San Jacinto College to host grand opening and state of the college
San Jacinto College will host a grand opening and State of the College address at the new Center for Petrochemical, Energy, and Technology (CPET), Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 a.m.
The 151,000-square-foot Center will demonstrate the College’s national Top 10 ranking by delivering highly skilled graduates for the petrochemical manufacturing industry while inviting companies to use the facility for their workforce training.
Created for industry, by industry, CPET will house programs and training labs in process technology, instrumentation and analyzer technology, electrical, nondestructive testing, and craft trades.
It will feature an 8,000-square-foot exterior glycol process unit to develop troubleshooting skills for entry-level, advanced credit students, and incumbent workers. Additional features will include the newest software programming, equipment, and technology along with conference, training, and assembly spaces.
For more information about the CPET, visit sanjac.edu/CPET.
Construction underway for College’s 2015 bond projects
New and exciting facilities changes are underway at San Jacinto College, funded by the College’s $425 million 2015 bond referendum.
Several existing buildings on the Central, North, and South Campuses are undergoing general infrastructure upgrades, including increased Wi-Fi accessibility and ADA-compliant building access. The architectural firms and constructions teams have matched tile, paint colors, and other various design elements and aesthetics to ensure cohesiveness among the renovated spaces. Under renovation this fall semester are Central’s Davison Tech Building, North Campus’ Spencer Building, and South Campus’ Longenecker Building.
This fall, students in the early college high school programs at the Central, North, and South Campuses will enjoy new and updated classroom spaces, new dining facilities, and new water bottle filling stations.
The Central Campus’ new 55,000-square-foot Welcome Center is well underway and will serve as a one-stop facility for student support services, including admissions, financial aid, education planning, counseling, and testing.
The North Campus’ new Cosmetology and Culinary Center, also currently under construction, will feature a full-service salon and spa where students and the community can experience services such as haircuts and color, manicures, pedicures, massages, and facials all facilitated by San Jacinto College cosmetology students. Culinary students will also train in state-of-the art kitchen facilities with multiple food prep stations, ovens, stoves, and industry-standard walk-in refrigerators and freezers. The facility will feature a bistro dining area open to the public and able to host catered events with meals prepared by culinary students.
Construction continues at the South Campus’ 74,000-square-foot Engineering and Technology Center and the 39,300-square-foot Cosmetology Center. The Engineering and Technology Center will feature new computer labs along with a MakerSpace featuring a 3D print shop, metal shop, and a wood shop to allow students to build their designs. The Cosmetology Center will also feature a full-service salon with updated labs, classrooms, and lounge areas. All of these new facilities are slated to open in spring 2020.
For more information on San Jacinto College 2015 bond construction projects and their progress, visit sanjac.edu/bond.
Department of Labor awards San Jacinto College $12 million grant
The Department of Labor has awarded San Jacinto College a $12 million federal grant to partner with other public and private sector entities to train at least 5,000 workers in information technology (IT) fields.
Second only to California, Texas had more than 960,000 IT employees in 2017. To ensure the Texas workforce develops and maintains the skills needed for these jobs, four Texas community colleges and industry leaders have partnered on the Texas Is IT (TXIT) apprenticeship project.
“The goals of this grant program include accelerating the expansion of apprenticeships to new industry sectors, promoting the large-scale expansion of apprenticeships across the nation, and increasing the apprenticeship opportunities for all Americans,” said Dr. Sarah Janes, San Jacinto associate vice chancellor for continuing and professional development, and grant lead. “We are excited to partner with Alamo Colleges, Austin Community College, and the Dallas Community College District on this project.”
Together with national industry partners IBM Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation’s IT-Related Occupations, Rackspace, Cerner Corporation, and Cisco Systems, the four Texas community colleges intend to train 5,000 apprentices and pre-apprentices over 48 months. The Texas Workforce Commission and the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards will also assist with this grant, with additional support from the American Association of Community Colleges and the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
Since 2010, IT employers nationwide have added 1.5 million new jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates an additional 557,100 new information technology jobs with a growth of 13 percent nationally. This grant will support IT apprenticeships in Texas before scaling nationwide, with participants who are unemployed, underemployed, or incumbent workers of partner employers.
San Jacinto College, WGU Texas ink partnership
San Jacinto College has cemented a partnership with online nonprofit university WGU Texas to create pathways for the College’s students, employees, and graduates to work toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree and further their education at WGU Texas.
“With this partnership, both institutions are committed to providing our students with educational pathways to earn a four-year degree, expand their education, and increase their earning potential,” said Dr. Brenda Hellyer, San Jacinto College Chancellor. “We are excited about helping students reach their next goal.”
This is the second transfer agreement between the College and WGU Texas. The first was signed earlier this year and streamlined the process for students and graduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at WGU Texas.
The signing event at San Jacinto College included remarks from Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr., who is a WGU Texas and San Jac graduate.
Through the agreement with WGU Texas, San Jac graduates, faculty, and staff may select among the more than 60 accredited bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in information technology, business, health professions, and teaching. Transfer students also receive special benefits, including a five percent discount on tuition at WGU Texas and access to exclusive partner scholarships up to $2,000.
“WGU Texas is thrilled to expand its presence in the greater Houston area by providing more San Jacinto College students a seamless pathway to completing their bachelor’s and master’s degrees and preparing them to enter some of the state’s most in-demand careers,” said Dr. Steven Johnson, chancellor of WGU Texas. “Community colleges enroll almost half of all students in the state—over 730,000 students. This partnership creates an opportunity to link those students to alternative, viable pathways to earning a degree.”
