SEPT. 18, 1961

A week after Hurricane Carla’s landfall, San Jacinto College opened in a leased building in downtown Pasadena. Enrollment reached 876 — a record for Texas junior colleges.

OCT. 20, 1961

The College’s student newspaper, The Texian, became the state’s first junior college biweekly paper.

JAN. 29, 1963

The College launched its nursing program with 32 students.

DECEMBER 1974

The College expanded women’s sports when it hired Donna Spencer as its first women’s athletic coach.

JANUARY 1975

The San Jacinto College North Campus opened its first building.

SEPT. 4, 1979

Despite ongoing construction, classes began at the South Campus.

MAY 1981

Presidents headed the three campuses for the first time. At South Campus, Dr. Parker Williams became the first female president in the College’s history.

NOVEMBER 1985

Campuses began offering innovative “telecourse” classes on the Channel 8 public television station.

MAY 1988

San Jacinto College signed its first articulation agreement, allowing graduates to transfer easily to the University of Houston.

1995-1996

A psychology professor piloted the College’s first online course.

MARCH 1995

Marie Flickinger was the first woman elected to serve on the Board of Trustees.

SPRING 1997

Dr. Adena Loston became the second South Campus president and the College’s first Black president.

FALL 2003

The College offered online registration for the first time. Within a year, more than half of students were registering online.

FALL 2007

Clear Horizons Early College High School opened at the South Campus. This partnership with Clear Creek ISD allows students to earn associate degrees alongside high school diplomas.

SEPTEMBER 2008

The College reopened 59 of its 60 facilities just two weeks after Hurricane Ike caused $7.1 million in damages.

MAY 2009

Dr. Brenda Hellyer became the first woman to serve as San Jacinto College Chancellor.

2012

The Central, North, and South Campuses opened veteran centers, providing veteran students with one place for enrollment and other resources.

2014

The first ever College-wide commencement ceremony was held at NRG Stadium.

2016

The Maritime Technology and Training Center opened, offering the state’s first and only maritime transportation associate degree.

2019

The Aspen Institute ranked San Jac among the nation’s top 10 community colleges out of more than 1,100 institutions nationwide.

2019

The LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology opened as the largest petrochemical training facility in the Gulf Coast region.

2020

Generation Park Campus and the EDGE Center opened for students.

sanjac.edu/60-years