Dallas College El Centro Campus — Local services in Dallas

This “college” is an absolute disgrace to higher education. To describe the employees as incompetent would be an understatement. Think US Post Office or DMV…you know the type.

I had to relocate from Austin to Dallas for work and my wife is finishing her Associate’s Degree. If I had known how awful her experience would be attempting to attend classes here I would have passed on the job opportunity. It is seriously that bad.

She transferred her transcript from Austin Community College several WEEKS before the spring semester would begin. This has been confirmed by ACC. El Centro has not done what they need to do to process her transcript resulting in holds on her financial aid and an inability to register for classes. Speaking with anyone from El Centro on the phone is next to impossible. One lady in particular REFUSED to return any phone calls. My wife literally had to call again and again one day (after days of trying to get in contact) just to get her to answer so she could remove the hold on her registration.

Today she was dropped from her classes for not paying the tuition because of El Centro’s gross incompetence. Because they STILL have not processed her transcript and released the financial aid. This was after attempting to clear this up for WEEKS and being assured it was resolved.

I shudder to think of the actual quality of the education being given here. I would urge anyone considering attending a community college to look elsewhere.

Unfortunately there is not another school around here that offers a paralegal program or she would leave and...

I am a student at Dallas County Community College. I have reached out to the Financial Aid Office numerous times over the past few years, including last year, the year before, and again this year (2025). I have also contacted my success coach for assistance, but she refused to help me. An employee that work for you directed me to contact you. I also reached out to Debra knighted and was turned down in a rudely prompt in 2025. Your assistant dean discriminated me. MY EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE UP FOR DEBATE. I have gone through four to five people just to obtain your email address, including last year. While I understand that workloads can be overwhelming, it is still her responsibility to assist students, and I feel she has failed me in that regard. Unfortunately, this has left me feeling discriminated against. We are all supposed to be treated equally, yet I have not received the same consideration as others. I submitted my medical appeal documentation for my financial aid, but I have yet to receive a response. Others in similar situations have received timely replies, but my case has been ignored. This lack of communication is unacceptable and has placed an unnecessary burden on my academic progress. NO STUDENT DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS

I contacted Debra Knighten, your dean, in 2024 regarding my medical appeal. She refused to help me and responded in a dismissive tone. She never looked into my case or referred me to you. One of your employees directed me to you. There are sections in the Dallas County Code (such as §86‑1004...

I was taking a final at El Centro during the shootings on July 7th and had absolutely no clue as to what was going on outside. The alarm was sounding but we could not hear it on the 8th floor. After speaking to my instructor, he advised that we just sit down and not pay any attention to what was outside. Started off as a peaceful protest and then the shots came. After we were permitted to leave, I walked over to a window by the elevators and noticed road blocks. An officer shined his flashlight at the window to move away. Even with this, we did not know what had happened outside. Me and a few others decided to leave and got on the elevators. By the time we reached the 3rd floor you could here the alarms in the school. Once we walked off the elevator, we were met with several officers with their guns drawn on us telling us to get our hands up. I've never been so scared in my life. The officers had no idea there were students still in the school. I thought for a brief moment, what if one cop would have jumped the gun and fired a shot, and then the rest of them. I would have left behind 2 kids and a granddaughter. I still think about it when I close my eyes at night. HORRIBLE!!! So please believe me when I say that the interview from the school president was CRAP!!! Get the damn alarm system fixed at the school before praising the staff for their hard work and efforts. UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!! This was a very traumatizing experience from the guns, to walking over gun shells, glass, and blood trying to exit...