Partners

San Jacinto College is proud to work with partners in industry, government and education to provide programs that create greater opportunities for our citizens and contribute to the economic development of the community we serve.

Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count

The College is honored to be part of this national initiative to help more community college students succeed – complete courses, earn certificates and earn degrees. Achieving the Dream places special emphasis on student groups that have traditionally faced significant barriers to success, including minority and low-income students. The initiative is built on the belief that institutional innovation and change – informed by student achievement data – are crucial to achieve this result.

Funding provided by the Lumina Foundation for Education and Houston Endowment, Inc. is making it possible for San Jacinto College to research, design and implement innovative programs to improve student achievement and retention. The College has identified the following priorities:

• Increase retention rates
• Increase the percentage of students earning a 2.0 or higher GPA in their first semester
• Increase the percentage of students who complete developmental classes with a grade of “C” or better
• Increase overall graduation rates
• Reduce the number of students withdrawing from courses
• Increase reporting on student outcomes to the Board of Trustees

Based on a thorough analysis of its strengths, problem areas, and achievement gaps, San Jacinto College has developed the following strategies to support its goals:

• Launching a student success course
• Creating learning communities
• Implementing a Quality Enhancement Plan
• Mandating new student orientation
• Implementing a retention calling program

San Jacinto College has further demonstrated its commitment to this initiative by committing additional funds dedicated to helping students:

• Funding faculty grants for ideas and projects designed to enrich student learning
• Partnering with area high schools to implement a shared-counselor program in order to increase the number of students attending college

For more information, visit the Achieving the Dream website or contact Dr. William Raffetto, Vice President of Enrollment Services.

Aerospace & Biotechnology Academy

Established in 2000, the Aerospace & Biotechnology Academy demonstrates what can be accomplished when education, industry, government and others work together to address a problem threatening the well-being of our state and nation—the shortages of high technology practitioners and the math and science teachers needed to produce that workforce.

The Aerospace Academy, a multi-partner P-20 collaboration administratively attached to San Jacinto College and housed at the Johnson Space Center, is charged to:

• Increase the number of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (addressing diversity and changing demographics)
• Increase the quality and number of educators teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics
• Increase the skills levels of the high technology workforce

Primary partners include, in addition to San Jacinto College, the Johnson Space Center and area aerospace employers, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, five universities (Baylor College of Medicine, Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston), four school districts (Clear Creek, Friendswood, LaPorte, and Pasadena), and Space Center Houston.

Work of the Aerospace Academy is accomplished through a think tank approach that involves identifying change opportunities and developing effective responses.

For more information, visit the Aerospace Academy Web site or contact the Aerospace Academy at 281-483-1137.

Small Business Development Center

The San Jacinto College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides free private counseling and low-cost workshops to help small business owners start and grow their companies. Working with both existing and start-up firms, the Center seeks to increase profits, reduce failures, and create jobs in order to contribute to the economic development of our community.

SBDC consultants can help business owners apply for business loans, create written business plans, devise marketing strategies, develop operating budgets, and more. Workshops cover basic management topics such as starting a business, writing a business plan, developing a marketing plan, understanding financial statements, and how to secure an SBA Loan.

The Center is funded in part by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The San Jacinto College SBDC is a member of the University of Houston Small Business Development Center Network. The Network serves 32 counties in Southeast Texas. SBDC programs are nondiscriminatory and available to individuals with disabilities.

SBDC consultants are located on or near each San Jacinto College campus. Call 281-485-5214 to talk to a counselor or find out more about our seminars. You may also fill out and submit our on-line questionnaire. We will respond promptly.