SPC honors Jimmy Stratton with 2025 Faculty Excellence Award
LEVELLAND – Jimmy Stratton, who has dedicated 17 years at South Plains College to supporting students in and outside the welding discipline, was recognized with the college’s highest faculty honor.
Stratton, associate professor in welding and chairperson of SPC’s Industrial Technology Department, received the Faculty Excellence Award at the college’s Spring 2025 morning commencement ceremony on May 9 in the Texan Dome. Every year, the award recognizes a faculty member for exemplary work in the classroom, service to the college and service to the community.
Stratton began his academic journey as an SPC Texan by earning an Associate of Applied Science in welding technology from the college. He later obtained professional certifications in welding inspection and welding education from the American Welding Society.
During his teaching career at SPC, Stratton served in multiple roles from welding faculty member to program coordinator of welding technology. Since becoming chairperson of the college’s Industrial Technology Department in June 2022, he has taken on more responsibilities, overseeing significant growth.
“When I was first hired, my role was straightforward: provide high-quality instruction in welding and graduate students who were job-ready on day one,” Stratton said. “That mission remains, but my role has evolved to focus on leadership, innovation and strategic growth.”
Since August 2007, the welding technology program has expanded from three instructors at one location serving about 40 students to nine full-time faculty members at three SPC locations serving over 100 students, including dual credit students from several area high schools. In addition to welding, Stratton said he oversees six other programs as department chair.
“I remain committed to producing highly skilled, workforce-ready graduates,” he said. “I also recognize that without robust recruitment efforts, there would be no students to teach. That’s why I’ve actively pursued every opportunity to grow our enrollment and extend our programs’ reach.”
Recognizing the need to adapt to evolving industry demands, Stratton championed the integration of emerging technologies and innovative teaching strategies into the curriculum.
One of Stratton’s initiatives for welding technology integrated classroom content into SPC’s Learning Management System, which he said maximized hands-on lab time for students while keeping theory-based content online. A few results of this initiative included improved test scores and program completion rates.
“We continue to explore innovative ways to buy back time for our students,” he said. “By shifting some content online, we give students flexible, accessible learning pathways and maintain the integrity and rigor of our technical programs.”
The development of Master Courses is an initiative that Stratton said streamlined faculty onboarding and ensured consistency in course delivery across sections. These shared course shells foster a culture of peer learning and continuous improvement among faculty.
"This collaborative model not only supports instructional excellence but also strengthens the professional development of new and experienced faculty,” he said.
By sharing these strategies across the Industrial Technology Department, Stratton said he has seen similar results in other programs and has noticed a deeper understanding of instructional and workforce requirements. He said this has fostered more effective teaching and learning in technical education.
“My role has grown from instructor to advocate, innovator, recruiter and collaborator, which all serve the mission of delivering exceptional technical education and preparing the next generation of skilled professionals,” he said.
In addition to his work in the Industrial Technology Department, Stratton contributes to other areas of the college. He serves on numerous committees, including the Grounds Committee, Faculty Senate, Distance Education Committee and Distinguished Alumni Committee. He also serves as an ultra-ambassador and faculty mentor for Anthology.
Stratton was nominated for a 2025 Anthology Catalyst Award in the Leading Change category and was previously nominated for an award in the Student Success category in 2022. He was also invited to present at the 2025 Anthology Together Conference, the premier national conference for digital learning and educational leadership.
When not supporting students at SPC, Stratton volunteers as a welding coach for area high schools. His service also extends to the community through leadership roles, such as president-elect of the Levelland Breakfast Rotary Club and superintendent of Lubbock County Agricultural Mechanics competitions and exhibitions.
Despite his many responsibilities, Stratton remains focused on improving students’ lives at SPC. He said cross-departmental collaboration is one cornerstone that will help students achieve success in their respective disciplines.
“The modern workforce thrives on cooperation and interdisciplinary problem-solving, and we must model those values in the classroom,” he said. “By partnering with other programs and departments, we provide students with a richer, more relevant learning experience that mirrors the collaborative environments they’ll encounter in their careers.”
