Since its opening in 1971, more than 2.1 million students have improved their lives through education and training obtained from Houston Community College. An open-admission public institution, HCC awards associate degrees and certificates in academic studies and career and technology programs. HCC is committed to meeting the needs of its diverse communities, providing academic courses for transfer to four-year institutions, terminal degrees and certificates in more than 70 fields of work; as well as, continuing education and corporate training, lifelong learning and enrichment programs, and adult education. The Houston Community College (HCC) 2015-2016 Fact Book provides statistical information about the college district. Data presented in this publication may differ slightly from statistics found in other reports. Such variances may result from differences methodology including the source of information used, the reporting period covered (semester, academic year), or the student base included (semester credit, continuing education, adult education and literacy). The source of the information in each table and graph is cited, along with the date generated, the reporting period, and the students included. A glossary of terms is provided.