Message from the Chancellor

I have had the privilege of serving San Jacinto College as the chancellor for more than three years now. It has been an unbelievable ride so far, and as I look to the future, I see an unprecedented time ahead of us. This is a time when the work of community colleges across our region, state, and nation will be more important than ever before. Unprecedented also because we are facing some of the most difficult economic times in history – locally, nationally, and globally.

Despite these tough financial times, San Jacinto College continues to grow and thrive. Every day I hear stories about how our students are achieving their dreams and goals and obtaining their certificates or associate degrees, and how we at San Jacinto College have made that possible. It’s humbling to hear, because student success is at the core of everything we do.

The past couple of years have been challenging, and the upcoming years will no doubt be as well, but I am confident that San Jacinto College will continue to uphold our mission as the leader in educational excellence in our region. Our efforts enrich the quality of life for the citizens of East Harris County, Texas. Recently, the Texas Association of Community Colleges conducted an economic impact study on the effects of community colleges on the state’s economy. As part of this effort, San Jacinto College recently conducted a similar study regarding our impact on the region and the communities we serve. Here are some data points from that survey:

• For every dollar that students invest in San Jacinto College, they receive a cumulative $5.30 in higher future income over the course of their working careers.
• With an educated workforce, Texas benefits from improved health and reduced welfare, unemployment, and crime, saving the public in our community $5.7 million per year.
• Taxpayers see a 5.5 percent rate of return on their investment in San Jacinto College.
• The Harris County economy receives approximately $81.9 million in net added income each year due to the San Jacinto College payroll and operation spending.

As you can see, the importance of our college to our community is especially apparent today. Thanks to voters in our district, we have moved forward with construction on each of our campuses utilizing funding from the May 2008 bond election. These funds have allowed us to build new facilities for our allied health, science, and automotive technology programs, as well as one-stop-shop student success and welcome centers. These new facilities could not have been made possible without the vote of confidence from the citizens in our district, and for that I am thankful. With enrollment continuing in an upward trend, these new facilities come at the right time for our college, students, and community.

San Jacinto College is a wise investment in your community. Our challenge is to continue to generate greater returns for our community, even in difficult times. For more than 50 years, we have been committed to the success of our students. The group of leaders who serve as our Board of Trustees and strategic leadership team remain committed to meeting the needs of our students for the next 50 years and beyond. We are mindful of the challenges and opportunities ahead of us, while we remain grounded in our rich history. We believe in our students and our people, and we strive every day to help them develop their talents.

As we look to what lies ahead, we celebrate the past year and the success of our students and our people. San Jacinto College has a long history of student success in our community, and I thank you for your continued support.

Best regards,
Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D
Chancellor, San Jacinto College