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Excellence, nearly a half-century in the making

In September of 1961, some 870 students filed into a handful of renovated buildings off Spencer Highway to attend the very first classes offered by San Jacinto College. Since then, we’ve grown to three campuses and five extension centers offering more than 140 academic and technical degree programs. We now serve more than 27,000 students. It has been an impressive run.

Getting started.

In May 1960, voters in the Channelview, Deer Park, Galena Park, La Porte and Pasadena school districts approved the creation of East Harris County Union Junior College. They elected seven members to serve on the Board of Regents (now Board of Trustees) and authorized them to levy a tax for the school’s operations and maintenance.

In February 1961, the Board of Regents changed the name to The San Jacinto Junior College District. The following September, we opened our doors.

Expansion in the 70s.

Bonds issued in 1972 included funds for a second campus. North Shore High School provided space for classes until the North Campus opened in the fall of 1975. Then, in 1976, bonds were approved for a third campus. J. Frank Dobie High School provided classrooms until San Jacinto College South was ready in September of 1979.

Major upgrades and reaccreditation.

In December 1999, voters approved the issuing of $91 million in general obligation bonds, allowing us to add six new buildings including the Interactive Learning Centers and Fine Arts Centers along with substantial infrastructure improvements throughout the district. Then in May 2008 another vote earmarked $295 million to create updated science facilities, allied health facilities, library improvements, and physical education facility improvements.

This decade of funding has led to some extraordinary growth and innovation. Clear Horizons Early College High School opened its doors on the South campus in the fall of 2007. A partnership with the Clear Creek ISD, this program allows students to earn an associate degree while simultaneously earning a high school diploma.

We’ve also faced some tough challenges. In 2008, Hurricane Ike inflicted significant damage to our campuses. But thanks to the strong college leadership and innovative faculty, we were all back in class in less than three weeks with a plan in place for students to complete the semester on time, a fact that didn’t elude the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, who awarded us reaccreditation later that fall.

As we look back over the past five decades, we are very proud of the vision, passion and anything-it-takes attitude that has marked this institution’s growth.

The San Jac Timeline

1960 - 1999

1960

Voters in the Channelview, Deer Park, Galena Park, La Porte and Pasadena school districts approve the creation of East Harris County Union Junior College.

1961

The Board of Regents changes our name to The San Jacinto Junior College District. We open our doors.

1968

The San Jacinto Men's Basketball team won the NJCAA National Championship.

1972

Bonds issued include funds for a second campus. North Shore High School provides space for classes.

1975

North Campus opens in the fall.

1976

Bonds are approved for a third campus. J. Frank Dobie High School provides classrooms.

1979

San Jacinto College South opens in the fall.

1981

The Board of Regents approves formation of a centralized district administration, to be housed at the district administration building.

1983

The San Jacinto Men's Basketball team won the NJCAA National Championship.

1984

The San Jacinto Men's Basketball team won the NJCAA National Championship.

1985