurs or 

derogatory comments. Be civil. 

• Be transparent and authentic; be yourself. Be honest 

about your identity. If you are authorized by your 

supervisor to represent TSTC on social media, say so. 

If you choose to post about TSTC on your personal 

time, please identify yourself as a TSTC faculty or staff 

member when appropriate. Never hide your identity 

for the purpose of promoting TSTC through social 

media. 

• Be accurate. Make sure you have all the facts before 

you post. Cite and link your sources whenever 

possible. If you make an error, correct it quickly and 

visibly. 

• Respect copyrights and fair use. Always give people 

proper credit for their work, and make sure you have 

the right to use something before you publish it. Only 

those authorized by TSTC may use the college’s marks 

and logos. 

• Remember to protect confidential and proprietary 

information. Do not post confidential or proprietary 

information about TSTC, its students, alumni or 

employees. Use good ethical judgement. Follow all 

college policies and federal requirements, such as 

FERPA. 

• Productivity matters. Respect college time and 

property. College computers and your work time 

are to be used for college-related business. It’s 

appropriate to post at work if you have been 

instructed to do so or your comments are directly 

related to accomplishing work. Maintain your personal 

sites on your own time using non-TSTC computers. 

• Do not use TSTC’s name to promote or endorse any 

product, cause or political party or candidate. Be 

careful when linking to other sites. 

• Monitor comments. Sites should be set up so that you 

have to review and approve comments before they 

appear. If you choose to delete comments, you should 

have a policy on unacceptable posts that is easy for 

viewers to see, such as: 

The following are subject to editing or rejection: 

blatant profanity; racist, sexist or derogatory content; 



comments that are personal attacks on an individual 

and/or comments that are off-topic; or spam. 

• Be relevant. Social media sites are meant to be 

interactive, current and engaging. If you find your site 

is not relevant, has few posts or receives little traffic, it 

would probably be best to kill the site and use other 

communication methods. 

• Add value. Social media can add dividends if you add 

value to your followers, readers, fans and users. If it 

contributes directly or indirectly to the improvements 

of TSTC, if it allows the general public to learn more 

about TSTC, or if it builds a sense of community and 

helps fans and friends feel more connected to TSTC, 

then it is adding value. 

Portal — Internal Communications 

Internal communication is very important to TSTC. TSTC 

has pledged to continue working on communication; we 

understand that feedback interaction is crucial in any 

thriving organization. The TSTC Portal (portal.tstc.edu) 

will be the main point of information for all faculty and 

staff. You should bookmark or make the Portal webpage 

your homepage for easy access. To post a message to 

the Portal, submit a project request through WorkZone 

that can be found in the Portal Quick Links Section 

under Communication & Creative Services. 

Portal announcements will include: 

• Emergency notifications. 

• Statewide and campuswide announcements. 

• New appointments. 

• Awards and achievements. 

• Event calendars. 

Emergency Notification System 

TSTC utlizies a third-party emergency notificiation 

system (ENS). Every employee is automatically enrolled 

in the system. Students must opt into the system. In 

case of an emergency, employees and students will 

be notified via text message, email, or phone call with 

instructions to protect their safety. Every member of the 

TSTC community is encouraged to be enrolled in the 

ENS system. 

Student Activities/Clubs/Organizations 

All clubs and organizations must abide by the same 

guidelines, policies and practices outlined in this 

publication. 

106 



Approved 

Hashtags 

Originally born on Twitter and first used in 2007, 

hashtags help categorize social media content and make 

it easier for users to find related content. They also allow 

the TSTC Communication and Creative Services team to 

track posts to social media and determine interest and 

engagement. The C&CS team can see when a post starts 

trending, and hashtags help determine the TSTC social 

media messaging. 

Please note that the name of our college, TSTC, should 

always be capitalized when used inside a relevant 

hashtag. 

Hashtags most commonly used on TSTC social media 

outlets are #technicallybetter, #TSTCproud and 

#TSTCstrong. 

Here is a list of all recommended TSTC hashtags for the 

different TSTC media topics and events. Refrain from 

creating or using hashtags not on this list. C&CS may 

introduce other temporary hashtags not listed here 

if warranted by a new marketing or communication 

campaign. 

Hashtag 

Occasion 

TSTC (Generic) #technicallybetter Enrollment 

#TSTCproud 

Success Stories 

#itsyourmove 

Campaigns 

#TSTCstrong 

Events 

Alumni Events 

Alumni Network #TSTCgrad Any Alumni-Related Story/Event 

#TSTC2020 

Class of Year 

#TSTCfamily 

#TSTCproud 

Donor #TSTCdonors Check Signings 

#TSTCthankyou 

Donor Recognitions/Stories 

Fundraising Events 

Graduation #TSTCreadytowork Commencement Ceremonies 

#TSTC2020 

Class of 

Grad Highlights 

Groundbreakings #AbilenedigsTSTC Or Any Designated Location 

#TSTCbiggerandbetter 

Human Resources #TSTCgreatplacetowork HR Events 

#placemoretexans 

Employee Spotlights 

#TSTCgetfit 

Retirements 

Awards 

Industry #TSTCpartners Career Placement 

#hireTSTC 



Approved 

Hashtags 

Here is a continued list of all recommended TSTC 

hashtags for the different TSTC media topics and events. 

Refrain from creating or using hashtags not on this 

list. C&CS may introduce other temporary hashtags 

not listed here if warranted by a new marketing or 

communication campaign. 

Hashtag 

Occasion 

Legislative #TSTClege Legislative 

#TXsuccess 

Government Relations 

#TXlege 

Elected Officials Tours/Visits 

Open House 

#welcometoTSTC 

#TSTCopenhouse 

QEP 

#TSTCcommitment 

Registration Rallies #TSTCsaveyourseat Themed Campaigns 

Relief Efforts #TSTCcares Disaster Relief 

SGA #TSTCserves Service Squad 

Nat’l Make a Difference Day 

#TSTCvotes 

#TSTCleads 

Voter Registration 

Candidate Forums 

SGA Leadership Academy 

Student Leadership Conference 

SGA Event 

Elections 

Meetings 

108 


THERE’S NO SUCH 

THING AS A BAD CLIENT. 

OUR JOB IS TO DO GOOD WORK 

AND GET THE CLIENT 

TO ACCEPT IT. 

- Bob GILL 


DESIGN 

SAMPLES 

SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

In Texas Workforce Commission grants 

awarded in 2018–19 

In nation for conferring the most 

associate degrees in engineering-related 

fields 

through TSTC dual 

enrollment 

partnerships 

Increase in graduation 

rate over six years 

Employees provided with workforce 

training 

in 2018–19 

Students enrolled statewide for the fall 

2019 semester 

Technology 

Ranked best in Texas 

by universities.com 

U.S. community and technical 

college eligible for 

the 2021 Aspen Prize 

Source: National Skills Coalition 

More national medals awarded to TSTC 

students than all other Texas colleges 

combined 

785 veterans 

served statewide 

Nationally ranked by 

Washington Monthly 

In Texas Workforce Commission grants 

awarded in 2018–19 

In nation for conferring the most 

associate degrees in engineering-related 

fields 

through TSTC dual 

enrollment 

partnerships 

Increase in graduation 

rate over six years 

Employees provided with workforce 

training 

in 2018–19 

Students enrolled statewide for the fall 

2019 semester 

Technology 

Ranked best in Texas 

by universities.com 

U.S. community and technical 

college eligible for 

the 2021 Aspen Prize 

Source: National Skills Coalition 

More national medals awarded to TSTC 

students than all other Texas colleges 

combined 

785 veterans 

served statewide 

Nationally ranked by 

Washington Monthly 

TSTC is so confident in the quality of our technical education programs 

that we guarantee students will find a job within six months of 

graduation — or their money back. 

TSTC has been training and placing Texans in great jobs for over 50 years, 

but there continues to be a skills gap between jobs requiring high-level 

skills and workers available to fill them. The Money-Back Guarantee 

reinforces our commitment to prepare and place highly skilled, 

technically competent graduates in the workforce. 

Associate degree programs eligible for the MBG program include Diesel 

Equipment Technology, Electrical Lineworker, Electrical Power & Controls, 

Instrumentation, and Welding. 

ROGER MILLER 

Senior Vice Chancellor & Chief Government Affairs Officer 

roger.miller@tstc.edu / 512-923-1221 

MARLENE McMICHAEL 

Associate Vice Chancellor for Government Affairs 

marlene.mcmichael@tstc.edu / 512-818-1473 

NIKKI GONZALES 

Director of Operations for Government Affairs 

nikki.gonzales@tstc.edu / 512-731-7429 

JOE ARNOLD 

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Office for Government Affairs 

joe.arnold@tstc.edu / 512-647-8787 

JAVIER DELEON 

Executive Vice President for Government Affairs 

javier.deleon@tstc.edu / 956-364-4029 

GAIL LAWRENCE 

Executive Vice Chancellor & Chief of Staff to the Chancellor 

gail.lawrence@tstc.edu / 325-235-7333 

© COPYRIGHT TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. MARCH 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

© COPYRIGHT TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. CREATED APRIL 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

DESIGN SAMPLES 

GET A JOB OR GET A REFUND 

Statewide Points 

of Excellence 

SERVING TEXAS 

WITH 10 CAMPUSES 

ars, 

l 

l 

ols, 

Over 

$3.4 Million 

42 

% 

# 1 

87 

High schools served 

1,661 

11,919 

Electrical 

# 1 

Lineworker 

Top 150 

A Middle-Skill Gap 

Middle-skill jobs account for 56 percent of Texas’ 

TSTC is doing its part to fill the skills gap, working in 

partnership with 7,422 industry leaders 

100,000+ 

Graduates since 1965 

labor market, but only 42 percent of the state’s workers 

are trained to the middle-skill level. 

# 7 Welding 

Technology 

Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, 

Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, 

North Texas, Sweetwater, Waco, 

and East Williamson County. 

AMONG THE TECHNOLOGIES 

O FFERED ACROSS TEXAS 

Aircraft Airframe Technology • Aircraft Dispatch Technology • Aircraft Pilot Training Technology • Aircraft 

Powerplant Technology • Auto Collision & Management Technology • Automation & Controls Technology • 

Automotive Get a degree. Technology • Avionics Get a job. Technology Or • Biomedical get a refund. Equipment Technology • Building Construction 

Technology • Business Management Technology • Chemical Dependency Counseling • Cloud Computing 

• Computer Networking & Systems Administration • Computer Programming • Computer Science • 

TSTC’S Culinary Arts GOVERNMENT • Cybersecurity • AFFAIRS Dental Hygiene TEAM • Diesel Equipment Technology • Digital Media Design 

• Drafting & Design • Electrical Construction • Electrical Lineworker Technology • Electrical Power & 

Controls • Electromechanical Technology • Emergency Medical Services • Energy Efficiency Specialist • 

Environmental Technology • Facilities Management Technology • Health Information Technology • HVAC 

Technology • Industrial Systems • Instrumentation Technology • Mechatronics Technology • Nursing • 

Occupational Safety Compliance Technology • Plumbing & Pipefitting Technology • Precision Machining 

Technology • Process Operations • Robotics Technology • Solar Energy Technology • Surgical Technology 

• Visual Communication Technology • Web Design & Development Technology • Welding Technology • 

Wind Energy Technology 


AT TSTC 

Texas State Technical College is here to help support business and the diverse needs of industry. 

Our experts can assess training needs and develop customized professional development, 

technical training and contract training for all levels of employees, from front-line workers to 

senior-level supervisors. 

FORT BEND COUNTY 

CAMPUS 

Apply Your 

Experience 

to Your 

Next Career. 


at a Glance 

across Texas in just the past 12 months. 

tstc.edu 

Statewide Points 

of Excellence 

SERVING TEXAS 

WITH 10 CAMPUSES 

Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, 

Over 

$3.4 Million 

1,661 

Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, 

North Texas, Sweetwater, Waco, 

and East Williamson County. 

87 

High schools served 

11,919 

AMONG THE TECHNOLOGIES 

O FFERED ACROSS TEXAS 

Aircraft Airframe Technology • Aircraft Dispatch Technology • Aircraft Pilot Training Technology • Aircraft 

Powerplant Technology • Auto Collision & Management Technology • Automation & Controls Technology • 

Automotive Technology • Avionics Technology • Biomedical Equipment Technology • Building Construction 

# 1 

Electrical 

# 1 

Lineworker 

# 7 Welding 

Technology 

Technology • Business Management Technology • Chemical Dependency Counseling • Cloud Computing 

• Computer Networking & Systems Administration • Computer Programming • Computer Science • 

Culinary Arts • Cybersecurity • Dental Hygiene • Diesel Equipment Technology • Digital Media Design 

• Drafting & Design • Electrical Construction • Electrical Lineworker Technology • Electrical Power & 

Controls • Electromechanical Technology • Emergency Medical Services • Energy Efficiency Specialist • 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

42 

% 

Top 150 


A Middle-Skill Gap 

Middle-skill jobs account for 56 percent of Texas’ 

at 

labor market, 

a 

but Glance 

only 42 percent of the state’s workers 

are trained to the middle-skill level. 

TSTC is doing its part to fill the skills gap, working in 

100,000+ 

Graduates since 1965 

tstc.edu 

partnership with 7,422 industry leaders 

across Texas in just the past 12 months. 

Environmental Technology • Facilities Management Technology • Health Information Technology • HVAC 

Technology • Industrial Systems • Instrumentation Technology • Mechatronics Technology • Nursing • 

Occupational Safety Compliance Technology • Plumbing & Pipefitting Technology • Precision Machining 

Technology • Process Operations • Robotics Technology • Solar Energy Technology • Surgical Technology 

• Visual Communication Technology • Web Design & Development Technology • Welding Technology • 

Wind Energy Technology 


AT TSTC 

Texas State Technical College is here to help support business and the diverse needs of industry. 

Our experts can assess training needs and develop customized professional development, 

technical training and contract training for all levels of employees, from front-line workers to 

senior-level supervisors. 

tstc.edu/veterans 

FUNDING 

YOUR FUTURE. 

Midlothian Economic 

Development is offering 

a $ 1,000 scholarship. 

VISUAL STANDARDS | DESIGN SAMPLES 111

04 Career Services 

06 Résumé Guidelines 

13 Microsoft Editing Tips 

14 How’d the Other Guys Say It? 

15 Power Verbs 

16 Résumé Sample 

20 Cover Letter Sample 

21 Reference List Sample 

22 Veteran Résumé 

23 Transferable Skills 

26 10 Rules for Business Etiquette 

hireTSTC.com 

job. Consider what you would not do or not give up 

in order to work somewhere. Are you a very strong 

family person? Then you probably wouldn’t want a 

job that takes you away from home for a week. 

After you complete your lists, go through them 

and ask yourself: 

• Are there things on this list that I feel a sense of 

pride or accomplishment about? 

• Will any of these qualities and traits be something 

a prospective employer is looking for? 

Start Focusing 

Now that you have gone through and created your 

lists, go back and think about which items pertain 

to your posting. Cross out anything that doesn’t 

relate. Remember, the purpose of a résumé is to 

get your foot in the door. It is not meant to be a full 

recollection of your life history. Employers are looking 

for a one- to two-page résumé — no more. If you have 

a long history of jobs, you may want only to list jobs 

for the last five years, no more. You can talk about 

older jobs at the interview. 

From your revised list, start creating clear and concise 

statements that explain what you have done. You 

should research and review examples of résumés on 

the internet in order to get an idea of how you should 

write these statements. Remember, be clear, concise 

and to the point — not wordy (there is a difference). 

Make sure that every word in every statement means 

something and contributed to the quality of the 

statement. Include action verbs at the beginning of 

each statement, words such as “performed,” “reviewed” 

and “prepared.” 

Each sentence should include keywords from the job 

posting, words that the employer listed as job skills 

that he/she wants. These are words that they will be 

looking for. Another tool for culling through too many 

applications is to search for those keywords. If you 

don’t have them, your résumé could end up in the 

trash. Again, remember never to include a keyword or 

phrase of a skill that you do not have; eventually the 

employer will find out. 

hireTSTC.com 

27 Networking 

28 Interview Attire — Female 

29 Interview Attire — Male 

30 10 Rules for Interviewing 

32 Interview Questions 101 

37 Advice From the Experts 

39 Questions Employers Ask 

41 Questions to Ask Employers 

42 Balancing Multiple Job Offers 

43 TSTC Alumni Network 

44 What Is Total Compensation? 

What is a résumé for? 

04 ..............................ONEOK 

05 ..............Morrow Energy 

07 ......................... Crown Lift 

24 ....................Mustang/Cat. 

25 ........................KBA/Tenaris 

31 .......................................Acme 

34 .................................. Chevron 

35 ....................................... CEC/TI 

38 ...........................U.S. Air Force 

40 .......................................... Toyota 

45 ................... General Sponsors 

Career Services would like to help you 

create a great résumé, reference page 

and cover letter. You will need to start by 

working on listing all of your information 

and qualifications so you will be ready 

to begin your résumé. 

A résumé is the most important tool you have to 

sell yourself to future employers. It outlines your 

skills and experiences so an employer can see, at 

a glance, what you can bring to the organization. It 

has one purpose: to get your foot in the door. It has 

to be created to make a lasting impression on that 

particular employer. 

Employers tell us they receive 50–100 applicants 

for every position. They have to find a way to cull 

through this mass of résumés. So appearance 

and proper grammar, spelling and format are very 

important. You could be the best person for the 

job, but if you don’t survive their culling strategies, 

the employer will never know it. So the first thing 

a résumé has to do is bypass the “trash pile” of 

résumés. Remember, appearance is very important. 

Then your next hurdle will be to prepare a résumé 

that someone wants to read, that has the 

qualifications they are asking for. So the more 

carefully you prepare your résumé now, the more 

likely someone is to read it later. 

Another very important point to make is to be 

completely honest on your résumé. You must tell 

the truth. It is very easy for employers to verify 

the facts that you include on your résumé. Most 

employers will dismiss employees, even years 

later, if they find they have been dishonest on their 

résumé and applications. Also, remember that your 

résumé and everything with it becomes a part of 

your permanent file. 

All of these lists should be reviewed again 

before you go on a job interview. The employer 

will ask questions about your skills, and if 

you have reviewed these lists, then you will 

remember what you should talk about. 

tstc.edu 

How do you create a résumé that someone 

wants to read and that will capture a 

prospective employer’s attention? 

First, it has to be an effective résumé focusing on a 

specific job and, when possible, meet the employer’s 

stated requirements that they had in the job posting. 

This means if you have the skills listed in the 

job posting, then be sure and include them in the 

Summary of Qualifications because this is what the 

employers will be looking for. 

Second, your résumé needs to be more than a list 

of education and work experience. You must also 

recognize what skills, interest and life experiences 

are needed to succeed in the occupation — and 

highlight these on the résumé. This is the reason 

you will be taking the time to work on this list of 

your qualifications, skills and abilities, as well as your 

education and work experience. It may be a good 

idea to start researching the positions available for 

your degree so you can see what responsibilities are 

required for someone in your field. As you are looking 

through job postings for your career, when you look at 

each requirement, write that requirement down and 

determine how you can meet that requirement. Don’t 

forget your interpersonal skills: being responsible, 

dependable, having initiative, etc. These all are 

qualities that employers are looking for also. 

When you are creating your résumé, you should try 

to put yourself in the employer’s position. Remember, 

they may be asking themselves, “Why should I speak 

with this person? What can they bring to the company? 

How is he/she different from all the other applicants?” 

Then you are going to have to create the résumé that 

stands out above 50 or more résumés. 

How do you start writing? 

The hardest part about writing a résumé is starting 

to write the résumé. First, you need to think about 

what image you want to project and what your past 

experiences, training and work history can bring to 

that image. If you worked in a fast-food restaurant, 

don’t sell yourself short, feeling you lacked qualities. If 

you were a team leader, dependable, responsible and 

had great customer service, then think what it took to 

be each of these. Try to take a positive attitude about 

what you have to offer. 

You will also need to create a “Summary of 

Make sure to keep your career portfolio updated 

with all of the information you have listed. 

#itsyourmove 

Qualifications” section to put at the top of your 

résumé. But you need to make sure it is precise and 

not a bunch of gibberish. Basically, it is a beginning 

summary of who you are and what you do. Be sure and 

review the skills the job posting has recommended, 

and if you have them, then include them in this section. 

Take Inventory 

Before you begin your résumé, take inventory of what 

you can offer the company. Take out several pieces 

of paper. Title each with the following headings and 

then brainstorm and make notes about anything in 

each title that would benefit you in your career. 

Work Experience: For every job you have had, make 

a list of everything that you have accomplished or 

completed that made you a good employee. Just 

as important, make a list of tasks that you had to 

complete that you didn’t like so you will be able to 

identify them. You will list your work experience in 

reverse chronological order. 

Education: For your education list, list the schools 

you have attended, educational qualifications, any 

relevant education or training you’ve received that 

relates to the job — don’t forget your internships 

and clinicals. If you have or will complete a college 

degree or certificate, it is no longer necessary to add 

your high school information. If you have more than 

one degree, you will list your education in reverse 

chronological order. 

Skills and Abilities: As you go through each skill and 

ability, write down what it took to be successful at 

the skill you have listed. 

Activities: List your hobbies; clubs or groups you belong 

to; sports, school activities; organized groups; 

community involvement; and volunteer activities. 

Be sure and list any leadership positions you have 

held and the responsibilities that you had. 

Honors and Awards: List scholarships, special 

recognitions and academic achievements. 

Values: Identifying your values is very important when 

you are deciding which position to take. Your values 

determine what really matters to you. You also need 

to identify what values you need to avoid on the 

Finishing Up Your Résumé 

After you go through and complete the inventory of 

all your education, work history and skills that should 

be included in your résumé, the only thing left to do 

is to review the Résumé and Cover Letter examples, 

then complete your résumé. 

Résumés 

There are three basic types of résumés: 

Reverse Chronological 

• Present information in a timeline approach. The most 

recent work or educational experience is listed first, 

followed by the next most recent. 

• Best used if you have work experience that supports 

your desired position. It highlights the positions 

you have held and the companies for which you 

have worked. 

Functional 

• Group work experience and skills by skill area or job 

function. Use functional résumés to point out your 

skills over your specific employment history. 

• You can show the work experience and skills that are 

most important to your career objective. It can minimize 

employment gaps. 

• May work best for first-time job seekers, those 

re-entering the workforce after a long break from 

employment, or those changing careers. 

Combination (what is normally used) 

• Merge the chronological and functional styles. It presents 

the knowledge, skills and abilities gained from work in 

a reverse chronological order. 

• Highlights your skills and experience. 

• Best used if you have a varied employment history and 

are changing careers. 

Reference Page 

The new recommendations are that you don’t include 

your references on the résumé. Some employers are 

not interested in the references, but some are. We 

recommend that you complete a separate reference 

page. This will allow you to ask the employers if they 

are interested in reviewing it; if they are, you will have 

it available for them to review. 

You should copy the header that you have on your 

résumé to the reference page document. This will 

allow the reference page to look like a continuation 

of the résumé. 

7 

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CONTENTS 

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CAREER SERVICES 

HOW TO WRITE A RÉSUMÉ 

page 6 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 101 

page 30 

10 RULES FOR INTERVIEWING 

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Advertiser Index: 

Live with certainty. 

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make 

YOUR 

move 

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© Copyright Texas State Technical College, All rights 

reserved. Published July 2019. 

Texas State Technical College (TSTC) is accredited by 

the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 

Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award Associate 

Degrees and Certificates of Completion. Contact 

the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 

Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, 

Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 

for questions about the accreditation of Texas State 

Technical College. 

Equal opportunity shall be afforded within TSTC 

to all employees and applicants for admission 

or employment regardless of race, color, gender, 

religion, national origin, age, genetic information, 

disability or veteran status. TSTC will make reasonable 

accommodations for persons with disabilities. TSTC’s 

policy is that, in all aspects of its operations, each 

person with a disability shall be considered for 

admission or access to or treatment or employment in 

its programs and activities in accordance with Part 84 

19 

of Title 45, the regulation implementing Section 504 of 

the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

To request disability accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office 

at 254-867-3842 or adarequest@tstc.edu at least one week prior to the event date. 

© COPYRIGHT TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. 

REVISED OCTOBER 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



COPYRIGHT TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. FEBRUARY 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

tstc.edu/challenger 


Approved 08/15/2019 

19 

20 

FY 2020 

Strategic Plan Update 

and Budget Report 

THE 

GET-A-JOB 

COLLEGE 

#itsyourmove 

tstc.edu 

1 

CONTEXT FOR PLANNING & 

BUDGETING 

Higher Education Industry Trends 

Operating performance of higher education 

institutions has been mixed in recent years. 

The industry is seeing a divide emerge 

with a widening performance gap between 

different types of institutions. Highly 

selective institutions and flagship universities 

continue to grow in strength while many less 

selective institutions wrestle with declining 

enrollments, reductions in state support and 

declines in overall financial strength as a result. 

The performance gap between institutions 

is true of enrollment results as well as 

student employability outcomes; specifically, 

employability results for highly selective 

institutions far exceed the performance of the 

institutions that are less selective. 

Nationally, community colleges have 

experienced steady declines since 2010 which 

is the historical trend with unemployment 

rates. Within Texas, the two-year sector 

has seen declines that are less severe 

than national peers because of corporate 

relocations and population increases. 

East Williamson County 

Campus Opened 

Statewide Compensation 

Plan Launched 

The TSTC Foundation 

Re-engineered 

Even so, growth--where present--has been 

nearly flat and has occurred in the larger metro 

communities. Enrollment results in the twoyear 

sector are generally a mix of significantly 

declining traditional student enrollments, 

offset with significantly increasing dual 

credit enrollments. The metro community 

college districts in Texas with large, growing 

populations and substantial tax bases realize 

much more prosperity than smaller districts. 

Accelerating Change 

TSTC continues to ready itself for shifts 

within the higher education sector, as well as 

preparing for the broader, disruptive technology 

changes spanning nearly all industries. This 

advancement and convergence of technology 

is rapidly shaping other major industries and 

all aspects of our lives. Higher education’s 

response to these changes has been slow 

despite the warning signs. However, the rate 

of innovation will continue to accelerate and 

compound. Technology will continue to grow, 

become faster, cheaper, more ubiquitous and 

available everywhere. 

50th Anniversary Celebrated 

$100+ Million in Gifts & Bonds 

for Facility Expansion 

Statewide Merger Launched 

North Texas Campus Opened 

Approved 08/15/2019 

Other external influences requiring higher 

“If the rate of change on the outside exceeds 

education to ready itself for changes include: 

the rate of change on the inside, the end is 

near.” 

Labor market shifts and 

the rise of automation 

Timeline of Key Events 

Changing needs and preferences of 

Several events in recent years demonstrate 

customers (students and employers) 

TSTC’s anticipation and readiness for the 

Supply and demand mismatches 

threats and opportunities that this era of 

accelerating change offers. Each of these 

Changing demographics 

advancements will equip the College to grow, 

Pricing pressures and value 

innovate, achieve financial stability, and 

proposition challenges 

execute its plans. Being aware of the significant 

milestones for the College is useful context for 

The institutions comprising the industry 

understanding and evaluating TSTC’s approach 

that serves in the higher education market 

to planning and budgeting. 

are likely to change significantly. Over 80 

nonprofit institutions of higher education 

Below is a timeline of key events realized by 

have either closed or merged since 2016. In 

TSTC. 

addition, more than 100 for-profit institutions 

of higher education have closed in that same 

time frame. Many predict this rate of closure If the rate of change on the outside 

will accelerate in the next decade. Considering exceeds the rate of change on the 

the shifting markets, disruptive technologies 

inside, the end is near. 

and other external influences, institutions 

must encourage risk-taking, evaluate the 

- Jack Welch 

vulnerabilities of revenue sources and prepare 

resources, culture and strategy for this 

paradigm shift. Jack Welch warns institutions, 

Strategic Plan 4DX Execution 

Merger of Accreditations 

Framework Launched 

Completed 

New Abilene Campus Opened 

Fort Bend Campus Opened 

Bond Rating Strengthened 

Product Mix Aligned 

First Statewide 

Strategic Plan Adopted 

86th Legislature Reaffirmed 

Returned-Value Funding 

tstc.edu 

WHAT’S YOUR 

SECRET INGREDIENT? 

Saturday, November 15, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 

East Williamson County Higher Education Center 

Students will create a hamburger that will be evaluated 

by a panel of celebrity judges. For more information 

contact Nelson Adams at nelson.adams@tstc.edu. 



TERRA 

CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER 

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 | 9 A.M.–NOON 

Cultural Arts Center 

1905 N. Loop 499 | Harlingen, TX 

Join us for this free community event! 

Explore the “final frontier”— space— 

as well as some of Earth’s wonders 

through STEM-related activities. 

Register at: 

tstc.edu/TerraHAR 

For more information, call 

956-364-4125. 

© Copyright Texas State Technical College. Revised October 2019. All Rights Reserved. 

6 

7 

STUDENT LIFE & ENGAGEMENT 

Friday, October 25 

9 a.m.–12 p.m. 

Sweetwater Campus 

A local community service 

opportunity for all TSTC students. 

For more information, go here: 

tstc.edu/makeadifference 

Build 

your 

Skills, 

Rebuild 

Texas. 

Build 

your 

Skills, 

Rebuild 

Texas. 

Build 

your 

Skills, 

Rebuild 

Texas. 

tstc.edu 

#itsyourmove 

tstc.edu 

tstc.edu 

tstc.edu 

VISUAL STANDARDS | DESIGN SAMPLES 113

THERE ARE THREE 

RESPONSES TO A 

PIECE OF DESIGN — 

YES, NO AND WOW! 

WOW IS THE ONE 

TO AIM FOR. 

© Copyright August 2020 

- Milton GLASER

TSTC Visual Standard Guide 2020

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