The Mission of Instruction is to ensure high quality courses and outstanding programs in various delivery modes to all individuals who desire to pursue higher education. In addition, the Instructional area will provide a wide array of support services to foster student success.
Welcome
El Paso Community College (EPCC) serves over 25,000 students at five campuses located throughout El Paso County. EPCC’s Instruction and Workforce Education Division offers more than 150 educational programs leading to Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees and Certificates of Completion. Students can also take continuing education and English as a Second Language courses for skill development, lifelong learning, and personal enrichment. Local high school students can get a head start on higher education through enrolling in college courses for Dual Credit or attending Early College High Schools that are offered in a variety of locations and modalities. After completing their degrees at EPCC, students can transfer to the University of Texas at El Paso and other Texas public higher education institutions seamlessly.
The Instruction and Workforce Education Division’s academic and occupational programs are administered by 13 deans and two associate vice presidents throughout the College District. Support services include the Curriculum and Instructional Development Office, the Office of Student Success, Counseling Services, Library Technical Services, Distance Learning Support Services, and Faculty Development. Additionally, the Division has numerous grants and unique partnerships to support students on their academic and career pathways.
The Instruction and Workforce Education Division is committed to providing high quality, affordable educational opportunities for our community. Welcome to EPCC, the Best Place to Start and Finish!
Steven E. Smith, Ed.D.
Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Education
Vitae
Dr. Steven E. Smith has an instructional, leadership, and administrative background at EPCC that spans over 34 years of service. He was appointed as EPCC’s Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Education/Chief Academic Officer in December 2013, after serving as Interim Vice President for almost two years. In this capacity, he oversees all the instructional and continuing education programs at EPCC’s five campuses. EPCC is a comprehensive urban college with 23,262 credit students and 5,945 continuing education/non-credit students in El Paso, Texas. As Vice President, he has district-wide responsibility for the College’s credit transfer, career and technical and developmental education programs, the Language Institute Program, Instructional Support Services, Counseling Services, Libraries, Distance Learning Support Services, Curriculum and Instructional Development, Student Success, Enrollment Management, Faculty Development, and the five college campuses. He also has responsibility for the Advanced Technology Center, Small Business Development Center, Contract Opportunities Center, Law Enforcement Training Academy, Business and Industry Training, and Workforce and Economic Development. Administrators reporting to the Vice President include two Associate Vice Presidents, thirteen Instructional Deans, five of whom also serve as Campus Deans, and twelve Directors. As a senior administrator, Dr. Smith oversees 1,841 employees, including approximately 404 full-time and 759 part-time faculty, and a 70 million dollar budget (institutional and self-supporting) for the Instructional and Workforce Education Division.
Prior to his current role, he served for numerous years as the Instructional Dean for the Math, Science, and Career & Technical Education Division at EPCC’s Transmountain Campus. In this position, he managed the daily operation of over 21 diverse disciplines. These include the STEM disciplines and career and technology programs. He also oversaw several programs offered at EPCC’s Administrative Services Center, the 3D Holographic Lab at the Valle Verde Campus, served as director of EPCC’s eMerging Science and Technology Institute (eMSTI), and Campus Dean for EPCC’s Transmountain Campus. He also served as the liaison for the Transmountain Early College High School (TMECHS). This science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) focused school is a long-standing partnership with the El Paso Independent School District. Before serving in this position, he served as a full-time tenured professor in the Information Technology Systems Discipline from fall 1989 to fall 2001. He has been recognized with several awards, including the National Council of Instructional Administrators (NCIA) 2015 Chief Academic Officer Emerging Leader Award, El Paso Energy Foundation Faculty Achievement Award, the Aristotle Award for creative classroom techniques, the NISOD Faculty Excellence Award, the President’s Excellence Award, and most recently, the Texas Association of Community Colleges Carl M. Nelson Administrative Leadership Award.
Education
- EdD Educational Leadership & Administration, University of Texas at El Paso, 2021
- MA Computer Resource Management, Webster University, 1998
- BBA Computer Information Systems, University of Texas at El Paso, 1988
Professional Organizations
- National Council of Instructional Administrators
- National Association of Community College Administrators
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board - EPCC Liaison
- Texas Higher Education Leaders Consortium
- Texas Tech University GGHSN Nursing Advisory Board Member
- Texas Community College Instructional Administrators Board Member
- Texas Association of College Technical Educators
- Texas Council of College Instructional Leaders
- United Way Board Member
