Texarkana College Trustees convened for their routine session today, appointing Dr. John Booth as TC’s new representative on the Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) board, succeeding George Moore. Moore, who has served since 2019, rotates off. TC President Dr. Jason Smith expressed gratitude to Moore for his service, emphasizing TC’s commitment to representing its community and students in ATCOG.
“Having TC’s Trustees on the ATCOG board is crucial,” Dr. Smith stated. “It ensures our voice is heard in promoting regional cooperation for better quality of life.”
ATCOG serves nine counties across Texas and Arkansas, providing support in various sectors such as Aging, Justice, and Transportation.
In other developments, Bart Upchurch, TC’s Executive Director of Information Technology, briefed Trustees on AI’s influence on education and programming. Upchurch highlighted AI’s role in automation, citing Microsoft’s Copilot and Adobe’s Firefly as examples. TC utilizes ChatGPT, an AI tool, for faculty and staff, aiming to streamline tasks and boost productivity responsibly.
TC’s Community and Business Education Division recently offered an introductory AI course, led by Lance Whisenant, IT Security Analyst at TC. Whisenant emphasized the importance of continuous learning and AI’s capacity to enhance knowledge acquisition and application.
Upchurch affirmed TC’s commitment to offering similar courses in the future through the Community and Business Education Division, providing interested individuals with opportunities to delve into AI’s applications. More information is available on TC’s website or by contacting their office.
